Chapter 1390:
A chill surged through Millie. The malice radiating from him was unmistakable, thick enough to choke on.
“Brandon, you tried so very hard to keep those photos hidden. You were terrified the world would see them, terrified her shame would be dragged out into the open.” His grin widened, cruel and triumphant.
“Then…”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out another phone. With a casual swipe, the screen lit up.
“Let us show everyone how she kneels here for me… how I have crushed her dignity and pride, piece by fragile piece.”
Macauley kept the gun barrel pressed firmly against Ari’s temple. His gaze swept over Millie’s body—sharp, mocking—before he snatched the small folding knife she had brought from the car and flung it aside with a clatter.
“Hmph. Quite the little schemer, aren’t you?”
He sneered, then angled the camera straight at Millie. In an instant, a new live feed popped up across multiple platforms, pulling in viewers like wildfire.
“What’s this? Some kind of film set?”
“No chance—that looks exactly like Millie!”
“What the hell is happening?”
Through the shaky video, Macauley’s unhinged laughter echoed.
“Don’t even think about shutting the stream down! Cut it, and I’ll blow her head off!” he barked.
The camera jerked to the side, revealing Ari—tied up, sobbing uncontrollably—while the muzzle stayed locked on her.
“You see her? Good,” Macauley said coldly.
“Now… take a look at this.”
He set the phone down on a nearby surface, tilting it just enough to center Millie in the frame.
Millie lifted her head, meeting Macauley’s eyes without flinching.
Møɍɛ ųρɗα†єş ıŋ ɢαℓŋσνєƖş.ƈσʍ
Her knees throbbed from kneeling on the rough ground. For the briefest moment, her gaze hovered on the hand holding the gun.
She needed to bide her time. She couldn’t just kneel here and wait for fate to do its worst.
Even if Brandon followed Macauley’s orders and brought Vivian here, the odds that she and Ari would be released alive were slim to none.
Relying on Macauley to keep his word was wishful thinking. Men like him never honored deals—not when they held the gun.
Which meant she needed a way to get Ari out.
Millie had already prepared herself to take the fall if needed, but she refused to let Ari die.
Her eyes flicked back to the gun aimed at Ari—then quickly away.
She couldn’t provoke him. Not with Ari in the crosshairs.
When she first entered, Millie had scanned the room carefully. This place was a dead zone—no clear shots from outside. Macauley had clearly planned ahead, blocking every angle with makeshift barriers.
Unless she could lure him out of this dead zone… or, if she could catch the exact moment when the gun drifted away from Ari, she might be able to bring Macauley down—dragging him with her if she had to.
As she weighed every possible move, Macauley stalked toward her.
His hand cracked across her face, the force sending her crashing to the ground.
.
.
.