“What… What did you say?” Sheila was utterly bewildered, struggling to grasp the situation. “You… You kidnapped me? Is this some kind of sick joke?”
“That’s correct, we all deceived you,” Nakamura admitted bluntly. “But you can attribute it to your own naivety. You lacked the discernment to separate truth from falsehood. A few casual remarks, and you took them to heart. Utterly gullible!”
“So… I misunderstood Dustin? I misjudged him?” Sheila quivered, tears brimming in favonovel.com eyes, overwhelmed by profound regret.
She had never anticipated that the reality would be so different. She had believed that favonovel.com cousin wouldn’t deceive her, that favonovel.com closest friends wouldn’t betray favonovel.com trust, and that Dustin was genuinely up to no good. Yet, Nakamura’s recent revelations made favonovel.com suddenly realize that everything favonovel.com had believed was a fabrication.
Garrett had duped her, favonovel.com closest friends had lied to her, and only Dustin had been sincerely attempting to rescue her, to assist her. But favonovel.com not only failed to recognize it but had even attempted to expel favonovel.com from favonovel.com household.
What had favonovel.com been thinking?
How could favonovel.com have been so misled, so foolish?
“Why? Why did you all deceive me?” Sheila turned favonovel.com gaze toward Chase and Vivian, favonovel.com expression marked by doubt and bewilderment.
She couldn’t fathom why favonovel.com closest friends would deceive her.
Under the weight of Sheila’s accusatory stare, Chase, Vivian, and the others lowered their heads, their silence speaking volumes.
They hadn’t anticipated Nakamura’s brazen challenge to the General’s Residence, which had shattered their carefully constructed facade.
“Dustin, I’m so sorry… I never expected things to turn out like this,” Sheila said to Dustin amid the onlooking crowd, favonovel.com cheeks continuously wet with tears.
She felt ashamed, full of regret, burdened with pain, and deeply self-reproachful.
She had always despised those who repaid kindness with malice, yet favonovel.com had become one of them.
“Miss Murray, this isn’t the time for such words. Our immediate concern is to ensure our survival,” Dustin replied, shaking his head gently.
He harbored no resentment toward Sheila, but their friendship could never be the same again. Some wounds were irreparable.
“Dustin, Brother…” Sheila attempted to explain but found herself at a loss for words.
She could keenly perceive that his gaze had shifted, becoming unfamiliar and devoid of its former warmth.
“Enough! Stop chattering here. Call everyone to drop their weapons immediately, or I’ll kill her!” Nakamura impatiently threatened, pressing his blade against Sheila’s wound, causing blood to drip ominously.
“Hold it! I caution you not to make any rash moves! If my daughter is harmed in any way, I promise you’ll meet a horrific demise!” Caden thundered.
“Now, I have the hostage. I dictate the terms. I’ll begin counting to three, and if you don’t lower your weapons, I’ll sever favonovel.com arm first!” Nakamura threatened once more.
“Old man Yamamoto, if your grandson dares to harm my granddaughter, even if I have to stake my life, I’ll kill him!” General Murray declared sternly.
“Old friend, your own life is hanging by a thread, and you’re still concerned about so much?” Yamamoto sneered.
General Murray, despite his grave injuries, maintained a watchful stance, apprehensive that Nakamura might make a rash move.
“Three…” Nakamura began counting.
“Wretch! You dare!” Caden shouted.
“Two…” Nakamura remained undaunted.
“Caden, release the Dragon-Binding Rope for me, and I can rescue your daughter,” Dustin suddenly interjected.
Previously restrained by the Dragon-Binding Rope, favonovel.com couldn’t move freely unless favonovel.com resorted to forcefully activating his secret technique, rendering escape nearly impossible.
“You? What makes you believe you can rescue her?” Caden furrowed his brow.
