chapter 9:The bullet That Changed Everything
534 Words
Bang!
The deafening gunshot echoed across the Lancaster Mansion.
Everyone froze.
Charles Hart stood motionless, his eyes wide with fear.
A second later...
One of Edward's bodyguards threw himself in front of Charles.
The bullet struck the guard in the shoulder.
"Argh!"
He collapsed onto the ground.
"Sniper!" another guard shouted.
"Protect the Chairman! Protect Miss Lancaster!"
Chaos erupted.
Bodyguards surrounded Edward and Isabella, rushing them back into the mansion.
Outside the gate, the sniper fired a second shot.
Bang!
The bullet shattered a marble pillar.
The sniper realized his mission had failed.
He quickly packed his rifle and disappeared into the trees.
"After him!" the security chief yelled.
Several black SUVs sped out of the mansion in pursuit.
Inside...
The injured bodyguard was rushed to the medical room.
A doctor examined him before looking up.
"The bullet missed his heart."
"He'll survive."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Edward turned to Charles.
"Someone wanted you dead."
Charles's face was pale.
"They're trying to silence me."
Edward narrowed his eyes.
"Who are 'they'?"
Charles looked toward Isabella.
"I can't tell you here."
"They have people everywhere."
"If they know I've talked..."
"They'll kill us all."
Isabella stepped forward.
"Then tell us now."
Charles shook his head.
"No."
"The truth is bigger than you imagine."
"It's not just about your mother."
"It's about the Lancaster Empire."
Before anyone could question him further...
A security officer rushed into the room.
"Chairman!"
"We found something."
He handed Edward a small metal object.
It was the sniper's bullet.
The officer continued,
"Our forensic team examined it."
"It wasn't an ordinary bullet."
Edward frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The officer pointed to a tiny engraving near its base.
A single symbol.
A black serpent.
Edward's face instantly changed.
"No..."
"It can't be."
Isabella noticed the fear in her grandfather's eyes.
"You know that symbol?"
Edward nodded slowly.
"I hoped they were gone forever."
"Who are they?" Isabella asked.
Edward took a deep breath.
"They call themselves..."
The Black Serpent Society.
"They're one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world."
"They deal in corruption, blackmail, and murder."
"They destroy anyone who stands in their way."
Charles lowered his head.
"They're the reason Amelia died."
The room fell silent.
Isabella felt her blood run cold.
"So..."
"My mother's death wasn't an accident."
Edward's voice trembled.
"No."
"It was an assassination."
At that moment...
A maid rushed into the room carrying a sealed envelope.
"Chairman..."
"This was just delivered."
Edward opened it.
Inside was a single black playing card with a silver serpent printed on it.
On the back was a handwritten message.
"The game has begun.
Protect the girl if you can.
This time... we won't miss."
Edward slowly crushed the card in his hand.
He looked at Isabella with determination.
"I've already lost my daughter."
"I refuse to lose my granddaughter."
Meanwhile...
In an abandoned warehouse...
The mysterious man watched the news about the failed assassination.
He smiled.
"It doesn't matter."
"They've taken the bait."
He turned to a beautiful woman dressed in black.
"You're up next."
She smiled confidently.
"Don't worry."
"I've never failed a mission."
She picked up Isabella's photograph...
And whispered,
"Soon..."
"We'll finally meet."
- Writer
