"Marcus-", I started saying and accidentally took a step forward and someone shot a bullet in my direction.

"Mel!" Aaron pulled me back.

Aaron had turned us around to save me from getting shot but, in the process the bullet grazed him on the arm and his arm started bleeding.

"Aaron!" I said as blood started flowing causing the sleeve of his white shirt slowly become red.

"Relax, I'm okay", he told me holding his forearm and wincing slightly.

"I told you. Do not move unless you wanna die", Marcus chuckled darkly.

Lia, where are you? Please, be safe.

"You bloody bastard!" Daniel yelled at him.

"You wanna die first? I'll fulfil your wish", Marcus said pointing the gun at Daniel.

"Not so soon, asshole", came Lia's voice making all of us look in the left.

Lia looked at us and said, "Run!"

Before anyone could react, Lia raised her hand in the air and threw a ball on the floor as hard as she could. The smoke bomb exploded the minute it met the floor and the room was covered in white fog within a few seconds.

I felt someone hold my hand and pull me with him. I knew the touch. I knew it was Aaron but, the circumstances were making me doubt myself at the moment so I had to double check.

"Aaron, it is you right? I can't see anything", I whispered.

"Trust me, Mel. Just walk. Don't speak a word", Aaron whispered and pulled me with him.

I blindly followed the pull of my arm as I heard Marcus yelling to his men in the background.

We took a few turns left and right and slowly the fog started clearing a little. Aaron found a table in the room and we ducked down under it. We sat there for a few seconds and caught our breaths.

"Aaron, your arm-"

"Ssh.." he cut me off.

"Aaron, give me your hand", I whispered pulling his hand.

"I am fine, Mel. Don't move. Someone might be coming", Aaron whispered.

"Give me you hand", I whispered with a warning and he gave up.

He kept an eye on the door as I opened my small backpack. I removed a small knife and cut open his sleeve. The bruise was not very deep but, he was losing a lot of blood.

I fished my bag for a handkerchief and wiped the blood.

Aaron winced slightly as I touched the bruise.

"Sorry", I whispered and tied the handkerchief around to stop the blood flow for now.

"The medical kit is in Lia's bag. For now this should work", I told him.

"I am fine", Aaron told me.

"I told you not to put yourself in danger for me. Why do you not listen?" I asked him with worry.

"Once we are out of here, you can argue as much as you want. For now, just stay here, okay?" he said crawling out a little.

"Where are you going?" I asked pulling him back.

"If Marcus Lawson finds me, they might not go after all of you. You guys can sneak out safely and meet Peter", Aaron told me.

"I am not going anywhere. Just stay here. You are done putting yourself in danger", I told him angrily.

"Mel-"

"Shut up!" I told him as I heard footsteps of men walking in.

Aaron pulled me closer and I hide my face in his chest out of fright. I was clutching his shirt tightly as he was looking at the activities of the men who walked in.

"Looks like they aren't here. I think we should look where Jack found the other boy", the man told his partner and they left.

"They found Daniel", I told Aaron with worry.

"You stay here. I'll go and see", he told me.

"Aaron, no", I told him shaking my head.

"Mel, there is a window right across the table. Run when you get a chance. You know where to find Peter. We'll see you later", he told me and left before I could utter a word.

I stayed there for a few minutes trying to understand what is happening.

I gulped as my brain was fighting my heart. My brain said that freedom was right in front of me and I should take it. I should listen to Aaron and jump out of the window and find Peter. But, my heart said that I had to follow Aaron and make sure he is okay. My brain was yelling at me that it is going to be okay. But, my heart didn't agree.

Finally, I decided to follow my brain and took a step towards the window. But, I knew I couldn't do it.

"Damn it", I said as I ran towards the direction in which Aaron went.

I carefully took a few steps outside and ran in one direction. I stopped at the turn and looked to see if anyone was around. When I didn't see anyone, I took a few more steps forward.

I almost reached the living room successfully and I hid behind the wall. I saw that Marcus was still sitting on the couch and his men had caught Aaron and Daniel.

I told you not to go alone!

Marcus was still ordering his men to look around for Lia and me.

"Well, two down two to go", Marcus smiled as his man was tying Aaron's hands behind his back.

"You will never find them", Daniel yelled.

"Wanna bet? Let's start with the one who is easier to lure", Marcus laughed.

"Forget it. You will not find her", Aaron frowned trying to free himself.

"Really? Let's see", Marcus said and my heart skipped a beat as he pointed his gun to Aaron's forehead.

"Amelia, if you are not out in five seconds, I am going to shoot your beloved husband dead", Marcus yelled.

"Don't come out, Amy. He is bluffing", Daniel yelled.

"Three seconds", Marcus said closing one of his eyes. My fist clenched.

"She is not foolish to believe you", Daniel yelled.

"One second", Marcus said and placed his finger on the trigger.

"Wait!" I yelled and I got out of the hiding.

Marcus smirk in victory, Daniel sighed in defeat and Aaron looked at me in shock and anger.

"Don't shoot", I said as I raised my hands in surrender and walked towards him.

Marcus signalled his men and two of them came forward and caught me.

"Three down, one to go", Marcus smiled as they were tying my hands behind my back.

At that time, two of his men came from the opposite direction, holding a very angry Lia between them.

"Damn it! Leave me! I will kill you!" Lia yelled and tried to free herself.

But, the men dragged her to where we were standing and stood her next to us. All of us were tied and lined up in front of Marcus.

"Ah! Now, we have quorum", Marcus smiled and sat back in his place.

"Hello, dear sister. Long time no see", Marcus smirked at Lia.

"Your sister died long ago. We are strangers", Lia glared at him.

"Don't say that. You break my heart. I have missed you so much all these years", Marcus pouted at her.

"Stop trying to fool me, Marcus", Lia told him angrily.

"Come on, sister. You know, I love you", Marcus told her with a frown.

"And that is why you had hired henchman to kill me?" Lia asked him making our heads snap in her direction.

"Don't think that I don't know it. I knew that you suddenly trying to send me to New York couldn't be it. I knew that you would try to do something to silence me. That is why I had packed money with me. But, my suspicion was confirmed when the driver suddenly took a secluded path. The minute he had slowed the car down I had jumped and had started running. God forbid, if I had stopped for even one more minute, I would have been dead by now!" Lia said to Marcus, her eyes burning with rage and hatred.

I was disgusted with this man. Trying to kill your own sister for hiding your sin? How much more can he fall?

An evil smile slowly crept on Marcus's face as he placed his gun on the table and got up.

"Good that you knew. Now I don't have to pretend", he walked to Lia.

"Bloody bitch! How dare you go against us for a stupid girl you spend one month with!" Marcus slapped her so hard that she spat blood.

"She was not a just a stupid girl! Julia was my sister, my mother, my family. In that one month, she spend more time with me and gave me more love than you and your father ever did! I wouldn't mind dying for her if I had to. Going against you is just a small start", Lia spat at him and Marcus punched Lia in the gut, making me cry.

He slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground and then he kicked her in the stomach.

"Stop it, Marcus! She is your sister", I yelled at him struggling against the restraint.

"She is just a bloody bad omen. Since the day she is born, all she has done is cause bad things to happen. First she killed my mother, then she had to meet Julia and ruin everything for me. God knows, how she managed to get this bloody Kingston on her side and ruin my business", Marcus said pulling Lia up by her hair and strangling her.

I shut my eyes and cried as I couldn't take it anymore.

"Leave her, you fucking dog!" Daniel yelled at him, struggling to free himself.

"You want me to bash you instead?" Marcus asked Daniel leaving Lia.

"Free me and then see, who is going to bash whom", Daniel told him.

"Forget it, Dan. He is just a bloody coward who knows nothing but how to use and hit women", Aaron told him glaring at Marcus.

"And you are really courageous, are you not? After all, you did come into my own house planning to ruin me. Let's see how brave you are", Marcus told Aaron.

He walked to Aaron and punched him in the face multiple time. He placed his finger on the handkerchief that I had tied on his wound and pressed until Aaron yelped in pain. My fist clenched and I shut my eyes as I felt the pain too.

"That is for trying to ruin my business", Marcus spat at him and went to take his seat.

"I'll give you all some credit. Since you all came here to know the truth, let me tell it to you before I kill you all", Marcus said.

He signalled to his men and they snatched our cell phones from us. They placed them on the table in front of Marcus and he shot the phones one by one breaking them all.

Finally, when he was done, he started, "Yes, eight years ago, I did manipulate your sister so that I could use her just like those other girls in that file you found out. I thought my initial plan failed when she refused to move in with me against your family's wishes. But, luckily, she was just foolish. So, she decided to run away and come here as she thought that I loved her and she couldn't stay away from me for too long. Then, I took the opportunity and made a new plan. I decided to use her and gain control of Kingston Designs so that I could manage things in Tennessee. So, I married her and kept her here, away from you all. I was about to put her to good use. But, she found out about my intentions and decided to expose me single handedly. I asked her to sign her part of the company over to me and I'd let her go. But, she kept refusing stubbornly. So, I had to punish her. It was sad that she couldn't take it for long and gave up her life. I would have let her go sooner or later once I would have grown tired of her. She just couldn't bear it for that long", Marcus shrugged.

"You sick psycho! Was it so important? Was your business and power so bloody important that you killed my sister for it?" Aaron yelled at him.

"You know, what the beauty of the taste of power is, Kingston? Once your tongue gets used to it, it is hard to let go of it", Marcus told him.

"Why did you pull Amy into this?" Lia spat at him.

"Oh, because of her name. Our mother had a very strong business sector which is now a part of Lawson Enterprise. But, back then, she had you as a nominee. We didn't know about it until you were gone. After you ran away, her lawyer came up one day and demanded to see you. He told us that mom had given her shares in that company to you and you would get it when you turned eighteen. He also told us that if something were to happen to you, the business will go to the trust. With you gone, we saw no other option. We thought you were dead and we lost it all. But, then we recalled this spare Amelia Lawson and decided to create an heiress for the world. It wasn't really hard either. Dad shed a few tears in front of her and she was ready within seconds to take your place. You are so gullible, Amelia", Marcus laughed at me.

"Because I am human unlike you who is a demon", I spat at him with disgust.

Marcus laughed, "By the way, it is so funny that I tried to get you killed so many times, Kingston. But, I failed always. Guess, you were supposed to die by my hands. Don't worry. Your parents will find out in tomorrow's news how there kids got killed in a massive car crash. Don't worry about your businesses, brother-in-laws. I'll take good care of them. Goodbye."

Marcus lifted the gun and pointed it at Lia, "You first, sister."

Suddenly, Aaron yelled, "Peter, now!"

The main door opened and we were surrounded once again. But, this time it was police men and their guns were pointed at Marcus and his men.

"Drop your guns", said the policeman making Marcus put his gun down and not at his men to drop their guns.

"Officer, thank god, you are here. These people trespassed into my house and were trying to kill me", Marcus told the policeman.

"Mr. Lawson, you are under arrest for pushing Julia Kingston to suicide", the policeman told Marcus instead.

"What? No, you don't understand", Marcus started as the police arrested all his men and took away the guns.

Suddenly, Lia broke into fits of laughter. Marcus looked at her confused when Aaron followed and soon Daniel and I did too. The whole situation was so funny that our fits of laughter slowly turned into full blown laughter.

"Can't believe that worked", Lia said finally calming herself down.

"I had told you it will", Aaron winked at her.

"This was the most insane plan ever", I told them.

"Can't agree more", Daniel laughed.

Peter came and freed Aaron first, then Daniel. Aaron and Daniel free me and Lia. Peter left with the police to get the proceedings done. Only one policemen was left behind with us. Lia picked Marcus's gun from the floor as the policeman held his gun pointing at Marcus's head.

"Confused?" Lia asked him, "Let me explain."

Lia walked in front of Marcus and slapped him hard across the face. Marcus took an angry step forward but the officer stopped him.

"You thought we were so foolish that we would come to the lion's den without a backup?" Lia smirked at Marcus.

"The plan was not to just find proof in your house. The plan was to find you in this house so that we could make you confess", Daniel laughed at him.

Aaron laughed and said, "You think you found us in this house. We wanted you to find us. We told our men to let you know somehow that we are planning to break in tonight. We spend three hours in this house trying to look for proof knowing perfectly well that we won't find anything and you would have wiped the house clean. Finding these files here was just pure luck. It was never our motive. We were just stalling time for you to follow us here and think that we didn't know. We knew you will get these men. That is why Peter was waiting outside the entire time like a shadow. He texted Lia the minute your van turned up. Why do you think Lia was not here when you came in? It was no coincidence. It was all a plan. The smoke bomb was in her backpack so that she could use it at that very moment."

I smiled and continued, "You think we were running around because we were scared of the men and the guns? We are wearing bullet proof jackets. We were just trying to distract you from using the guns until the police came outside."

Lia continued, "I grew up playing hide and seek here with my nanny and you think your men were smart enough to find me? No one can find me in this house until I want it. The minute Peter notified me that the police were outside, I came out of the hiding and got caught by your men. Me yelling 'I will kill you' was a signal for them that Peter was outside with the police and now we just had one thing to do."

"Get your confession", Daniel said.

Marcus scoffed, "So what? You don't have any recordings. I already broke all your cell phones."

"Oh my god! How did we not think of that!" Lia fake looking shocked.

"If your men told you correctly, we changed our plans the last minute. We flew to Seattle today early morning instead of evening. You know why? Our phones were never supposed to be used as recording devices. The recording devices are located in this house. We planted the cameras today morning", I smirked at him.

"Don't try. Your pea sized brain won't be able to guess it. Your cleaners came in today morning, didn't they? Well, in your words, throw a little money and people will agree to do anything", Daniel told him.

"So, Mr. Lawson, we very well have your confession and some extra proofs. Now choose, you wanna die here or in jail?" Aaron asked him.

Marcus took a few steps behind and tried to run away. But, Lia was quick enough to point his gun at him and stop him. He tried from the other side but, the officer stopped him. He tried fleeing from near me and I put my foot in his way making him fall face first.

Aaron grabbed him by his collar and pulled him up. He yelled, "Bloody fucking bastard!" and punched him on his face.

Daniel grabbed him from the other side and punched him in the gut. Daniel kicked him and said, "How dare you! How dare you kill our sister!"

Aaron yelled kicking Marcus, "She was the purest soul that you fucking viled for your own bloody evil gains."

Daniel bend down and grabbed him by his hair, as Marcus's nose started bleeding, "You are just a bloody sick psycho who just knows how to use and throw people."

Daniel punched him on the face and spat on him.

"This..this is abuse. What sort...of..officer are you?" Marcus pleaded between moans to the officer.

"A one that has been bought. Just like you bought one for hiding your sins", Aaron told him pulling him up by his hair and punching him again.

Lia put the gun on the table and pushed Aaron and Daniel behind.

"What were you saying? Stupid girl, huh?" Lia glared at him and stomped on his stomach making him growl in pain.

"Bloody asshole! You and that fucking father of yours can never understand what she meant to me. When you meet him up there, make sure to tell him that I am very much alive and happy here without him in my life", Lia fisted his hair and punched him on the face.

"I told you. Free me and I will bloody beat you to a pulp", Daniel spat at him kicking him between the legs.

Lia went to the couch and opened her bag. She brought a beer bottle out of her bag and broke it on the table top.

She came back to where Marcus was whining in pain and sat down next to him.

"Feel what you did to her, you bastard", she spat and Marcus growled in pain as Lia pierced the bottle on his arm.

"I am going to end this", Aaron said and grabbed the gun from the table where Lia had left it.

He pointed it to Marcus's head and said, "This is for Julia. Get ready to die."

"No, Aaron! Don't do it", I stopped him.

"Sir, I know you are right but, I suggest you don't take the law in your hand", the officer told Aaron.

"I don't care. I am going to kill him", Aaron said with rage.

"No, Aaron. He is not worth it", I tried to dissuade him.

"No, Amy. The law can't do enough justice to this. He will pay someone again and get out even before he faces the trials. Shoot him, Aaron. End this", Daniel nodded at him.

"Stop. Give me the gun, Aaron", Lia told him coming in between.

"Lia, this is not up for negotiation", Aaron warned her.

"I said give me the gun", Lia told him again.

"Lia, I will-"