Chapter 424

Chapter 424:
Nixon held a knife, using it to keep Stella frozen in place. But despite the danger, she stood firm—she wasn’t going to give up those documents.
“I said hand over the documents!” he barked, his voice sharp and filled with menace.
Gritting her teeth, Stella turned to William and urged, “Take the documents and leave! Don’t worry about me!”
Her face was set with quiet resolve—she was ready to face whatever came next. “Go on. He wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you,” she said steadily.
She wasn’t wrong—William’s special position made him a powerful figure in Choria, with influence that extended far beyond the country. Someone like Nixon wouldn’t dare try anything against him.
Seeing William holding the evidence, Nixon grew desperate. He pressed the knife harder against Stella’s neck. A thin line of blood surfaced almost instantly.
“Give it back, Mr. Briggs,” Nixon snapped. “You wouldn’t want her blood on your hands, would you?”
He wasn’t sure how close Stella and William were, but showing up together suggested some level of familiarity.
But what Nixon didn’t expect was William’s sudden move—he simply turned and began striding straight for the exit with the documents in hand.
Caught off guard, Nixon yanked Stella closer, pressing the blade more firmly to her skin. “Hey! What are you doing? Take another step and she dies! Do you hear me? Stay right there!”
But William didn’t so much as flinch. Without turning back, he kept walking, making a direct line for the door.
Nixon was in a complete panic—this was nothing like what he’d anticipated. “Why’d he just leave you like that? Aren’t you two close?” Nixon asked, visibly confused.
Understanding William’s silent message, Stella let out a low chuckle. “Who said we are close? We only just met downstairs. He’s helping the Lawson family—not me.”
Nixon stared at her, baffled. “That can’t be. You’re one of his employees, right? You both work at the institute!”
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He’d gathered that information himself—had it all been wrong?
Stella shrugged. “Exactly. I’m just one employee in a massive company. You think someone like him cares about every one of us?”
Nixon stood frozen, completely thrown off. He had taken Stella hostage, yet it changed nothing—his leverage meant absolutely zero. Watching William walk away without so much as a backward glance shattered whatever confidence he had left.
Stella, seeing the panic rise in his eyes, decided to push harder. “He’s already out of the factory, Nixon. Even if you kill me now, it won’t change a thing. You’re finished—prison is all that’s waiting for you now!”
Nixon turned his head and saw William walking steadily away, his back firm and unyielding.
Desperation took over. With a crazed glare, Nixon yanked Stella toward a shadowy corner of the factory, his grip tightening. His voice was unhinged. “Fine! If I’m going down anyway, I’ll make sure you don’t make it out either!”
Stella locked eyes with him and snapped, “Nixon, you should pay for every life you’ve put at risk. You knew those materials were dangerous, yet you still pushed them through—without a hint of remorse. You brought this on yourself!”
“You bitch! What did you just say?” Nixon snarled, lifting the knife in a fit of rage.
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