Clara's breath hitched.
She looked up at Liam, visibly frightened.
Had he really made his choice?
"Liam," she murmured his name, almost under her breath —yet it was enough to draw his attention. "Don't decide something you might end up blaming yourself for. I won't be able to bear that even after death."
Though her words sounded considerate of Liam's struggle, beneath them lay a subtle reminder of herself.
Liam glanced at her briefly before lifting his gaze back to the man.
"You are just trying to manipulate my sisters," he said coldly, "scaring them of something that isn't going to happen at all."
"Am I?" the man mocked, pointing at himself. "Really?" His gaze darkened ever so slightly.
Liam gritted. "We aren't choosing between them. We are taking both of them together. Tell me exactly what it will take for that —otherwise —"
Bang!
The gunshot cracked through the air before he could finish,
The sharp sound froze everyone to the bone.
Clara screamed in terror. Charlotte gasped, clutching Liam's arm as her knees nearly gave way.
Even Bryer, Liam and Xavier flinched. Neither of them had expected him to fire.
"Seems like I hadn't been very clear about who holds the authority here," the man's cold voice echoed, chilling the room.
Liam frowned, about to speak —but the man cut him off.
"Do you really think you have the power to negotiate with me?"
"I —"
"Choose," the man warned sharply. "Before you lose the chance to. I won't repeat myself a second time."
Silence followed —heavy, suffocating.
Liam inhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down. His jaw tightened as he stared at Clara for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Adelyn.
One glance at him, and his inner struggle was painfully evident.
"Liam," Bryer called out softly, his tone tense. "What do we do now? We have no clue about his identity, and he isn't willing to reveal anything."
Liam looked at his brother. They had thought they could solve everything easily—never expecting the situation to spiral this far.
"We can't avoid the situation anymore," he breathed out.
Charlotte turned to him instantly, fear etched across her face. "Liam …"
He finally looked at her. There was no panic in his eyes —only grim resolve.
Before Bryer could ask, what he was thinking, Liam spoke.
"We need to think clearly," he said quietly. "Right now, emotions won't save either of them."
Charlotte shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes. "No … they are both my daughters. Clara —no, I can't lose her. I found her after so many years. I can't lose her."
Bryer looked at his mother, confusion flickering in his gaze. He wanted to say something —but seeing her anxiety, he swallowed his words.
Even Xavier frowned, though he stayed silent. He believed Liam wouldn't wrong Adelyn —not in a situation like this.
"I know," Liam replied firmly. "And that's exactly why we can't afford to make a reckless choice."
His gaze shifted to Clara.
And in that moment, his decision became evident.
The bias in his eyes was subtle enough to escape most —but not Bryer or Xavier, who were watching him closely.
Bryer's brows knitted together. "Liam," he whispered, "you can't be actually thinking that?"
Liam didn't answer him immediately.
Instead, he lowered his voice further and spoke just enough for Charlotte, Bryer and Xavier to hear.
"Clara can't be put at risk," he said. "Not right now."
Charlotte relaxed slightly, her breathing easing. "Yes … Clara. We can't lose her."
"Mom, we can't lose Adelyn either," Bryer said, unable to hold back any further.
Charlotte frowned. "Bryer, what are you saying. That's not what I meant. Adelyn is equally important. I am just asking you two not to forget Clara's state."
"Mom, you —"
"Bryer!" Liam cut in sharply. "Don't twist this into something it's not. We are not ignoring Adelyn. We are just making the best choice we have right now —and that choice is Clara."
His gaze flicked toward Clara, who was shaking uncontrollably, her fear pouring out of her.
"She is emotionally unstable," Liam continued quietly. "One wrong move, one wrong word —and she will break. You saw it yourself. She won't survive another blow. Not mentally."
He paused before adding, "And even if she did, explaining everything afterwards would be impossible. She hasn't grown close to us —not yet. Choosing Adelyn would only push Clara further away."
Bryer's fists clenched. "And why are you so confident that it will be easier for Adelyn?"
"Because Adelyn is different," Liam answered almost immediately, as though he had calculated this long ago. "She always understands us. She will understand us this time as well."
While everyone was still searching for a way to save both sisters, Liam had already made his decision.
Xavier frowned sharply. "What are you implying, Liam?"
Liam looked at him. His brows drew together, not liking that he had to explain so much.
"Xavier, at least you should understand," he said. "You know everything Clara went through all these years. We never hid it from you."
Xavier's frown deepened —but before he could argue, Liam spoke again, his voice dropping even further.
"And I have already made arrangements," he said calmly. "Everything that can be controlled is under control."
Xavier stiffened. "Arrangements?"
"Yes," Liam replied. "Backup. Exit plans. Countermeasures." His gaze flicked briefly toward the kidnapper —calculating. "Nothing will happen to Adelyn."
Charlotte's breath trembled. "Liam, what if Adelyn —"
"Mom," he interrupted gently, taking her hand. "Trust me, I know what I am doing. And if Adam and father were here, he would agree with me on this as well."
"But Adelyn—she —"
"She will be fine, Mom," Liam said, gesturing toward Adelyn's way. "She won't panic. She won't scream. She won't give him the leverage. And above all, …"
He paused.
"She won't blame us."
Bryer's expression darkened. "You are using her calmness against her."
Liam didn't deny it.
Because he actually was.
Not out of malice —but convenience.
And somehow, that made it even worse.
"I am relying on it," he said quietly, "Because right now, she is the only one who can endure this without collapsing."
Xavier stepped forward sharply. "That's not fair to her. But —"
Liam understood what he meant.
He placed a reassuring hand on Xavier's shoulder. "She won't be harmed. I won't allow it."
"But Liam, Clara —" Bryer started again.
"Clara is fragile." Liam cut in. "She needs to be taken out of here first. Adelyn has grown up with us. We all know her strength. She won't break so easily."
Bryer looked toward Adelyn. Her aloof expression wasn't enough to put him at ease. He wasn't comfortable with the decision —but when he looked back at Clara, he understood why Liam had chosen this path.
He nodded slowly. "Fine, I think you are right. Clara needs to be rescued first."
Liam took a deep breath, "Then … since everyone agrees, I —"
"No, wait —" Xavier interrupted.