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Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 The First Confrontation With Ophelia
"Ophelia, I... I'm fine," Evelyn replied, her eyes evasive, glancing at Osborne beside her with a mix of hatred, anger, and profound embarrassment.
She couldn't bring herself to tell Ophelia what she had endured in that dreadful half-hour just now.
Admitting it would mean losing all dignity.
Ophelia, taking Evelyn's words at face value, snapped angrily, "Osborne, you bastard! Let my mother go this instant and beg for my forgiveness, or don't expect me to hold back!"
Osborne sneered, "Hold back?
"Ophelia, when have you ever shown mercy? We were married for three years, and you know exactly how you treated me. You left me with nothing!"
Ophelia scoffed, "Marrying you was already a favor. After three years with someone as worthless as you, I feel nothing but disgust and regret.
"I didn't demand compensation for my lost time and just let you leave. Be grateful for that."
Her words dripped with arrogance, echoed by the rest of the Caldwell family.
"Right. Ophelia's status is far too noble for the likes of you, a lowly orphan. Being married to her should have been enough for you. Show some gratitude!"
"Yeah, face reality, you worthless fool. Who do you think you are, being with Ophelia?"
"Know your place. Don't touch what doesn't belong to you, or else."
"Your existence shames the Caldwell family!"
Their voices rang out, united against Osborne.
Ophelia's tone turned dismissive. "Osborne, all you want is money, right? Fine, I'll give you a hundred thousand dollars, but release Evelyn immediately."
Her words implied disdain, treating him like a beggar.
"A hundred thousand dollars?"
Osborne glanced at Evelyn, mocking, "So, a stepmother isn't worth much to you. Just a hundred thousand dollars?"
Enraged, Ophelia shot back, "Then how much do you want?"
Coolly, Osborne replied, "As I've said, a hundred million dollars."
"You must be dreaming!"
Ophelia's voice turned cold. "Osborne, you've truly lost your mind. Who do you think you are? You're not fit to demand anything."
Osborne's reply was chillingly calm. "I am more than fit!
"If it weren't for my covert protection, you'd have been ruined by your rivals. You'd never have been in control of the Caldwell family's billions of dollars."
Ophelia froze, then erupted into laughter, clutching her stomach.
"So, I'd be dead without your protection?
"Osborne, when did you start living in a fantasy?
"My position in the Caldwell family is earned through my skills. What does it have to do with you?
"You really have the nerve to brag."
Osborne smirked coldly, refusing to engage further.
He simply stated, "Believe what you want. All I know is I deserve my fair share of the divorce settlement. If you won't give it, I'll snap her neck right here."
With a tightening grip, Evelyn cried out in pain.
Ophelia glared at him icily. "You're asking for death!"
She gestured, and her bodyguards swiftly drew their handguns from their holsters, aiming directly at Osborne.
"You hear me, you waste? Release Evelyn now, or don't blame me for ordering them to shoot!"
Madness flickered in Osborne's eyes as he replied coldly, "Ophelia, give the order and see what happens. I didn't come here planning to leave alive. I'd rather take her down with me!"
He tightened his grip on Evelyn's neck, and she cried out in pain, "Please, don't shoot!"
Ophelia's voice remained chillingly calm. "Osborne, do you really think holding Evelyn hostage will force me to give you the money? You stupid fool!
"And do you think you're the only one with a hostage?"
She suddenly pulled out her phone and unlocked the screen.
"Take a good look at who she is!"
On the screen appeared a hospital room, where a frail girl of seventeen or eighteen lay on a bed, pale and peacefully asleep like a sleeping elf.
Suddenly, a dark gun barrel appeared, pressed against her temple.
In an instant, Osborne's mind exploded with a deafening roar.
"Anastasia!
"Ophelia, you bitch!"
Osborne roared furiously, his face twisted with rage.
Ophelia actually sent someone to the hospital, holding a gun to his critically ill sister's head!
Anastasia Augustine was everything to him, the one person Osborne would protect at any cost!
With a confident smirk, Ophelia faced the panicked Osborne. "Useless. I told you, you can't outmatch me!
"Now, release Evelyn immediately, and come to me begging for mercy and forgiveness. Otherwise, one word from me, and Anastasia will never wake up again.
"You hear me?
"Let her go!
"Now!"
Ophelia's voice boomed, her eyes ablaze with arrogance.
Osborne shook uncontrollably, eyes burning with rage and despair.
"I'll count down to one. If you don't release Evelyn, I'll order them to shoot.
"Three!"
Ophelia's voice was like ice, sealing his fate.
Osborne was trapped. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Before him, over twenty gun barrels pointed directly at him.
And in the hospital, Anastasia had a gun held to her head.
"Two!"
Ophelia continued her countdown.
Her once beautiful face was now cold and resolute, hand poised to give the fatal order.
Finally, she uttered the last word.
"One!
"Fire!"