Chapter 1004

Brad threw up a hand, stopping Ethan mid-step.

"Brad, have you lost your mind?" said Ethan, his voice urgent. "Did Josh really put you up to this? Are you going after Daniela because of him? Josh is always pulling strings from the shadows. And you're just another pawn. If he wanted her gone, why didn't he do it himself? Why sent you? He already tricked me twice.And you're still following his orders? If this comes out,Hamilton will come for your neck. Why drag yourself into this mess? You lost money. Fine. But that's not the end of the world. Didn't you invest in Daniela's company? You'll get dividends. So why are you doing this?"

Brad didn't speak right away. After a long pause, he muttered, "Josh promised me forty percent of McCoy Group's shares if I take care of Daniela."

That was forty percent!

Ethan scoffed, "And you actually believe him? Even if McCoy Group gets rebuilt, what makes you think Josh could keep it running? If you go through with this,Hamilton won't forgive you. And he won't lift a finger to help you run anything either. What's the point of owning forty percent of a company that won't last?Even if you owned all of it, it's still built on sand." Ethan leaned in, speaking slowly now. "Daniela's different. She fought for everything she has. You've seen her work. You've seen what she can do. Do you really think you'll be broke if you stand with her instead?"

Brad didn't answer. His fingers wrapped tight around the fruit knife in his pocket, then released. Again and again. His thoughts spun in circles. None of it made sense anymore.

Ethan, unaware of the storm inside him, kept trying "Come on, Brad. Let this go. Please. Don't throw yourself away."

But Brad couldn't listen. His head was full of noise.And then it hit him. He had already started poisoning Daniela. It was too late.

He dropped his gaze and whispered, "No, Ethan. I can't stop now. Tomorrow's the final day."

Ethan's eyes widened. "You're insane. Completely insane. I'm telling Daniela." He spun on his heel,ready to leave. But before he could get far, Brad yanked him back.

Brad' face twisted with murderous intent. Cold and sharp,his voice cut through the space. "No. You can't tell Daniela."

One wrong move, and everything would collapse. If Daniela found out, Cedric would lose control. And Hamilton wouldn't spare him either. It wasn't just one life on the line-it was three. There was no room for mistakes. Absolutely none.

Brad's eyes were wild, streaked with red.

"Ethan, please," he said, clutching the knife inside his coat pocket. "I've always been nice to you. You know that, don't you? Just this once. Listen to me. I need you to stay quiet."

Something in Brad's tone sent a chill down Ethan's spine. He paused, reading the panic behind the rage.His pulse jumped. Then, forcing a tight smile, he said,"Alright. I hear you. I won't tell her."

He turned away, steps light, almost cautious. But after just two strides, he felt it. Cold steel pressed against his back.

Ethan froze. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.

And then pain exploded through him. A warm rush spread across his lower back, sharp and blinding.

His eyes widened in disbelief. "Brad..."

Blood spilled from his mouth as his knees buckled.He ht the floor with a lifeless thud.

Brad crouched beside him, his hands soaked in red. In his mind, Ethan's voice kept replaying. "I'm going to tell Daniela."

Brad' breathing turned ragged. His eyes twitched with something close to madness. "I'm sorry, Ethan," he whispered. "I can't lose everything. Not now. You have to die."

He dragged the body into the bathroom and tossed it into the tub. Then he twisted the faucet on.

The sound of rushing water filled the room.Under the harsh light, with Ethan still watching in shock, Brad struck again. And again.

Blood smeared the tiles, spiraling into the drain.

Ethan fought at first, fists weakly grasping Brad's clothes. "Brad..."

But his grip faded. His voice vanished.

Only the wet scrape of the fruit knife remained. And the endless sound of water washing it all away.