Chapter 1019

The night grew darker with every passing moment.

The silence was so heavy that even the faintest breath could be heard.

Josh eased open the door to his room, moving with deliberate slowness.

Once inside, he tightened his grip on the fruit knife,his eyes flicking to the wide floor-to-ceiling window left open, letting in a cool breeze.

The sheer curtains swayed lightly in the wind.

Bathed in the pale moonlight, Josh slipped behind them,his steps soundless.

Brad had been lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect chance to make his move.

Tonight, that chance finally arrived.

The streets were quiet, and with Josh's window open,Brad only needed to slip inside and strike once.

Brad's eyes burned with vengeance. Tonight, he planned for Josh's life to end.

Meanwhile, in Daniela's villa, Hamilton stared at her."Why are you heading out so late?" Daniela laughed while pulling on her sneakers. "I'm just taking a walk with Carol. She wants to grab cake from the corner bakery."

Hamilton frowned, uneasy. "I'll come with you."

Carol folded her arms. "Two women shopping, and you want to tag along? How will we start up a conversation if we meet handsome guys? If you insist on coming, I'll flirt with Nikolas and make him marry me."

Hamilton's eyes widened. "What did you just say?"

Carol pulled Daniela along, tossing a comment over her shoulder. "Don't get in my way of finding a boyfriend."

The two women left the villa and slipped into a car parked at the corner.

Back at Josh's villa, Brad saw no one around. He scaled the wall carefully, climbing up to the second floor.

Josh stood hidden behind the curtains, already alert.His eyes narrowed as the blade in his hand caught the moonlight, gleaming with a cold, sharp edge.

Then he heard the faint shuffle of footsteps.

Josh's lips curled into a sinister smirk, his grip onthe knife tightening.

Brad's shadow stretched across the floor, clashing with the flickering outline of the curtains.

Josh's grin widened as he lifted his hand.

One step closer. That was all it would take.

The blade could then sink into Brad's body, erasing another rival for the McCoy family's fortune.

Josh let out a low, sinister laugh as the shadow on the floor crept closer.

His eyes narrowed,ready to strike.

Brad caught sight of the gleaming knife, but it was already too late.

He realized, with a jolt of fear,that Josh had lured him into a trap.

The missing patrols and vanished security were all part of the setup.

Regret washed over Brad, but there was no time left.He shut his eyes, bracing for the end.

In that instant, a sudden force yanked him backward.

His eyes snapped open just as the knife sliced through the air where he had stood. A strong grip pulled him away,making him stumble.

Then Josh's voice roared outside, "Guards! Catch him!Now!"

Before Brad could process what had happened,he was shoved into a black car.

The vehicle spun around and raced out of Josh's villa,slipping through the gates before they closed.

Brad trembled as he glanced back, his thoughts spinning.

Behind them, Josh's bodyguards gave chase but were left in the dust, their anger spilling into curses as they stopped at the roadside.

Brad's heart pounded as he steadied himself, ready to ask Daniela, "Why are you here?"

But before a word left his mouth, the car door swung open, and Daniela pushed him out.

Caught off balance, Brad hit the ground hard.

The car sped away, not once looking back.

Staring blankly, Brad watched the taillights vanish around the corner.

It dawned on him that he'd been given another chance to bring down Josh.

Inside the car, Carol shook her head. "Why save a fool like him? He's worthless, falling for such a cheap trap." Daniela's voice was calm. "It amuses me. Everyone stumbles, but Brad will get it right eventually. I have no intention of dirtying my hands with McCoy family matters." Carol glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

Since her pregnancy, Daniela had carried herself with an almost unshakable calm, as if nothing could ruffle her.

Yet in that moment, Carol saw flashes of the sharp,commanding leader she had once known.

Josh, meanwhile, was seething. Fury drove him straight to Daniela's home.

By the time he arrived, Daniela had just stepped out of her car.

Carol, mindful of her condition, drove at a careful pace.

Daniela barely set foot on the drveway before Josh's angry voice cut through the night. "Daniela! What have I done to deserve this? Why are you toying with me like this?"

Daniela opened her mouth to reply, but the villa's door swung open.

Cedric stepped out, about to speak, when a dark shadow darted past. Instinctively, he grabbed Daniela's hand,pulling her a few steps back with him.