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The security guards lay motionless on the stairs, looking like burnt charcoal.
Scorch marks from the electric shock trailed along the walls, and the air was heavy with heat and a sharp, acrid stench of charred flesh.
Helena seemed to forget the pain.
She stared at Allen as he calmly walked down the stairs with a look of despair in her eyes.
Dodging bullets was already enough to shock the world, but this...
She didn't even know how to describe what she'd just witnessed.
'Was this something a human being could even do?'
Gunfire erupted from downstairs, followed by alternating screams and cries.
Then... silence.
The security team in the house was likely wiped out.
Although those men worked for her father and had blood on their hands, Helena still felt regret.
But not regret for betraying Allen.
That decision tore at her and made her heart ache, but if it helped her achieve her goal, she was even willing to sacrifice herself.
She could only say sorry to Allen.
What she truly regretted was that she hadn't expected Allen to be this powerful.
And now... she feared her plan might have just collapsed.
She didn't believe Allen would let her walk away.
Even if he didn't kill her, she doubted he would keep her secret.
Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed up the stairs.
Allen returned with a relaxed expression, grabbing Helena and dragging her down.
Like a lifeless animal, Helena was dragged along to the fountain near the villa gate before being pushed down.
"Do you regret it?" Allen knelt beside her and asked with interest.
'Regret?' She thought of her mother, beaten daily by her father and dying in misery.
She thought of the families destroyed by her father's crimes.
Her gaze steadied, and Helena replied firmly.
"I only regret not making him pay the price. I tried to kill you to silence you, so... just do it."
Helena shut her eyes.
Allen said nothing.
He didn't even move.
After a long moment, Helena opened her eyes in surprise.
"You... why didn't you kill me?"
"I'm not going to kill you." Allen smiled faintly.
"You're not?" Helena was stunned, and hope flickered in her eyes.
"You... you forgave me?"
Allen thought for a moment, then sat directly on Helena, grinning as she let out a breathless groan of pain.
"I told you; It is what people care about that ends up hurting them the most. Expectation is the root of all pain."
He sighed.
"You didn't expect that sleeping with me would suddenly make me important to you somewhat."
"So no, I'm not angry you did that to protect your secret. If it were me, I'd do the same."
"People are selfish. Even the ones who act selfless usually just want to satisfy their own emotional needs."
"But just because I'm not angry doesn't mean I forgive you."
Allen's smile brightened, but to Helena, it looked more terrifying than the devil himself.
A chill swept through her entire body.
"Death would be a mercy for you."
"You don't fear failure; you don't fear pain. You're already prepared to die.
"So, I'm not going to kill you. I want you to live in limbo, trapped between hope and despair. And I'll make sure you don't die."
Helena felt her soul sink into an ice-cold abyss.
Allen's gentle smile was crueler than any punishment.
Killing the body was one thing. But killing the heart... that was worse.
Suddenly, the iron gates of the villa opened slowly.
A luxury car rolled in, then came to a screeching halt at the shocking scene before them.
Inside the car was Helena's father, Frank.
As the leader of Starling's crime syndicate, Frank was no stranger to blood and chaos.
Though visibly shocked, he quickly regained his composure.
He saw a strange man sitting on top of his daughter, surrounded by electrocuted bodyguards.
His face turned grim as he stepped out of the car.
His bodyguard and driver flanked him immediately, guns raised and ready.
"Do you know who I am?" Frank asked coldly, sizing up Allen.
"Frank Bertinelli. Leader of the Starling City crime syndicate," Allen answered calmly.
"I'm surprised. I thought you'd come out guns blazing, or turn tail and run."
Frank narrowed his eyes.
"Do we have a personal problem?"
Allen shook his head.
"Someone sent you to mess with me?"
Another shake of the head.
Frank let out a grim laugh.
"Good. Then I promise, you won't die easy."
With a slight nod, his bodyguard and driver approached Allen with their guns raised.
Allen stood up and lifted his hands cooperatively.
As the men grabbed his shoulders, a sharp electric current sprung into them.
Zizzi!
Both dropped like puppets with their strings cut.
Frank backed up in shock, but Allen just smiled and spoke.
"I want your daughter."
"What... what do you mean?" Frank asked, his voice strained.
"I won't repeat myself, it means what it means."
Frank inhaled sharply.
His earlier fear turned into wild excitement.
"What can you give me in return?"
"Until I get bored of her, I'll make sure you don't die."
"Deal!"
Frank didn't hesitate.
To be protected by someone with powers like that in exchange for giving up his rebellious daughter? Worth it.
Refusing would've been suicide.
He smiled and stepped forward, but before he could say anything else...
BANG!
A gunshot rang out from a distance.
The bullet struck Frank in the chest.
He collapsed instantly.
Allen narrowed his eyes.
"Am I going to regret this?!"