?Chapter 173:


    The masked man watched in stunned disbelief, his eyes widening as his certainties crumbled. In his head, Cole and hispanions were supposed to drop like flies. Instead, they were dancing through bullets and mowing down his men like seasoned warriors. Cole and his crew were supposed to be pampered elites—


    Silver-spoon types with manicured hands. So, how in the world did they fight like this? Their aim was ruthless, their reflexes razor-sharp.


    Merritt’s men weren’t amateurs—they were trained, hardened, and utterly merciless. Yet somehow, they were being outssed at every turn.


    Recognizing the turning tide, the masked man slipped away through the chaos.


    Paige, who had been watching the surveince feed on her phone, froze when Merritt was shot dead. Now, witnessing the escting gunfight, she stood paralyzed with shock. How could this happen? It wasn’t supposed to deviate from her expected oue. Shouldn’t Cole and Merritt forge an alliance following Elliana’s death, allowing her to leverage Merritt’s position to grow closer to Cole?


    The yacht now resonated with the deafening roar of gunfire.


    In the adjacent room, Hailee’s face had drained of color as she stared at Elliana’s phone screen. “Elliana, what should we do now?” she whispered, her voice trembling.


    The door to their room suddenly burst open with a violent crash. The lights red on as several men in ck rushed in, assault rifles raised, firing wildly at Elliana and Hailee.


    Their leader had previously received Paige’s orders to eliminate Elliana but hesitated, fearing repercussions if he acted without Merritt’s explicit approval. He had been deliberately dying. While he hesitated, the masked man’s order reached him—kill everyone aboard the yacht, leave no witnesses. Only then did he finally lead his team to breach Elliana’s room.


    Elliana had anticipated this threat. As the door splintered open, she pulled Hailee behind a protective barrier of debris. When the men in ck opened fire, she responded with calcted precision, her finger steady on the trigger.


    While her attackers sprayed bullets wildly, Elliana’s shots found their marks with devastating efficiency. Within seconds, six ck-d figuresy motionless on the floor, their weapons silent.


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    With the immediate danger neutralized, Elliana turned to check on Hailee.


    Hailee trembled uncontrobly, her face ashen in the harsh light.


    Elliana gestured toward a substantial iron box tucked in the corner. “Hailee, get inside that box. I need to eliminate the remaining threats, or danger wille again at any moment.”


    “Oh, okay,” Hailee whispered, rising obediently and attempting to cross the room. But her legs betrayed her, weakened by shock, causing her to stumble with each step.


    Seeing Hailee’s struggle, Elliana sprang forward and guided her to the iron box with gentle firmness. “Hailee, remember what I’m telling you,” she instructed, her voice low and urgent. “No matter what happens, don’t emerge until I return.”


    Hailee nodded, her eyes wide with newfound understanding. Witnessing Elliana’s marksmanship had shattered her previous perception of Elliana. Elliana possessed a strength that defied herprehension—a deadly capability hidden beneath herposed exterior.


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