“Alright, first let him go, and I‘11 be at your disposal.”

His steady advance unnerved Yana.

As Sanford approached, the man whose handsome face she once admired,

Yana reflexively jerked Bart back and retreated.

“Halt! Come no closer. It's Maggie I want dead! Not you! Maggie, I'll count to three. If you're not here by then, your brother's first!

Three, two..."

"Stop! I'm coming!"

Maggie's voice cut through the air, and she strode past Sanford to Yana.

Hatred sparked in Yana‘'s eyes. She roughly shoved Bart aside and seized Maggie.

“Maggie, you witch! You've made me suffer enough. It's time you pay!"

With these words, Yana poised the knife to plunge into Maggie.

Maggie squeezed her eyes shut in terror

Suddenly, a man's voice resonated.

"Yana, I love you!"

Caught off guard, Maggie‘s eyes snapped open. She slowly turned her gaze to the voice.

Sanford?

Was he confessing his love for Yana?

Yana's intended stab halted in its tracks, the blade hovering before Maggie's chest.

Bewildered, She gazed at Sanford.

"What did you say?"

Sanford maintained his slow advance, his voice low.

"I said, I love you."