Chapter 13

MAX POV

Time slowed down, and everything around me blurred into the background.

Then, without thinking, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"NOOO!"

My voice boomed through the night, cutting through the heated argument between the brothers. Kenneth and Jacob turned sharply toward me, their faces a mix of confusion and alarm.

The sniper had already made their move by pulling the trigger and when he got his shot, he quickly packed up his things and flew away in order not to be caught , his aim was direct to Mr kenneth as he reacted to the sudden noise and bullet.

For a moment, everything hung in suspense…the brothers staring at me, the sniper hesitating, and my chest heaving from the adrenaline coursing through me.

What have I done?

The scream I let out reverberated through the still air, and Kenneth's head snapped around to look at me. He frowned, clearly confused and annoyed, but before he could say a word, a loud crack pierced the night.

The sniper had fired.

I watched in slow motion as Kenneth staggered back, clutching his arm. The bullet hit him just below the shoulder, and crimson quickly spread across his crisp white shirt. His face twisted in pain as he crumpled to the ground, clutching at his wound.

"No! Kenneth!" Jacob yelled, his voice filled with panic. He dropped to his knees beside his brother, grabbing his shoulders. "Are you okay? Kenneth, answer me!"

For a moment, Kenneth didn’t respond. His breathing was labored, and beads of sweat rolled down his pale face. His lips quivered as he winced in pain.

I found myself running toward them before I even realized it. My legs moved on instinct, carrying me to the balcony where the two brothers were now sprawled.

By that time, the entire ballroom had erupted in chaos. Guests poured out onto the terrace, their elegant dresses and suits clashing with the fear etched on their faces. Gasps and cries filled the air as they all turned their attention to the scene on the balcony.

“Oh my God!” one woman screamed, clutching her pearls.

“Is he dead?” another man asked, his voice trembling.

When the crowd caught sight of Kenneth lying on the ground, their collective reaction was one of horror. Gasps echoed, and some guests even stepped back, as if the sight of blood was too much for them to handle.

Mrs. Johnson, Kenneth's wife, pushed her way through the gathering crowd. Her face was pale, and her eyes wide with terror.

“Kenneth!” she screamed, rushing to her husband’s side. She dropped to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Oh my God, what happened? What happened to you?”

Kenneth groaned but didn’t respond. His focus was on the pain radiating from his arm, his breaths shallow and uneven.

“Call an ambulance!” Mrs. Johnson screamed at no one in particular. “Someone call an ambulance right now!”

The crowd buzzed with murmurs and panicked whispers, but no one seemed to know what to do. They just stood there, frozen, watching the scene unfold.

Tamara, Kenneth’s daughter, appeared next, her eyes brimming with tears. She stood a few feet away, trembling, unsure of what to do.

“Dad…” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Her hands flew to her face, and she sobbed quietly, unable to move closer. It was as if the sight of her father bleeding on the ground had paralyzed her.

Then, finally, Richard emerged from the crowd. His face was calm, though his eyes betrayed a sense of urgency. He took one look at the situation and sprang into action, rushing to Kenneth’s side.

“Step back, everyone!” Richard barked, his voice commanding. “Give him some space!”

He knelt beside Kenneth and carefully lifted him into his arms. “It’s okay, sir. I’ve got you. Stay with me,” Richard said softly, his voice steady.

Kenneth groaned again but didn’t resist as Richard carried him toward the parking lot.

I stood frozen, watching as Richard handled the situation with ease. The crowd parted for him like the Red Sea, their eyes wide with admiration as he strode toward his car.

“He’s such a hero,” someone murmured.

“Thank God for Richard,” another person said.

It was sickening.

I couldn’t help but grit my teeth as I watched Richard carry Kenneth to his car. Of course, he was the one to step in and save the day. Of course, everyone was looking at him like he was some sort of knight in shining armor.

It wasn’t fair.

Richard already had everything…a successful career, a glowing reputation, and now Tamara, my ex-wife, ready to marry him and inherit her father’s fortune. And now this? He was swooping in to save Kenneth and solidify his position as the golden boy of the family.

Pain and jealousy churned in my chest as I watched him carefully place Kenneth in the back seat of his car. Mrs. Johnson climbed in beside her husband, still crying hysterically, while Richard jumped into the driver’s seat.

The crowd watched in silence as he drove away, heading to the hospital with Kenneth. For a moment, all I could hear was the sound of the car’s engine fading into the distance.

The guests began murmuring amongst themselves again, their voices a mixture of fear and speculation.

“What just happened?”

“Was it an assassination attempt?”

“Who would want to kill Kenneth Johnson?”

I clenched my fists, my mind racing. Part of me felt relief that Kenneth was alive and being taken to the hospital. But another part of me…the darker part…was seething with rage. Why was Richard always the lucky one?

First, he stole Tamara from me, and now he was playing the hero, saving her father in front of everyone. It was as if the universe had decided to make Richard the star of the show while I was left as nothing more than a background character.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but the bitterness lingered.

This isn’t over, I thought to myself. It’s never over.