116That night, as they had planned, Alexa and Nolan finally confirmed their plan to each other. They were going to leave everything behind and start a new life together. They had already packed their bags with all the essentials they would need for their journey. The adrenaline rush was keeping them both on edge, but they knew they had to be careful and stay focused.Nolan looked at Alexa, and with a hint of concern in his voice, he asked her once again, "Are you sure about this, Alexa? We can still turn back now if you want."Alexa took a deep breath, trying to suppress the doubt that was lingering in her mind, and replied with a nod, "Yes, I'm sure. I have never been sure about anything in my life before, but I know that this is what I want."Nolan gave her a comforting smile and held her hand, "Then let's go. We have a long journey ahead of us."As they started packing their bags, Alexa couldn't help but wonder if she truly loved Nolan or if she was just going with him because he
117Anthony was in a state of panic as he heard the commotion in his home. He had never experienced anything like this before and was frozen with fear, not knowing what to do. He heard gunshots and screams coming from various parts of the mansion, and he knew that he and his staff were in danger.Cody and his gang were ruthless as they searched the mansion for anything valuable. One of the housekeepers tried to run, but Cody caught up with them and shot them dead. The others were forced to stay in a room and stay quiet, afraid for their lives.As Cody and his gang searched the mansion, they found phones and devices and smashed them on the floor. They also searched the pockets of Anthony, Nolan, Alexa, and the staff for any other phones and smashed them as they found them. It was clear that they didn't want anyone calling for help.Once they were done, Cody ordered the members to stay put as they gathered furniture from upstairs to take. Only four members were left to watch over the 15
CHAPTER 118Cody knew David would help Alexa and called him an idiot for even stepping out of line. Alexa noticed Jade pointing a gun at Cody and tried to distract him as she shot at him around the house. The staff were getting free one by one and attacking the members by throwing expensive items they took from upstairs. Alexa helped Anthony free from the ropes and helped him up. Suddenly, they heard police sirens alarming nearby, and Nolan asked who called the cops. Alexa lied that maybe some of the staff did.As Anthony tried to walk, he was shot on his thigh by one of the gang members. Cody shot Jade, who jumped behind Alexa to stop him from shooting her friend. Alexa was shocked and let Nolan and Anthony escape while she carried Jade outside. Cody noticed and heard the police siren, so he shot at Alexa's leg, making her fall. This made Nolan stop to check on Alexa.Alexa's mind raced as she lay on the ground in agony, holding her bleeding leg. She knew she had to stay focused and
119The police finally arrived at the mansion, sirens blaring as they rushed towards the scene. An ambulance followed closely behind, the paramedics on high alert as they prepared for the worst. As they entered the mansion's grounds, they were met with chaos and confusion, screams ringing out from every direction.Alexa watched as the paramedics rushed towards Jade, who lay on the ground in critical condition. Her heart raced as she realized the gravity of the situation, and she couldn't help but feel helpless in the face of such violence. How had a simple dinner party turned into a nightmare?As she turned her attention back to Cody, she could see him marching his way towards Nolan and Anthony. With a sense of urgency, Alexa rushed towards him, grabbing hold of his leg to try and stop him in his tracks. The sudden force almost caused him to lose his balance, but he quickly regained his composure and turned his gun towards Nolan and Anthony.Nolan desperately tried to drag Anthony awa
120The news of Anthony's death had hit Nolan and Alexa like a ton of bricks. They were both devastated, but in their own ways. Alexa blamed herself for not calling the police sooner, while Nolan withdrew into himself and didn't talk to anyone.At the hospital, Nolan stayed silent while listening to the doctors' reports alongside Alexa. The doctors had already told them that Anthony had died when he was shot. Alexa knew it was her fault for not calling the police sooner. She couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened.They stayed at the hospital for a while, visiting the staff that had suffered during the invasion and checking up on their families. Nolan had offered to pay for their hospital expenses and even compensated for their stay until their recovery. Alexa was surprised that without hesitation, Nolan would do such a thing, and it made her guilt grow even more.In her mind, she wished that Anthony had survived the robbery. She hoped that he would have been able to
121After the funeral, the mansion that once stood as a symbol of power and wealth was now a hollow shell of its former self. The staff who had survived the brutal invasion had been sent home to recover, and the mansion was left empty, with the exception of Nolan and Alexa.Nolan had retreated to his room and refused to leave. He didn't bother to hire new staff to keep the mansion's state at bay. Every day, Alexa would spend her time making food for Nolan and prepping a nice hot bath for him to have. She would inform him of the food and the bath, but all she could ever get was the sound of his cries under his bed sheet.Alexa felt helpless in the face of Nolan's grief. She knew that he needed time to heal, but she also knew that he couldn't spend the rest of his life in his room. She tried to talk to him, to comfort him, but he refused to open up to her.Days turned into weeks, and Alexa's concern for Nolan grew. She didn't know what else to do. She spent her days trying to take care
122Alexa looked at Jade with concern in her eyes. "What are you planning on doing now that you're free from Cody?" she asked softly.Jade looked up at Alexa, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know," she replied, her voice trembling. "David was the only person who ever loved me, and now he's gone. I feel so lost."Alexa put her hand on Jade's shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "I'm so sorry, Jade. I can't even imagine what you're going through right now."Jade sniffled and wiped her tears away. "It's okay," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'm just grateful to be alive, thanks to you."Alexa gave her a small smile. "I'm just glad I could help."Jade looked away for a moment, deep in thought. "I think I'm going to move somewhere no one knows me," she said, finally looking back at Alexa. "Start over, you know?"Alexa nodded understandingly. "I get it. Sometimes a fresh start is what we need to move on."Jade smiled weakly. "Yeah. And I think it's best if I keep my distance fr
123As Alexa walks out of the hospital, she sees a man in a trench coat with a detective badge hanging from his pocket. He's a tall man with short grey hair, and his face is stern and serious. Alexa approaches him cautiously, wondering what he could want with her."Excuse me," she says, "can I help you with something?"The detective looks her up and down before speaking. "Are you Alexa? Saw you somewhere before. Do you know me?"The detective was a towering figure, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see through the surface of things, as if he had the ability to discern a person's deepest secrets with a single glance. His dark hair was meticulously groomed, and his suit was perfectly tailored to fit his muscular frame.As he approached Alexa, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This man was no ordinary detective. His very presence seemed to demand respect, and his steely gaze made it clear that he was not one to be trifled with.His