Before my eyes closed forever, that iron-blooded man had broken down in tears, blaming himself for not protecting me.
Tears slid down my cheeks, and choking back sobs, I spoke into the phone.
“Brother, I regret it… please save my daughter…”
Before I could finish, my phone was taken away again.
“Kendall, are you crazy?!”
“You’re an orphan, where would you get a brother?!”
Aidan’s bloodshot eyes glared at me as he pinned me hard against the wall.
Behind him, Cassidy’s best friend suddenly spoke up.
“Team Leader Aidan, never mind for now that Cassidy was slapped, but Kendall has gone too far!”
“Team Leader Aidan, you’re the top negotiator in the country, yet Kendall refuses to believe you, and instead places her faith in an outsider.”
With every word, Aidan’s face darkened further. He pressed my head down, forcing me to look at the drone video.
“Kendall, open your eyes and look carefully!”
“Your daughter was kidnapped by a lunatic, and he has explosives. Every second you delay is holding back the rescue operation!”
“Do you want to get your daughter killed?!”
On the drone’s feed, the madman had locked all the children inside a classroom. His eyes burned with madness, and crude explosives filled the room.
In the corner, I spotted my daughter at once. She trembled in fear, clutching the Superman doll Aidan had given her.
Remembering how Aidan had abandoned her in my previous life, remembering her body torn apart in that explosion, I clenched my teeth and refused to agree.
“I’ve already asked for recusal. You’re Melanie’s father, you shouldn’t be part of this negotiation!”
After saying that, I pointed at Cassidy and shouted.
“Her daughter is also in the kindergarten. I don’t trust you!”
“I don’t believe you can save the children! I don’t believe you can save Melanie!”
The moment my roar left my lips, something struck my head hard.
“So it’s you who won’t let the negotiator in?!”
“Do you want my grandson to die?!”
“I’ll smash you to death, you little bitch!”
A woman with a fleshy face charged at me, a brick raised high, her expression twisted with rage.
Blood streamed down my forehead, blurring my sight. My vision dimmed, and my legs nearly gave way.
At my ear came Cassidy’s soft, apologetic voice.
“Team Leader Aidan, I really couldn’t stop these parents. They didn’t mean any harm… It’s only because Kendall kept blocking the negotiation and rescue.”