"I''m here," Doretta said timidly, standing at the entrance of the factory.


    "Just the two of you?" Lawrence''s expression darkened, his displeasure evident. To him, Everett and


    Doretta were not the main threats; Aqu was the real concern.


    "What else?" Everett shrugged nonchntly, his demeanor exuding a sense of inevitability. He had


    intentionally separated from Aqu to ensure that, at this moment, he would still have a bargaining


    chip. If they had all been captured by Lawrence, the oue would have been predictable.


    Lawrence demanded coldly, "What happened?"


    Someone approached and reported in a low voice, "They split up during the escape. We have people


    pursuing them, but there''s no update yet." "Then we wait," Lawrence said, regaining hisposure, his


    tone steadying.


    His next actions would depend on whether Aqu was caught or had indeed managed to escape.


    Everett stood his ground, confronting Lawrence, both seemingly awaiting news about Aqu.


    The factory was eerily quiet, the tension palpable. Unnoticed by those inside, arge group of people


    had quietly surrounded the area.


    Thest car slowly came to a halt, and someone immediately approached, saying, "Mr. Johnston,


    they’re inside." "What''s the situation?" Max asked quietly, recognizing Seth.


    "They''re still in a standoff, looks like they''re waiting for news on Aqu," Seth replied.


    Max nced at Jared and informed, "Mr. Johnston, we''ve just received a message from Zane’s men.


    Aqu has been captured." "Move in," Jared instructed calmly.


    "Understood." With that, Seth signaled the operatives with a gesture.


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    All at once, the teamplied, breaching the gate and storming in.


    Caught off guard by the sudden intrusion, Lawrence and Everett were initially stunned, then red at


    each other, usingly shouting, "You brought them here!"


    It was clear these weren''t their men. If not Jared''s, then they had to be Zane''s or possibly the police''s-


    none of whom would bode well for them.


    "We need to leave," Lawrence decided hastily, ready to take Ian and flee.


    However, Everett grabbed Lawrence, well aware that if Lawrence and his men retreated now, he''d be


    left utterly defenseless and with no choice but to surrender.


    Falling into their hands meant having no chance of escape or negotiation.


    "Let go. This is the consequence of your escape from the hotel. Deal with it yourself," Lawrence


    snapped, shaking off Everett.


    "Lawrence, don''t think for a moment that your actions are unknown. If you leave now, you''ll regret it,"


    Everett warned through clenched teeth.


    "What do you mean?" A sinister look shed through Lawrence''s eyes. He believed Everett wasn''t


    merely bluffing; he must have known something crucial, and Lawrence needed to find out what.


    Laughing maniacally, Everett taunted, "The incident from years ago was orchestrated by you, wasn''t it?


    Nicole nearly died by your hand. Have you forgotten?"


    Lawrence''splexion turned from pale to purplish, his eyes shing with rage. He thought, ''How


    could he know?! No one should be aware of that. Even Jared, after all his investigations, found nothing.


    How does Everett know?!''


    With his thoughts in turmoil, Lawrence frowned and ordered, "Take him.


    We leave now."


    He couldn''t worry about the details at this moment. Allowing Everett to fall into their hands would risk


    exposing his secrets.


    "Yes." Ian acknowledged, then shouted to their men, "Hold them off!"


    After giving Everett a warning re, Lawrence sprinted toward the back exit, with Ian quickly following.