?Chapter 881:


    Frozen in ce, Vince could only stare at her, speechless.


    Relentless steps from Maia cornered him until his back pressed hard against the cold ss behind him.


    A thick barrier of ss, just four and a half feet tall, stood between him and open space. Any misstep would send him plummeting. Far below, the ground waited, stone upon stone — there would be no surviving such a fall.


    A tremor rattled through Vince’s voice. “Maia… do you want to see me fall apart?” His confidence withered, leaving him pale and drenched in sweat, every ounce of strength leaning into the ss for support.


    Towering over him, Maia looked down with nothing but disdain. Slowly, her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. “Look at yourself, Vince. You’re the only joke here.”


    Her words stung like a p, shattering what little pride Vince had left.


    Wide-eyed and exposed, he realized everyst ounce of bravado was gone. With clenched teeth, he tried to hold himself together, but his legs finally gave out beneath him.


    Drained of all resolve, he dropped to the floor.


    A wild, brokenugh burst from Vince — loud and echoing, like a man with nothing left to lose. Tears mixed with sweat as he clutched the detonator in both hands, a wild look in his eyes.


    He mmed his thumb down. The button clicked loudly beneath his touch.


    Time froze. The silence barelysted before the entire crowd erupted in sheer panic.


    “Everybody down!”


    “There’s a bomb! It’ll blow!”


    “Damn it! He pushed the button!”


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    People bolted in every direction, their cries filling the air as they dropped to the floor. Parents clutched their kids, shielding them with trembling arms and broken sobs. Maia stayed rooted.


    She didn’t flinch. Her expression stayed cold—eyes sharp, unwavering. Chris remained still, too.


    He kept his eyes on Maia. There was no fear in him. All he possessed now was a quiet strength that wouldn’t bend, not even now.


    A sharp click cut through the air.


    The button went down once.


    Then again.


    And again after that.


    More clicks followed in rapid bursts.


    Vince looked unhinged. He kept jabbing the controller like a man desperate to prove he still held power over the moment.


    Still, it stayed quiet.


    No eruption tore through the air.


    No ze burst into life.


    No trace of smoke appeared.


    Not even the tiniest flicker showed itself.


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