The third point of view

Gunshots reverberated in Adam's manor like a beating drum during a carnival with the pungent Nitroglycerin smell lingering in the air.

No one needed to be told what was going on with the resonating bangs and the huge cloud of gunpowder.

No one had seen that coming. All the guards knew was that Adam had ordered an emergency lockdown; no one was to leave nor come in.

Though the guards that had been slain days ago were inconspicuous, the news had spread amongst fellow members and caused tension amongst the security department.

Yes, they were guards, but before that, they were humans too and some of them had families or people that loved and looked up to them for support.

So it wasn't surprising fear grew in their heart when the sudden lockdown was initiated. Guards were stationed at various strategic points, patrolling the area and keeping an eye out for the target - Niklaus.

Most guards didn't understand what made Niklaus go rogue but the inner circle guards - the guards closest to Adam - knew it was related to that girl.

How could they not know that? Her disappearance was the hottest and trending news in the country currently.

According to the officer's report as captured on the nearest surveillance camera, Maya had walked to the pediatrician walkway probably to blow off some steam after the revelation of that scandal - sponsored by their leader, Adam.

There was no suicide barrier constructed on the Nillan bridge which was below a turbulent deep stretch of water.

She had been leaning on a railing looking into the water when she had been surrounded by the fanatic fans who crowded the walkway.

The surveillance couldn't capture if it was a case of accidental slipping or if she had been pushed off of the bridge due to the commotion.

Her plunging happened so fast that she could not even cling to the bridge railing for dear life. She had slipped over the bridge quickly and gravity took effect.

Investigations into Maya's private life revealed that the girl never had suicidal tendencies though she once had a case of depression. But then, had the scandal knocked her down this time that she decided to use the guise of the fans to end her life?

While the fans at the crime scene had been detained as part of a murder investigation and they were presently been charged for reckless endangerment due to lack of evidence- yet - however, Niklaus wants it upgraded to murder.

The man was bloodthirsty for revenge and that was the same reason they were on the lookout for him.

"Incapacitate but do not kill my son," that was Adam's strict order which they knew better not to break. To avoid an accidental discharge, all guns held by the guards had been switched to tranquilizer dart guns.

Undoubtedly, Niklaus would not go easy on them and one might retaliate, resulting in shooting him accidentally in a fit of anger. The best option to avoid such unpleasant circumstances was to provide the dart gun.

They all waited anticipatedly for the arrival of Niklaus with their head in the game. No one wanted to slip up in fear of Adam's wrath.

Not long after, a car approached the manor and the gate was automated to give him access into the courtyard. They were all alert and patiently waited for him to step out.

The moment the door was opened and a figure stepped out, they rained darts on him.

"Yo, check him out !" A guard ordered from their hiding spot after some minutes of their firing spree.

Five guards dropped down from the one-story balcony different from the main house, approaching Niklaus who was sprawled out on the hard ground, face pressed to the side with darts sticking out from various parts of his body.

"He should be knocked out cold by now," surmised one of the guards.

They walked to him, one of them turning the supposed Niklaus over with his feet but the shock on their face afterward was apparent.

The man lying on the floor and snoring soundly was the same height as Niklaus' but not him; his hood and glasses shielded his face.

"This is not -"

He was still saying when a bullet was fired and it got the first one on the hand which made him drop his weapon with a yelp before another got him on the knee.

Before the other four could react, bullets had pierced through their hands and knees.

Niklaus had stepped out of the boot of the car without warning, applying the element of surprise and taking them unaware.

It was obvious Niklaus didn't aim to kill, else he would have targeted their heart, lungs, or head - for the instant kill - but the hand and leg were to disable them.

Niklaus looked like the god of death with two Beretta M9 in both hands as he fired at the guards with precision.

He knew his father's place like the back of his hand, having lived there since young and had knowledge of all hidden spots a snipper could consider.

It was like watching an action movie. Niklaus came prepared and each time he ran out of bullets, he took cover and reloaded before firing at his targets again. Grunt and moans of pain lay in his wake.

There was no smile on his face, his gaze so cold and murderous; there was no need to be happy. Maya was gone, no, she was still alive, just injured and stranded somewhere because of his father's selfishness.

Niklaus had successfully made it to the foyer of the house when a dart hit him on the neck.

"Shit!" He cursed, shooting at the bastard before ripping the tranquilizer out of his neck.

This single dart was not enough to bring him down but he had not much time left at this rate.

He had almost made it to his father's office when a guard came out of a hiding spot and kicked one of the guns out of his grasp.

Of course, even if he incapacitated everyone else, his father would still have a spare to protect him.

"Fine," Niklaus dropped the other gun to the ground," Let's fight like a man then," he decided.

Of course, he had a reason behind this decision. He surmised the drug in the dart shot at him would take effect in five or ten minutes more but he could buy time by being active.

Both engaged in hand-to-hand combat at once, throwing punches at each other. Niklaus held the man's punch and twisted his hand backward but the man released himself by elbowing him on the face.

Of course, Niklaus saw that coming but he needed the pain to stay awake if he wanted to achieve what he wanted by coming here.

A kick at the gut made him double over and another powerful punch sent him stumbling to the ground.

Fine, that was enough, he had taken enough pain. They wanted to hold him down but it wasn't going to work.

Just when the man tried to pull him up by the hair, Niklaus punched him on the stomach and brought his knee up to his face, ramming so hard that he staggered back.

"Playtime's over," Niklaus said, picked up his gun, and shot him on the stomach.

"I missed vital organs but if you don't get treated soon, you're going to bleed to death- I'm sure you know that already," Niklaus reminded him. The hospital was going to have a handful today.

"You defeated forty of my best men," Adam was amused, "Rage does bring the best in a man,"

Niklaus who walked into the room strode over to his father and yanked him up by the collar.

"You must be satisfied now, right?" He breathed against his face.

All those anger Niklaus felt the past two days resurfaced and he felt the urge to rip that man called his father apart.

"I didn't do much but the universe seems to agree to my decision of getting rid of her permanently,"

"You animal!" Niklaus roared and punched his father in the face.

The impact whipped Adam's head to the side but Niklaus kept him up with his grasp.

Adam laughed, exposing bloodied teeth and busted lips, " Feel satisfied now?" He asked smugly.

"She was pregnant with my child, my blood; you killed a spencer!" He tightened his hold around his collar, choking his father but Adam showed no sign of discomfort other than a stunned expression.

"She was pregnant?"

"Yes, she was having my child!" Niklaus pushed him away like a worthless object," But now you took both lives and made my own life a living hell,"

A faint trace of remorse was seen on Adam's face but it disappeared as soon as it came," I didn't order her being pushed off the bridge, that's all you need to know," he told Niklaus, licking his bleeding lower lips.

"Yes, you didn't order that but you were the one who caused the events leading to the disaster!" Niklaus cocked his gun and pointed it at his father's head.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your pathetic life?" He spoke bitterly through gritted teeth. Veins were protruding from his face and forehead with his eyes red from fury.

"Fine, go ahead and kill me if that would please you," Adam replied nonchalantly," After all when I'm dead, you get in power instantly,"

Niklaus' hand shook as he battled mentally. At last with a wounded growl, he shot at the wall beside his father twice.

"From now on, you don't have a son named Niklaus nor a granddaughter Isabella," he announced.

Adam's eyes flashed, "You would do no such thing. Even if you want to leave, Isabella stays here!"

"Watch me!" Niklaus challenged.

"You're a Spencer and the next family head, so you would always remain a Spencer. My investment in you over the years would not be for nothing !" Adam lost his calm.

Niklaus smiled coldly and promised him," If I see you near my family ever again, I'll blast your head off," he picked up both of his guns from the floor

"Enjoy your life of power,"