Chapter 905

Nikolas couldn't remember ever feeling so cornered.Not even his father had managed to back him into a wall like this.

Right now, with Carol refusing to let up, he finally understood what it meant to have no way out.

He found himself frozen under her intense stare,feeling as though every secret he'd tried to hide was suddenly exposed.

"I'm not scared, alright?" Any hint of defiance he'd had was gone, replaced by an uneasy flicker in his eyes. He looked away and asked, "What's there to be afraid of anyway?"

A small laugh slipped from Carol. "Is that so?Because I'm not going anywhere."

Frustration crept onto Nikolas' face, and he moved forward,trying to bridge the gap between them.

Carol lowered her head, her eyes locked on him as he tried to close the distance.

Yet before anything else could happen, Nikolas pressed his lips into a thin line and backed away,suddenly hesitant.

That only made Carol's lips curl into a sly grin as she folded her arms, looking every bit like she was enjoying the standoff.

"You're walking out of here, whether you like it or not," Nikolas said.

Carol arched a brow, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "Really? You're going to force me? Tell me, Nikolas, would you risk everything just to keep me safe? Or do you honestly believe my life matters more to you than your own?"

By now, Carol had pushed him right to his breaking point.

A straightforward answer was all she'd hoped for. Instead, what came next wasn't even close to what she wanted to hear.

"I'll be fine. Trust me, I know exactly what I'm doing,"Nikolas insisted, already beginning to pull back.

Carol watched him for a moment, then whispered,"Coward."

Raising her voice, she turned to the group waiting upstairs. "You three, that's enough waiting. Come down here."

A light lauugh slipped from Daniela as she made her way down, Cedric and Damon following after her.

Though Daniela didn't say a word to Nikolas, the look she gave him said plenty. When it came to affairs of the heart, she always kept her distance.

But that didn't stop Nikolas' cheeks from turning pink.

Sidling up beside Carol, Daniela leaned in and whispered, "Don't tease him too hard. He's sensitive.If he bolts, you'll regret it." Carol kept her mouth shut, her lips pressed into a line.

She never liked prolonging situations like this.

While there was plenty she wanted to clear up with Nikolas, now wasn't the moment for it.

Watching Carol finally let the matter drop, Nikolas breathed out in obvious relief.

Catching that, Daniela just shook her head in amusement.

"Let's get to what really matters," Nikolas began,quickly launching into his plan.

Once he finished explaining, he shot a look at the clock. "We're almost out of time. Bags are ready, so you all need to get going."

Daniela offered a crooked smile. "You honestly think the guards sent by your uncle scare me?"

Nikolas couldn't believe how unfazed Daniela seemed. He'd figured she'd bolt the moment she heard the details. But that calm, steady look never left her face.

"If you're smart, you'll take your dad's advice and leave with Damon," Daniela added, her voice cool and measured. "The rest of us can manage what comes next."

Annoyance flickered across Nikolas' face. Daniela's confidence just made him more anxious.

Spinning toward Cedric, Nikolas nearly pleaded,"This is crazy! Talk some sense into them, please!We've only got thirty minutes before those guys get here. They don't mess around-l've seen what they do.Breaking a man's neck isn't even hard for them!"

Nikolas' gaze darted over to Carol, worry written all over his features.

With her size, Nikolas figured she'd be no match if those guards came crashing in.

Cedric, catching the desperation in Nikolas' eyes,couldn't help but laugh. "Me? You know I have zero authority here. Whatever my wife says, goes. Still, I'd suggest you leave now. If this turns ugly, it's not going to end well."

He made sure to soften the edge in his voice.

Honestly, Cedric wanted to tell Nikolas that he and Damon would only slow them down. But seeing Nikolas so on edge, he just couldn't say it outright.

Nikolas scanned the group, confused by their unshaken calmness. "Are you all seriously not worried about dying? Not even a little?"

His entire life, he'd met all kinds of people who would do anything to save their own lives. Self-preservation was almost a given, at least until now.

Yet somehow, these three stood out. They were the only people he'd ever seen who didn't flinch at the thought of dying.

"Relax. We'll handle things here. You and Damon should go. Come back the day after tomorrow,"Daniela said as she waved off his concern with a reassuring nod.

Without another word, she headed outside and started dialing for a car, glancing back to say, "Carol,get Nikolas and Damon in the car."

Carol wasted no time pushing Nikolas and Damon into the car, then snapped the door closed behind them. Nikolas didn't even manage a protest before the car's engine revved, and they tore down the driveway at rapid speed.

The sudden acceleration nearly sent Nikolas sprawling across the seat. "Wait, stop! I can't leave right now!"

The driver, a burly man with a wild beard, just grinned. "Sorry, kid. Orders are orders. I'm supposed to deliver you both safely to your father's place."

Panic rose in Nikolas' voice as he said, "If we don't go back, we'll miss our chance!"

Unbothered, the driver pressed harder on the gas pedal.A few moments later, the man glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, "So, which one of you is Nikolas?"

"I am," Nikolas snapped, barely containing his irritation. "What's it to you?"

The driver shot him a quick look and nodded as if he'd just checked off something on a list. "Alright.Got it."

After that, he said nothing more, letting the silence stretch.

At home, Hamilton stormed around the courtyard,shouting into his phone, "What do you mean you failed to pick them up? What happened?"

Hamilton's tirade was cut short when a car stopped outside the house, screeching to a halt.