“What?” Angela’s mind went blank. She was anguished, and her lips trembled as all colors drained
from her face. She didn’t even know she was about to cry until Richard reached to pull her into his
arms.
At once, hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she hastily shoved him away. then threw the door open
and ran out of the room.
He followed her, only to see that she had returned to her own room and left the door ajar. She
rummaged through her room and found her purse, then hurriedly shoved her phone into it, looking
ready to leave. Richard stood at the doorway, frowning as he asked, “Are you leaving?”
Angela slung her purse over her shoulder. There was a steely edge to her expression as she stared at
him with red-rimmed eyes and said, “I have to go. I need to see my mom. I don’t even know if she’s
going to make it.” She refused to stay here safe and sound while her family was in danger. She would
much rather offer herself up to those criminals than watch her family die for her.
“You are not allowed to leave the base,” Richard said authoritatively as he put his arm out and blocked
the gap in the doorway, his towering frame like a wall that kept her in.
“Step aside, Richard,” Angela ordered.
“Angela, calm down and let’s wait for more news on your mother, okay?” he suggested, taking on a
soothing tone in hopes of getting her to see reason.
However, reason eluded her at this moment. All she wanted to do was go back so she could see her
mother. “I said,” she bit out forcefully. “Step. Aside.” This time, there was a look in her eyes that
resembled hatred, and her jaw was clenched.
“Now that your mom’s been hospitalized, I’m sure your family wouldn’t want you to end up the same
way,” he argued, sounding even more insistent than he had moments ago. He knew what fate would
await her if he let her leave the base and those men caught her. It was not something he was prepared
to risk.
Angela closed her eyes and let her tears fall. She was a mad woman at this point, a mad woman who
only wanted to see her grievously injured mother. It was her duty as a daughter, and she couldn’t bear
to see anyone in her family get hurt because of her even though she knew she would die the moment
she went back.
If she did not come out of hiding, these criminals would start targeting her father, her grandfather, and
other relatives. They would not stop at just hurting her mother..
“Richard, I’ll hate you forever if you don’t let me go right now!” she warned as she tried to push him out
of the way, but he was like a mountain that would not budge no matter how hard she shoved. “Move!”
She glowered at him, the hatred in her eyes as clear as day. She truly hated him. She hated his
heartlessness. She hated his job.
“You know I can’t let you. I promised parents to protect you. This is my duty, Richard replied hoarsely.
“I don’t need you to protect me! This is my life, and I get the final say in what to do with it! Let me go! I
promise I won’t blame you if I die out there,” Angela begged desperately. There was a pained look in
her eyes, but she was not backing down.
“I won’t let you die,” he said solemnly, his shoulders squared as he stood firmly in place.
His refusal to let her go felt worse than death. She broke down, crying out loud as she crouched on the
floor. She put her head in her hands and sobbed, baring all her pain, devastation, and helplessness.
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