Chapter 1194:

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“Well done,” Claire said, twirling like a cat playing with a mouse. Her dagger flashed in a silver arc before she paused the security footage again. “Now, let’s give your husband one final performance.”

Without warning, Claire grabbed Kaelyn and pulled her close to the camera, making sure her face filled the frame. In her other hand, she held up a detonator. “Rodger, your precious love belongs to me now.” She slid her tongue along the blade’s edge, then pressed it lightly against Kaelyn’s throat, following its gentle curve. “So, should I start with this lovely neck, or…”

Claire settled gracefully in front of the monitor, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. She gazed at Kaelyn, who was tied to a chair with her hands bound tightly behind her.

“Oh, Dr. Cordon — you’re just too sweet.” Claire said with a soft laugh, shaking her head. Her red lips twisted into a cold smirk. “Did you honestly think I’d let them walk away so easily?”

The heavy basement door burst open. Two masked men shoved Landen and Angelica back inside. Landen’s lip was bloody, his eyes blazing with a mix of fury and despair. Angelica’s hair was a tangle of knots, her wedding dress smeared with dirt, but her stare remained bold and unyielding.

“Claire, you’re out of your mind!” Landen shouted — only to crumple to his knees as a henchman drove a hard kick into his back.

Claire stood, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She strode to Kaelyn, bent close, and gripped her chin, tilting her face toward the live broadcast camera.

“Rodger, I know you’re watching,” she said softly, her voice laced with ice. “Your wife’s life is in my hands now. I decide if she lives.”

The live chat erupted with comments.

“Claire’s a force of nature — she never disappoints!” one read.

C𝘩ine𝗌e 𝗇ov𝖾𝗹𝘀 𝘵𝗋𝖺𝗻𝘀𝘭𝖺𝗍𝘦𝗱 о𝗇 𝘨𝘢𝗅𝗻𝘰𝘷𝖾𝗹ѕ.𝖼𝘰m
“The Barnetts are toast!” another crowed.

“This woman’s brutal, and I’m here for it!”

Claire glanced at the flood of messages, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. Her fingers brushed Kaelyn’s cheek like an artist admiring her own work.

“You think you can surround this place and save her?” Claire scoffed, pulling a sharp dagger from her belt and pressing it against Kaelyn’s neck. “One small cut and she’ll never see another dawn.”

A single drop of blood rolled down Kaelyn’s skin as the blade pressed just a fraction harder.

“If you want her alive,” Claire said to the camera, her smile sweet but her eyes cold as stone, “come alone.”

With a wave of her hand, the live feed cut off, leaving the screen dark. In the basement, only Kaelyn’s heavy breaths and Claire’s gleeful chuckles filled the silence.

“Let’s see,” Claire murmured, gently stroking Kaelyn’s hair, her voice soft as a snake’s hiss, “how much your Rodger loves you.”

Inside the command vehicle, the monitor’s cold light cast long shadows across Rodger’s tense face.

Dewitt grabbed his arm, his voice tight with urgency. “Commissioner Barnett, Claire’s unhinged. She won’t keep her promise. Let me go instead.”

Rodger shook his head slowly, his stormy eyes concealing deep pain. He tugged his tie loose, revealing an old scar on his neck — a gunshot wound from three years back.

“She’ll know it’s me,” he said, his voice firm and low. “Claire knows me too well. She’ll check.”

Outside, rain fell in heavy sheets.

As Rodger stepped from the vehicle, a drone hovering above the psychiatric hospital captured his image. The live chat erupted instantly.

“No way — it’s Rodger!” one comment screamed.

“He’s lost coming alone,” another mocked.

“Playing the loyal husband now? The King of Agents wasn’t so soft-hearted when he was killing people back in the day!”

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