Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain-Chapter 292: THE UNEXPECTED TURN

Lyle had told her that there was a new deal. It was something that she would prefer to be dead instead of going through with. She wondered what the worst thing that they could have planned for her was.

"Can’t we make another deal? This one can satisfy you. Tell me, what do you want?" Hazel observed Axel. This man was in his early forties; he looked poised and in good shape. She wouldn’t be able to take him down in her current condition.

Hell, in her current injured state, Hazel knew she wouldn’t even stand a chance against Kyle, despite his reputation as the weakest fighter compared to Lyle.

Adding to her predicament was the fact that Ashlyn was with her. Hazel had to prioritize finding a way to ensure her daughter’s safety. She could feel Ashlyn’s small fingers gripping the front part of her shirt tightly.

And Hazel was grateful that Ashlyn did really well at remaining silent despite her fear, because the last thing Hazel wanted was to attract these people’s attention to her daughter.

"What I want is not something that you can give, Mrs. Leighton." Axel tilted his head. "I know Daniel will withdraw the offer. He is too soft-hearted. That’s why I have to go forward and deal with this matter myself."

"That’s why you joined the McKennas?" Hazel tried to gather as much information as she could and bought herself time while thinking of a way out of this situation.

"That, and the Lozens." He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes at all. "I am sure this conversation will confuse you, so let’s skip it."

"No, not at all." Hazel shook her head. "You wanted to take revenge on Ranon because he killed your sister’s future husband, while you have a grudge against the Lozens because Arthur Lozen had made your niece an orphan and destroyed the Denvers." Hazel simplified the situation to keep Axel talking. "And because the Lozens and Ranon joined hands, you thought it was a good opportunity to destroy them both, am I right?"

Axel looked surprised, his calm expression cracked, and Hazel hated the next words he said. "Oh, as expected from Ranon’s woman. You must have learned a lot from him."

It felt like an insult, as if she had no other personality except to be Ranon’s woman.

"I am not just Ranon’s woman." Hazel’s voice dropped into a dangerous tone. "You had better watch what you say, or you will regret it. You don’t know who I am."

Kyle was the first one to laugh at Hazel’s words, because they sounded ridiculous. "Everyone knows who you are, Mrs. Leighton. You are the abandoned daughter of the Rose family. You would never be in the spotlight if it were not for your husband, who married you because you got pregnant."

There was a satisfied smile on Kyle’s lips when he said that; he looked very smug.

"Oh, right. I know that. Do you think you and Ranon can hide it? That baby is the reason why he married you."

Kyle indeed knew what he was saying, and Hazel wouldn’t deny that, but her focus was not on him because the real danger came from Axel, not Kyle.

"Is your niece still having nightmares? Is she still afraid of being suffocated? I am sure it must have been hard on her to see how her father died."

Hazel remembered that River had put a plastic bag around Laith Denver’s father. That was how she killed him. In her defense, she didn’t know that she was there.

Even though Hazel was not sure whether or not Laith had a nightmare over it, she was certain that it was not something that you could get over easily.

And Axel’s expression confirmed that.

"What?" Hazel looked at Axel’s furious expression. "I thought we were going to throw out other people’s dirty laundry here."

And a gunshot rang in the air.

***

When Ranon returned to the apartment with Ares and Lucian, the place was spotless. There was no sign of what had occurred earlier.

It was already afternoon, and Ranon didn’t get a wink of sleep at all. Even though he could feel the exhaustion, his mind didn’t let him put his guard down.

Ares and Lucian looked at each other; neither of them dared to make a sound, as if they were afraid Ranon was going to lose it. They had witnessed how crazy Ranon could be when he lost his mind.

However, they didn’t think breaking up with Ema could be compared to losing both his wife and his daughter.

They still didn’t know Hazel and Ashlyn’s whereabouts. All of the men at their disposal had been deployed, but they had not drawn a good result.

They also paid close attention to the Barlowes and the McKennas.

"Ranon," Ares called him, but Lucian stopped him.

"Not now, let him be." Lucian then took Ares to the kitchen so they could make coffee or find something to eat. Because Renna is in the hospital, no food was available.

Meanwhile, Ranon went to his bedroom, as if he were looking for Hazel. He stared at the bed, where he would find her and their daughter cuddled together.

But this time, the bed was empty.

He went to Ashlyn’s bedroom absentmindedly and picked up her stuffed bunny. She loved this and would sleep with it.

He couldn’t find his daughter here, either.

However, he was very collected. Too calm, it became concerning.

After that, Ranon went to his study and sat down. For a long moment, he didn’t do anything. He simply stared into the distance, deep in thought.

Cam had found Hazel’s rings; they had been thrown away in the field. They also saw a blood stain on the grass, indicating that someone was hurt.

Ranon then fished out his phone and made a call.

"Do you call me now to brag?" Gayle chuckled when he picked up the phone. "No hurt feelings, Ranon. This is only business." His tone was light, as if not so long ago, they were not neck-to-neck against each other.

"I want to offer you something."

"For what? For this little boy?" Gayle was bemused. After all, Archie was still with him, and he wouldn’t have any use for him now since the hit was off and he failed to get Ranon’s daughter or his wife.

"No."

***

Hazel hugged Ashlyn very tightly. She had never been this scared for her whole two lives, but now she felt her legs were about to buckle when she heard the gunshot pierce the air.

Her first instinct was to protect her daughter, thinking she was shot, but that was not the case. It was actually Kyle, who had been shot by... Olivia.

Olivia’s hands were trembling as she held the gun against her brother, while Kyle cursed loudly because his sister shot him in the stomach.

Olivia aimed for the gun in his hand, but she missed; after all, she didn’t have good marksmanship.

"What are you doing?!" Kyle roared angrily at his sister.

As the situation turned, Lyle lifted his head to see what had happened.

"Wh—What have you done to Lyle?!" Olivia shouted back. She felt like crying when she saw Lyle’s condition. "How could you be so cruel to your own siblings?!" She hated this family with passion, and now she hated it even more.

"Drop the gun!" Kyle yelled at Olivia loudly. He couldn’t believe his own sister had shot him.

"Don’t you dare to move! I will shoot you too!" Olivia threatened Axel, who wanted to take the gun that Kyle had dropped from the ground. It was thrown under his feet. "What are you doing?! Leave! Now!" Olivia yelled at Hazel. "Bring your daughter and leave!"

Hazel couldn’t believe this... She saw fear in Olivia’s eyes as well as determination. She didn’t waste her time and then ran toward the exit, as she heard a few people rushing here.

"Thank you," Hazel said to Olivia, but she was not sure if she heard her or not. She also didn’t get the gun from under Axel’s feet, because it was too close to him, and that man could grab her.

Even though she trusted Olivia, Hazel didn’t trust her marksmanship. Olivia wouldn’t be able to help her if Axel grabbed her.

Therefore, while a gun might offer her some protection, it wasn’t worth risking her only way out of here.

Thankfully, the door to the alley at the back was unlocked. Lyle had done his part before they got him for good.

Another gunshot rang, and Hazel turned around out of instinct to see Olivia’s body fall to the ground. Lyle and Kyle roared angrily at Axel as the McKennas’ men tackled him to the ground.

However, Hazel didn’t stay to see the aftermath, because she couldn’t afford it. She prayed Olivia would be fine. No matter the circumstances, Axel wouldn’t be so brazen as to kill her, would he?

Hazel ran as fast as her sore feet could take her. The wound on her shoulder opened again, and now it was bleeding, while Ashlyn was safely tucked in her chest.

Ashlyn had done very well not to make a sound.

"Good job, baby. Good job." Hazel hastened her steps to reach the main road. She had to go faster before someone went after her.

They didn’t send anyone yet; it must be because they were still shocked that Olivia was shot, but there was no guarantee that Hazel was safe until she could be with him.

Ranon...