♣ CHAPTER 41 ♣
William sat behind his desk, a pen in his hand, papers scattered across the table, but his eyes weren't reading. His mind wasn't there. The knock on the door was sharp. He looked up.
"Come in."
Liam stepped in, hands in his pockets, eyes steady. "You said I should come by."
William nodded. "Sit."
Liam pulled the chair back and sat. Silence stretched between them.
"I've been thinking," Liam said finally. "About Clark."
William leaned forward. "What about him?"
"You want to see him?" Liam asked. "Face-to-face?"
William's jaw tensed. "Why now?"
"I think you need to. You've been circling around this long enough."
William stared. "You know where he is?"
Liam nodded slowly. "He's at the warehouse on the east docks. My men have him. He is Tied and Watched."
William stood, grabbed his coat. "I'll go now."
"William—" Liam hesitated, "—be careful. Something feels off."
William didn't stop walking. "He's not getting out. Not this time."
---
The warehouse was cold. The Metal walls,Low light and The smell of oil and damp wood.
Clark had been waiting and Watching. He moved slowly, shifting his wrists against the rope. The small cut he made yesterday had grown. The moment he heard one of the guards laugh and turn away, he pulled hard.
The rope snapped.
He didn't hesitate.
He slammed into the first man, taking his weapon. A gunshot echoed. The second guard reached, but Clark kicked him in the knee and smashed the butt of the gun into his skull. The last man barely screamed before Clark slit his throat.
It was silent again.
Clark looked around. No alarms and No one coming.
He found a hoodie on one of the racks, zipped it up, pulled the hood low, and walked out through the back door, his footsteps calm.
---
William was a few feet away from the entrance when someone bumped into him—hard.
"Watch it—!" William turned, but the man in the hoodie didn't look back. He just kept walking fast, almost running.
William frowned, something sharp in his gut.
He rushed into the warehouse.
He froze. He stares at the Three bodies, there was Blood, spilled all around. One was still twitching.
"No," William muttered. "No, no."
He walked in slowly, eyes sweeping the scene. His heart was pounding.
One of the men gurgled. He is Still alive. William knelt beside him.
"Who—who did this?"
The man coughed blood. "Him... Clark... gone... hoodie..."
William stood so fast the chair flew across the room.
He ran outside.
He looked left And saw him. He was Across the street. Clark.
"Clark!" William yelled.
Clark didn't turn.
William chased, his heart hammering. Cars blocked his way. People moved and he found his way through them. Horns blared.
By the time he reached the other side, Clark was gone.
---
Back at the mansion, Kate sat by the window, her fingers brushing the edge of the curtain. Her phone buzzed again. A reminder.
"Anniversary. Three months."
She blinked at it. She didn't even know what to feel anymore.
The door opened. William stepped in, his eyes wild.
Kate stood quickly. "What happened?"
"He's gone," William said. "Clark escaped."
Her mouth parted. "What?"
"He killed them. All three. And I saw him... I bumped into him, Kate."
Her heart dropped. "Oh my God... William—"
"He planned it," William snapped. "Waited for the perfect moment."
Kate stepped closer. "You're shaking."
"I almost had him," William whispered. "I felt it was him... I should've stopped him."
Kate reached out. "You couldn't have known."
William looked at her then, and for the first time in weeks, he truly saw her.
She looked tired,Hurt and Sad.
"What day is it?" he asked.
She swallowed. "Three months."
His eyes dropped. "Right."
Kate's voice cracked. "No celebration. No smile. Just... death and escape."
"I'm sorry," William said. "I didn't forget. I just... couldn't breathe today."
She nodded. "Me too."
"It's not like we do celebrate it before or it's something that we find amusing." He said, without looking at her.
They didn't hug. They didn't touch. Just stood there.
---
William pulled out his phone. He Dialed Liam's number.
"He's gone," William said as soon as Liam picked up. "Clark escaped. All three men are dead."
There was silence on the line.
Then Liam said, "I'll meet you. We'll find him."
"Tell Tina to stay alert," William added. "Clark won't hide for long."
---
Liam hung up and turned to Tina, who was curled up on the couch.
"Clark escaped."
Her eyes widened. "How?"
"He Killed the guards and Walked out."
Tina stood up. "Do you think he'll come after you?"
"Or William. Or Kate… We don't know."
She grabbed her phone. "I'll text Kate."
"No," Liam said. "William will tell her. Just... be careful, Tina."
"I always am," she said, though her voice trembled.
---
William walked to Kate, who was now sitting again.
"Clark is dangerous," he said. "Stay home. Don't go anywhere alone."
Kate nodded, but didn't look at him.
"Do you hear me?" he asked, firmer now.
"I hear you, William," she whispered. "Loud and clear."
But her eyes were elsewhere.
And so was her heart.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Liam!" William barked into the phone as he paced the edge of his office, fingers clenched around the phone. His other hand dragged across his jaw, stubbled and tense. "I bumped into him. I bumped into Clark, and I didn't even realize it was him!"
Liam's voice came through steady but tight. "William, listen to me. You didn't know. He planned it. He waited for that exact moment. You said it yourself—he was wearing a hoodie."
"He looked me in the eye," William said, voice shaking. "And he didn't flinch. That monster stared at me and walked right out of my reach. I should've felt it. I should've known."
"You're not a mind reader."
"I should be, by now."
Silence for a beat.
Then Liam said, "I already sent out a notice to tighten our perimeter. No one gets in or out without clearance. I'll check in with the street cams."
William's voice dropped. "He won't run far. He didn't do all that to disappear."
"You think he's coming back?"
"I know he's coming back."
---
At Greensville café, Tina's hand trembled as she stirred her tea. Liam sat opposite her, staring into his untouched coffee.
"Clark's out," she whispered. "I can't believe it."
"He killed three men," Liam replied. "Like it was nothing. Slit their throats, Tina."
She flinched. "That's horrible. God, I thought he was just... a dirty businessman. But this... This is evil."
Liam's eyes locked with hers. "That's why I need you to stay home for now. No errands. No surprises. No detours."
"What about work?"
"I'll handle it. Just—promise me you'll stay safe."
She touched his hand. "I promise. But Liam... what about Kate? What if he goes after her?"
Liam looked away, jaw tightening. "William is with her. That's the only comfort I've got."
---
Back at the mansion, Kate sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone screen.
3 months.
Married.
Not a rose. Not a note. Not even breakfast together.
Just blood. Death. Another escape. More silence.
The door opened. She looked up. William stood there, the shadows around his eyes darker than usual.
He shut the door gently behind him.
"You okay?" he asked.
She gave a small smile. "Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing."
He stepped forward, then paused. "Clark escaped."
"I know," she said softly. "You told me."
He swallowed, then sat across from her. "Kate... three months. Today."
"I know," she said again. "I remembered."
He nodded slowly. "So did I."
Her voice cracked. "Then why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you hold me this morning? Why didn't you even look at me?"
"Because I'm scared," he said suddenly, voice raw. "Because every time I look at you, I see how much you've lost just being tied to me. Because I hate myself for dragging you into this."
Kate's lips trembled. "You think I don't feel the same way? You think I don't ask myself every day what my life could've been if I hadn't met you?"
That hit him like a knife.
But then she stood and walked toward him.
"But I also ask myself... would I have ever known love like this?" she whispered. "Would I have ever met someone who fights for me, protects me, even when he's breaking inside?"
William looked up at her, his eyes wet.
"I forgot the flowers," he said. "And the cake. And the ring I had planned to give you. I forgot all of it. Because I'm so damn consumed by revenge... and fear."
Kate knelt in front of him and touched his cheek. "I don't want a ring right now, William. I want you. Whole. Present. Not broken and distant."
His hand covered hers.
"I'll make it right," he whispered. "Even if it takes everything I have."
A sharp buzz broke the moment.
William's phone.
He checked it.
Liam.
He answered. "What?"
"Street camera picked him up near 8th Avenue. He ditched the hoodie. Might be hiding in plain sight."
"Keep tracking him," William said.
Liam added, "Also... I spoke to the Board. They're nervous. Clark's return changes everything."
William's voice went ice-cold. "Let them panic. I want them to remember what it's like when a snake crawls back into their garden."
---
Somewhere in a dark alley on the south end of the city, Clark stood in front of a broken mirror. He'd washed the blood off. Changed clothes. Looked... normal.
But his eyes still burned with vengeance.
He picked up the phone. Dialed a number from memory.
"Yeah?" a deep voice answered.
"It's me," Clark said.
"Clark?"
"You ready to finish what we started?"
A pause.
"Always."
Clark smiled. "Then let's destroy William Dray."