The sound of gunshots reverberated in the area, two factions exchanging shots. The Mondragon Villa had become a battlefield between the two powerhouses of the underground world, Skull Gang and Dark Night. Dead bodies scattered everywhere, and the surroundings reeked of smoke, gunpowder, and blood!
Amidst the chaos happening in the area, a tall petite woman in her black dress was standing in front of their large family portrait. Her posture exuded elegance and a domineering aura which were enough to intimidate anyone. A pool of whirlwind emotions flashed through her blue eyes–anger, hatred, regret, sadness, and loneliness.
She smiled bitterly as it finally dawned on her that, in just a blink of an eye… she had lost everything– her family, her reputation, and her company. Her father was put behind bars and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Her mother committed suicide as she couldn't accept that their once prestigious family had been ruined.
And now, she was left alone, shouldering a lot of responsibility. Their company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Her father's organization was being cornered by the opposing faction.
The public was ridiculing her father for being the villain responsible for the death of the most generous businessman in the City Z, Jorge Arison!
She had nowhere else to go. The Skull Gang already suppressed all the branches and headquarters of the Dark Knights. But she refused to admit defeat even if this might be her last breath.
Before being shattered and destroyed completely by James Arison, she had to get her revenge by taking the most precious thing from her enemies– Dominique Lee.
She kidnapped the newly born baby of Elle and Erick. These two were also responsible for the downfall of her family. They were the reason why James Arison found out that her father was the one who called the hit against his father. They were the ones who revealed to the world that her father, a well-known Senator, was a leader of a syndicate, running illegal activities in the country.
The cry of the newborn child reverberated inside the house, snapping Diana back to the present. She just found herself walking towards the bed where the baby was lying.
The baby boy looked like an angel. Diana smiled remembering someone's face. A great resemblance could be seen as the little boy looked similar to Erick Lee, the boy's father. He was the same guy with whom she fell in love for the first time.
"Too bad… I'm not your mother. I have loved your father but he… destroyed my family along with James Arison." Diana sat down on the bed, holding the baby's small hand.
This child was the reason why the Mondragon Villa had become a battlefield. James ordered his men to rescue and take back Dominique Lee, the son of his beloved woman, Elle. James had decided to spare Diana but she did something that provoked both James, and Erick, most especially Elle, the devilish assassin known as Catseye.
She thought she could kill the child as part of her revenge. But now that she had him, she could no longer do it. She couldn't bring herself to kill an innocent child.
"I'm so stupid," Diana mumbled, scolding herself. "This is not the time to have mercy and soften my heart but… I can't hurt him. I just can't."
Diana glanced at the baby who already stopped crying the moment she held his little hand. Little Dominique was now smiling at her.
"Little boy, they are here for you. I guess we have to part ways now." Diana softly mumbled, still touching the baby's hand.
"I'm sorry for involving you in this." There was a hint of regret in her voice. Then a single drop of tear already fell from the corner of her eyes.
Little did she know, someone was there, secretly listening to her words. The man motioned his men not to enter the room as he would be the one to deal with her.
Following their Big Boss' command, the men left the house, standing outside by the entrance door. They were now guarding the vicinity, taking control of the place.
Meanwhile, the man who was hiding at the back was none other than James Arison. He came personally to save Little Dominique. He would never allow anyone to hurt that boy.
"Diana," James called her out, finally showing himself in front of her.
Diana froze in her spot as she heard that voice. She didn't expect that this man she loathed so much would come personally tonight!
She clenched her fist, turning around to see James. He was standing at the door, alone!
'Where are his underlings?'
Diana swept her gaze around the room, searching for other people. When she saw no one, she urgently took her gun from the bedside table, pointing it in James' direction.
"Give me the child," James demanded. His voice was surprisingly gentle. This made Diana laugh sarcastically.
"You came, delivering yourself to me on a silver platter!" Diana mocked him as she tightened her grip on her pistol. She was dying to pull the trigger but she and this man still had something to talk about.
"I can kill you now… making you pay for what you did to me and my family."
James wasn't afraid of her. He even took a step forward that brought more pressure on Diana.
Bang!
She finally shot him but the bullet only grazed James' right cheek. It was just a warning shot to scare him.
"Stop there! Don't move or I'll shoot you again!" she anxiously warned him.
"Then do it. Just don't harm the boy. This is what you want right? Killing me." James just wiped the blood on his face using the back of his palm.
Diana let out another sarcastic laugh. "Killing you easily will not give you the same sufferings and pains that you caused me."
James just remained silent. He knew that Diana would not hesitate to take another shot, aiming at him. But if sacrificing himself was the only way to rescue the boy then he would do it.
Though he already heard Diana say that she couldn't hurt the baby, he chose to face her alone as this was one way of showing his gratitude to her for not harming the little boy.
James just closed his eyes as Diana squeezed her finger, pulling the trigger once again. However, another gunshot was heard.
Bang! Bang!
Unable to feel the bullet hitting his body, James reflexively opened his eyes only to see Diana falling to the ground. She has been shot by his subordinate.
"No!!! Stop shooting!" James screamed at his subordinate. He was worried about the child and at the same time, he had no intention of killing Diana. But it was too late! Diana was hit three times… and now lying on that cold floor. Her gaze was fixed on James until her last breath.