Chapter 377: Take Me

Hearing the noise, Wilson entered the room and tried to separate them. Then he was thrown against the wall. "Stop this," he said, signaling to the guards.

Two men grabbed Stuart by the arms and pinned him against the wall. He was able to see Childe lying on the floor. His eyes were full of hate, anger, and pain. "Let me go," Stuart pleaded as he struggled to free himself.

The men looked at Wilson and made a commotion. "Do you want us to teach him a lesson?" they shouted.

Wilson shook his head and said, "No."

Childes’ face was covered with blood, he sputtered, coughed and stumbled as he stood up. "My Enemy. My dear brother," he shouted, glaring viciously at Stuart.

Beads of perspiration covered Stuart’s forehead. Then he clenched his fist. "LET EDIE GO! TAKE ME!" Each word he spoke got louder and louder as if she were going to burst.

Wilson passed Childe a glass of water. He tipped it up, taking a mouthful. He swished it around in his mouth, then spit it out. "You? I’ll have to think about that," he said as he walked toward Stuart. He glared at Stuart, his gaze full of loathing. He laughed. "You got blood all over you," he said. "You look a mess." Childe came closer and punched him all of a sudden.

While all of this was going on, Childe had given the order for the guards to bring Edie out and let her watch everything. She saw the whole thing. Never in her life had she experienced true fear, fear that consumed her body and soul. She twisted and struggled, but couldn’t break free—the tears flowing silently down the sides of her face. ’Stuart shouldn’t be here. It will never end until one of them is dead," she thought.

Childe looked at Stuart, his face red with fury. He grabbed the front of Stuart’s collar with one hand and punched him hard in the face with his other fist. Childe smiled darkly. "Do you want to see Edie?" He laughed at the expression on Stuart’s face. "Come, and I’ll show you."

Childe snapped his fingers, and the men released Stuart. At the same time, the men upstairs wrapped a rope around Edie’s waist and lowered her far enough, so Stuart could see her. As Stuart looked at her, suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and his breath was caught as he noticed the blood on her clothes. He was so angry, and he screamed at Childe. "What have you done to her?" He felt so helpless. He had all the money in the world, and he couldn’t stop the hurt that they both were feeling. The anguish of not knowing what was going to happen to her, he wanted to die. ’What have I done? I couldn’t protect Marina and now Edie. I’m putting an end to this now." These thoughts lingered in his mind.

Childe smiled as much as his face would allow and began talking, his voice sounding even lower and more sinister than usual. "You look so sad." He pointed to Edie and laughed, "Do you like what you see?"

All the while, Stuart’s searing gaze never left Edie, "Let her go, and I’ll do whatever you want," he said in a low voice, almost whispering. He wanted to ask her if she was in pain or if Childe hurt her. "Edie, it’s going to be okay," he said softly.

Edie’s eyes widened as she shook her head. "No, leave. I don’t want anything to happen to you," she sobbed. Never had her voice sounded so fragile.

Childe could feel his heart pounding so intensely. He had never seen anyone love each other as they did. He rarely cried, but when he was alone, he groaned out in his agony and wished he was dead. For a long time, he stood there, staring at Stuart, trying to release the heartache he felt. He closed his eyes and drew a big breath. Then he opened them and said in a cold tone, "Wilson, go get Anne."

Anne was sedated and was unconscious when Wilson got her from her room. He passed her to Childes’ men, and they tied her up and hung her from the balcony next to Edie. Childe turned to Stuart and said, "You have a choice to make. If you kill this girl, I’ll let Edie go."

Stuart shivered, knowing what this would cost him. If he killed this little girl, Edie would be safe. But in return, Edie would never be able to forgive him. If he didn’t do what Childe asked, he wouldn’t be able to save Edie. He found himself caught in the middle of a terrible dilemma. He remained silent, and his eyes were now a dark silvery black. They were half open but didn’t seem to see anything. As though he was in a trance.

Edie looked at Anne and screamed at Childe, "How could you do this to her? She adores you!" Her eyes were bloodshot and full of tears, and she looked at him with desperation.

Finally, Stuart turned to Childe and spoke, "Let her go. I’ll do it." His voice was cold.

Childes’ eyes lit up, and he grinned. "Your answer comes as no surprise to me," he said. "Wilson got the gun," he ordered. Wilson came back and handed the gun to Childe. "Do you remember when we were little and trained with grandpa. He always praised your marksmanship. But if you were to miss and shoot me, there would be no dilemma," he said as he raised his eyebrows. He loaded the gun, pointed it at his heart, and smiled.

Stuart calmly leaned forward and took the gun from his hand. "First, let Edie go!" His voice sounded loud and sharp.

Childe nodded and waved his hand in the air motioning to his men. "Bring her up and untie her. Take her to Stuart’s car, but don’t take your eyes off her."

As soon as they took the gag out of Edie’s mouth, She shouted out to Stuart. "Please...I’m begging you.....Don’ hurt her, and she’s just a little girl."