Chapter 316 The Only Thing Left


    A soft voice called out, "Daddy...


    The moment Mia heard it, her eyes darkened further with fury.


    +8 Pearls


    Clearly, this man had abused Lauren''s daughter too-there was no other reason the child would be this scared of him.


    Mia started walking toward him step by step.


    But before she could get close, a crowd of vigers rushed over, blocking the path.


    "Where the hell is this outsider from? She came into our vige and killed someone-we can''t let her get away!"


    "Call the cops quick!"


    Seeing the vigers rally to his side, the man straightened his back with false confidence. He marched toward Mia, reaching jout to grab the girl from her arms.


    But Mia held the child close with one arm. The knife in her other hand was already drawn.


    Just as the tension hit its peak, sirens cut through the air.


    Police cars arrived on the scene with ring urgency.


    Mia''s heart sank. There was no getting out of this.


    She quickly set the child down, then grabbed the man and pressed her de to his neck, taking him hostage.


    "You''d better not move, she warned coldly. "This knife won''t show mercy."


    The man froze, shaking. 1–I won''t. Just don''t kill me."


    "Drop your weapon!" shouted the officers, spreading out and herding the vigers back. Guns were trained on her from every direction.


    "You''re surrounded. There''s no escape. Surrender now!


    Mia knew she couldn''t run.


    She''d epted this day woulde from the moment she killed the first one.


    Now, every person who had hurt Lauren was dead.


    Even if she died here today, she had no regrets.


    The only thing she couldn''t let go of... was Lauren''s daughter.


    Still holding the man hostage, she nced down at the child.


    The girl trembled in fear, instinctively wrapping her arms around Mia''s leg.


    Mia''s expression softened. "It''s okay, baby. From now on, no one''s ever going to hurt you again."


    The child''s big te


    ''s big tears fell one after another.


    "Madam, are they all bad people here to take you away?" she asked, pointing to the armed officers.


    Hearing her speak up in Mia''s defense, Mia felt her chest tighten. Her eyes burned.


    She blinked the tears away and shook her head. "No, sweetheart. They''re police officers. They''re the good guys. Let go of Madam and walk to them, okay?"


    Chapter 316 The Only Thing Left


    Mia''s tears spilled over.


    She hadn''t expected Lauren''s daughter to cling to her like this after just one meeting.


    It broke her and warmed her at the same time.


    "Be good..."


    "No" the girl wailed, soaking Mia''s clothes with tears. Her cries echoed through the tense silence like thunder.


    Twant Madam! They''re all mean! They hit me, they yell at me... only Madam protects me!"


    Her tiny chest rose and fell rapidly, her emotions spiraling.


    Mia''s heart ached as she watched her cry.


    Of course she wanted to raise Lauren''s daughter herself. But she knew... that was never going to happen.


    She gently stroked the girl''s hair, trying to soothe her-but the child suddenly clutched her wrist tight.


    ''Don''t leave me, Madam. I''m scared."


    Her tear-streaked face looked up at Mia, helpless and terrified.


    Mia opened her mouth, but no words came out.


    She had nothing to promise.


    Then, someone shouted from the crowd.


    "Mia-


    She stiffened and turned toward the voice.


    +8 Pearis


    Their eyes n


    met.


    Mia''s breath hitched-she never expected him to find her here.


    Josh''s face was pale with worry. His voice trembled with urgency.


    "Mia, stop! Don''t kill anyone else. Please-turn yourself in."


    Mia gave him a bitter smile. "Josh... I''ve already made peace with dying. The only


    thing I can''t let go of... is Lauren''s daughter."


    She ran her fingers gently through the little girl''s hair, her eyes full of love.


    Josh''s eyes widened. “Lauren''s daughter?"


    He nced down at the child clinging to Mia''s leg. "You mean her?"


    Mia nodded. "Yes. This is Lauren''s daughter. When they took her kidney, they also injected her with fertility drugs. Those monsters were nning ahead-when their kidneys started failing, they were going to take hers."


    "Lauren was such a good person. Her entire life was destroyed by scum. She died.... never even knowing she had a child."


    Mia''s voice cracked. The tears came again-thick and unstoppable.