“['m losing my patience. I'll repeat myself! Make them go!" The atmosphere was so ominous, so menacing, that the rage seething in Theodore's voice teetered on the brink of control.

"Three." Theodore's sudden countdown jarred the air; simultaneously, his index finger played over the trigger.

Zayden was dumbfounded for a split second before hearing the next number.

"Two."

Oh no! This man was unhinged!

Fear finally crept into Zayden. He was certain this unpredictable man was capable of anything.

“Back off!" Zayden mustered enough strength to utter the command to his team.

The burly bodyguards reluctantly holstered their guns, keeping a wary eye on Theodore. They retreated to their vehicles, moving the cars they had formed a barrier with, creating a path for their exit.

Black vehicles were stationed in a perimeter, their occupants, Zayden's men, ever watchful, keeping their eyes glued to Theodore's every gesture.

Eventually, Theodore let go of Zayden. He tossed his gun nonchalantly to Horace, who caught it smoothly. Without a beat, Horace had the gun pointed back at Zayden, never allowing a moment's laxity.

"Get your men to stand down," Theodore demanded coldly, cleaning his hands on a handkerchief. Disgust flickered in his furrowed brow. He cast a sideways glance at Zayden, then tossed the handkerchief on the ground.

"If Ariana suffers even a scratch, you'll be in for a world of pain."

Freed from Theodore's grip, Zayden clutched at his leg, sliding down to the ground in agony. His face was a pallid mask of humiliation and pain, all previous haughtiness evaporated. He shot a furious glare at Theodore.

"You've lost your damn mind! If you hurt me over some woman, you'll never touch the Fredrick fortune."

Theodore's frown deepened. He didn't even deign to glance Zayden's way as he uttered frostily, "Three."

Hearing the countdown commence again, a shudder ran through Zayden. He had just suffered a humiliating defeat, even when the odds were in his favor. Now, he was utterly defenseless against Theodore.

In fear of this lunatic truly ending his life, he rushed to retrieve his phone and dial his contact at the manor.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable—"

The cool, robotic voice of a woman echoed from the phone. Zayden made numerous attempts but couldn't connect. It finally dawned on him that these people, seasoned in illicit activities, always rigged signal jammers near their operation sites.

As Zayden relayed this to Theodore, the latter's face contorted in fury. He drove his foot onto Zayden's wounded leg.