Wayne''s heart pounded furiously, every word from Thaddeus shaking him to his core!


    Ever since Avery had set foot in Helgen, Wayne had been nothing but a pawn under hismand. Serving him all these years had left Wayne numb, forgetting the days when he stood tall and proud, his heart aze with righteousness and fervor!


    With a sudden whoosh-


    Another dagger, its de gleaming menacingly, lunged towards Thaddeus from the side!


    "Look out!"


    Wayne''s eyes widened, his heart threatening to burst from his chest!


    Unexpectedly, Thaddeus, as if he had eyes on the side of his head, swiftly caught the assassin''s wrist and with a sharp snap, broke it.


    Disarming the attacker in one fluid motion, he thenunched a high kick, sending the man crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.


    The sound of breaking bones was terrifying, sending shivers down Wayne''s spine.


    From this single encounter, Wayne realized that Thaddeus, usually seen as a high and mighty CEO, living in thep of luxury, was far moreplex than he had imagined. A man of both brains and brawn, a true warrior in the boardroom and on the streets!


    His understanding of Thaddeus was barely the tip of the iceberg.


    Without someone powerful supporting him from behind, how could Avery ever hope to stand against such a force?


    The dark alleyway turned into a bloody battleground!


    Though it''s said that one can hardly fight against overwhelming numbers, in front of Thaddeus, the stunning "Angel of Death," the crisis seemed to melt away.


    One after another, attackers wereid out on the ground.


    Back to back, they stood ready for what was toe.


    Blood spattered across Thaddeus'' cheeks, hands, and his once pristine shirt cor, he resembled a dashing mob boss, embodying a violent grace.


    "Chief Wayne, I told you, partnering with Avery is a dead end. From the moment he approached you, he''s been plotting behind your back, nning to dispose of you once you''ve outlived your usefulness."


    "You don''t know... You can''t understand my reasons!" Wayne clutched his wounded arm, cold sweat mixing with beads of perspiration streaming down his face.


    "Joining us is your only way out!" Thaddeus'' expression was stern, his tone both calm and sincere.


    "A way out? Do I even have one?"


    Wayne let out a bitterugh, "I might escape today, but what about tomorrow?" Thaddeus'' gaze darkened, silent.


    Even if they joined forces to take down Avery, what awaited Wayne was the stern judgment of thew.


    The attackers regrouped, determined to corner them once and for all!


    The leader, aiming to make a name for himself, took advantage of the chaos to target Wayne, weakened from his injuries, and raised his dagger, aiming straight for his head with a vicious gleam in his eyes!


    "Ugh—!"


    Unexpectedly, with just one hand, Wayne mmed the leader to the ground, then stepped hard on his chest, causing the man to cough up blood in agony!


    A lion remains a lion, even when cornered!


    Wayne''s eyes zed with a fierce red as he raised the dagger high, ready to strike at the man''s vulnerable spot!


    In that moment, he seemed even more a killer than the assassins themselves.


    "Stop! Hold it!"


    Thaddeus roared, rushing forward to grasp Wayne''s knife-wielding hand, "We cannot kill. That''s a line we do not cross!"


    "What else are we supposed to do? Wait for them to kill us?!" Wayne''s voice was hoarse with desperation.


    "If it''s for self-defense, I won''t stop you, but that''s not what this is!"


    Thaddeus'' eyes were sharp as swords, cutting deep into Wayne, "You''re afraid he''ll be caught and spill secrets. You want to silence him for good!" Wayne was shaken to his core!


    But his hand still struggled to plunge the dagger into the attacker''s chest; if not for Thaddeus'' superior strength, he would have already ended it all!


    Meanwhile, sirens wailed closer.


    The other attackers, too injured to even attempt escape,y defeated, while two tried to flee, only to be apprehended by the police arriving on the scene. "Thaddeus!"


    "Mr. Thaddeus!"


    Aaron and Gordon ran up to Thaddeus, shocked at the sight of him covered in blood, their souls nearly leaving their bodies!


    "Mr. Thaddeus! Are you hurt?!" Gordon''s hands trembled, unsure where to touch, on the verge of tears.


    "I''ve called an ambnce; it will be here any minute! Hang in there, brother-in-w!" Aaron, usually unppable, was pale with worry.


    Thaddeus wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, trying not tough:


    "I''m fine, this blood isn''t mine."


    "Oh, my goodness, my poor pants and shoes! Thank heavens, thank Buddha!" Gordon sped his hands in prayer, relieved.


    Aaron also breathed a sigh of relief, "If something happened to you, how could I ever face my sister?"


    "Don''t worry."


    Thaddeus'' eyes sparkled with determination, "I promised to protect Evadne for life, and nothing will ever happen to me."


    The attackers were led away in handcuffs, and the weapons on the scene were confiscated.


    Aaron approached Wayne with a solemn face and respectful tone:


    "Chief Wayne, please head to the hospital once the ambnce arrives."


    "I''m not going to the hospital; I need to be with my wife."


    Wayne''s voice was weak, but his gaze was fiercely determined, "She''s in critical condition... I must go to her now!"


    "There''s no need."


    Wayne turned abruptly to see Thaddeus, calm as ever, approaching him, "Your wife is safe; the emergency room story was just that—a story."


    Wayne was stunned, "What do you mean? The call came from..."


    "You know exactly why this happened, and who has the power to orchestrate it."


    Yes, it was a trap set by Avery.


    Wayne, with no children and his parents long gone, had only one vulnerability— his wife.


    So, Avery either bribed or threatened a trusted doctor to lie about his wife''s condition, luring Wayne away from the safety of his office, aiming to eliminate him once and for all.


    Such treachery, such malice!


    Had Thaddeus not arrived in time, and had Gordon not called Aaron to bring reinforcements, Wayne''s fate might have been sealed!


    "My injuries are minor; I can handle them. I have other matters to attend to."


    As Wayne attempted to leave, Aaron stepped in front of him, his gaze heavy, blocking his path.


    "Look, Chief Wayne, if you''re not keen on hitting up the hospital, how about you swing by the station with me? We''ve got medics on deck who can stitch you up and get you bandaged in no time."