The night wind whispered softly again in the backyard of the old house.
But the atmosphere was no longer the same as it had been a few minutes earlier.
The conversation between Ethan and Richard Blackwood had changed everything.
There was no room for compromise anymore.
Adrian Cole still stood a few meters in front of them, his phone now dark in his hand after the call had disconnected.
The armed men behind him remained on high alert.
No one moved.
Daniel stared at Ethan from the side.
"Copies of the files?" he whispered softly.
Ethan did not turn his head.
"It was a bluff."
Daniel let out a short breath.
"I thought as much."
Victor Hale immediately looked paler.
"You're joking…"
Leonard Graves only smiled slightly.
"A good bluff."
Adrian looked at Ethan more seriously now.
"If that's true…"
he paused for a moment.
"…then killing you tonight won't solve anything."
Leonard replied casually,
"Exactly."
Daniel said,
"But that also means you can't let us leave."
