The Fire Before the Fall
Evelyn's Decision
Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the news that had turned her world into a spectacle.
Her name.
Her face.
Her humiliation.
All of it was out there for the world to see.
But that wasn't what scared her the most.
It was Theo
She had never seen him like this.
Cold. Unforgiving.
A storm that couldn't be stopped.
And now, he was going straight to Elias.
To do what?
To kill him?
She couldn't let that happen.
Because if Theo killed Elias, he wouldn't just lose his freedom—he'd lose himself.
And Evelyn couldn't let him destroy himself because of her.
She grabbed her coat.
It was time to end this.
---
Theo's Hunt Begins
Kade's voice rang in his ears.
"Theo, don't do this."
Theo didn't answer. He was already loading his gun.
He had been patient. He had held back.
But this?
This was his breaking point.
Elias had taken everything from him.
And Theo was going to make sure he never took another breath of free air again.
Kade stepped in front of the door. "Listen to me—"
Theo's eyes were void of mercy.
"Move."
Kade clenched his jaw. "If you go in there with the intent to kill, you'll be walking straight into a—"
Theo grabbed him by the collar.
"I don't care."
Because nothing else mattered.
Not the consequences.
Not the risk.
Not the fact that if he pulled the trigger, he'd become the very thing he despised.
All that mattered was making Elias pay.
He shoved past Kade and stormed out.
---
Elias's Final Game
Elias sat in his private suite, sipping whiskey, watching the chaos he had created.
Evelyn's scandal was everywhere.
And Theo?
Oh, he knew exactly what the bastard was doing.
Coming for him.
But that was the plan.
Theo was walking into his trap.
The second he set foot in Elias's territory, there would be no escape.
He smirked.
He had played the game perfectly.
He had won.
Until the door burst open.
And he saw her.
Evelyn.
She stood there, eyes burning with something he had never seen before.
Determination.
Resolve.
She wasn't afraid of him anymore.
Elias leaned back, amused. "Well, well. Didn't expect you to show up here."
Evelyn stepped forward. "This ends tonight."
His smirk widened. "You finally surrendering?"
"No but u are ."
Elias barely had time to react before the police stormed in.
Guns drawn.
Shouts filled the air.
Elias's smirk disappeared.
"What the—"
Evelyn's voice was ice.
"Checkmate i collected each and every proof that u tried to hurt Theo Bennett and this ."
Elias lunged for her, but the officers tackled him down.
"YOU THINK THIS CHANGES ANYTHING?!" he roared. "I OWN THIS CITY! I'LL BE OUT BY TOMORROW!"
Evelyn knelt beside him, her voice a whisper.
"No, you won't."
His eyes widened.
"Because this time, I made sure you'll never crawl out of the hole you belong in."
She stood up as the officers dragged Elias away, his screams echoing through the room.
It was over.
It was finally over.
But Evelyn knew—
The real battle was just beginning.
Because Theo still didn't know the truth.
And once he did—
He might never forgive her.
---
End of Chapter 65