Athena’s eyes grew increasingly frenzied. “I used to love you so much, but you didn’t cherish it. Now that you’ve brought yourself to a dead end, don’t me me. What does Joyce have that’s so good? Is she prettier than me? Does she have more power and authority than me? I have the support of the Yoshikawa family. I’m not inferior to her. Besides, I was the one who met you first, what is shepared to me?”


    “Don’tpare yourself to her. You’re not worthy,” Luther’s eyes held nothing but disgust, not even a hint of pity. “You’re just a beautiful facade, rotten inside. Your mind is twisted, filled with evil thoughts, using children,mitting all sorts of atrocities. You’re obsessively insane, almost pathological, never thinking you’re wrong.”


    Christian fiercely shut his eyes, looking at the deranged Athena before him. It dawned on him deeply that Athena had a mental illness since she was young, something he had deliberately refused to face. He should have taken her for treatment early on. Maybe then, all these mistakes could have been avoided.


    “Hand over the remote control, or I’ll shoot. I’ll count to three. One, two…”


    “Haha,” Athenaughed wildly, then restrained her smile. Her gaze turned sinister as she interrupted Joyce. “It’s useless no matter how far you count. Even if you shoot me now, it won’t change anything. Do you really think I still have the remote control in my hand? Do you think you can manipte me? You’re wrong. The countdown started when the basement door was sealed. Now, there are ten seconds left before the sprinklers release the poison gas. Our time of death hase!”


    Joyce, upon hearing this, tightened her grip on the gun, her pupils contracting sharply. Athena’s determination for death was something they had overlooked, and even if they sought help now, it might be toote. Though she had brought a gun, it seemed futile.


    Was it really the end for them?


    She instinctively ced her hand on her abdomen. It wasn’t just about them, but also about the two children inside her. At this moment, a chill spread through her body uncontrobly, and she shivered involuntarily.


    As Athena began counting down, “Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!” When she finished, a “click” echoed through the empty basement, followed by all the sprinkler heads above them simultaneously opening, releasing wisps of white smoke that quickly formed into billowing clouds.


    “Hahaha,” Athena became even more excited, lifting her head and deeply inhaling the smoky air. Her expression was now maniacal. “Can you feel it? This is the air of death, slightly pungent, with a hint of fragrance, because I intentionally mixed in some floral scents. Making everyone’s journey to death morefortable. Before long, you’ll start feeling weak all over, your mind will grow heavy, then breathing will be difficult, every nerve in our bodies will be numb, muscles cken, the air in your chest will diminish, until finally, you won’t be able to breathe. How does it feel? Are you satisfied with this suffocating way to die?”


    Athena cupped the air in her hands, an expression of ecstasy on her face.


    Vicki, crossing her arms, disyed a disdainful expression. “She’s truly insane.”


    Felix quickly reached out, covering Vicki’s mouth and nose. “Don’t speak, try not to inhale the poison gas.”


    Vicki pushed his hand away. “It’s useless. Who can avoid breathing? ”


    She wasn’t afraid of death. Even in this moment, there was no hint of fear on her face. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Felix, holding onto him tightly, intertwining her fingers with his.


    Felix gazed at her affectionately, not uttering another word. At this point, all that was left was to leave it to fate. Not hoping to be born on the same year, month, and day, but only to die on the same year, month, and day; he had no regrets.


    Christian, unable to bear it any longer, rushed forward, fiercely gripping Athena’s wrist. “You fool! Turn it off now! Don’t make more mistakes! How many lives are at stake here? And the innocent children inside them. Are you even human? If you want to die, can’t I apany you in death? Since everything is my fault, I’ll die with you! Release them all! Now! Immediately! Right now!”


    Christian roared, his voice echoing through the empty basement.


    Unfortunately, Athena had already gonepletely mad. Disregarding her appearance, sheughed wildly. “It’s toote! Everything is toote!!”


    Joyce slowly lowered the gunfrom her hand, her face gradually turning pale. Was she really going to die here? Would she never see Anderson again? Although the greatest stroke of luck at this moment was saving Anderson and Alisha.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Her Alisha, her daughter, had never called her “mom” until now, a huge regret. If she died, this regret would never be mended. She longed to be with her children, she hadn’t even had the chance to be with Alisha. The two children in her belly would never have the chance to see the light of day.


    Thinking about this, she felt her heart breaking. She took a step back, her legs giving way, and she fell into Luther’s arms.


    Luther held her firmly, supporting her, not letting her fall.


    At this point, words were pointless; all that remained was to support each other.


    In the midst of her madness, Athena suddenly turned her gaze towards Joyce. “I almost forgot about the children. Joyce, your daughter, Alisha, still hasn’t acknowledged you, has she? Haha, silly Alisha, she always thought I was her real mom. This is the most satisfying thing I’ve done, seeing your expression now, seeing how much you’re suffering, it feels so good. I brought Alisha out of the hospital, spent money to raise her, and I told her that I was her mother. She believed mepletely, relied on me deeply. You have no idea how much bad things I said about you in front of her. I portrayed you as a malicious woman who destroyed our family, stole her father, and made her mother sad and miserable, even having illegitimate children outside. She believed everything I said. She hated you, seeing you as an enemy, hating you to the core. And then, she didn’t hesitate to stab you. How does it feel? Being stabbed by your own daughter? Joyce, you’ve lost. Your daughter will never acknowledge you even in death. Haha, my revenge isplete!”


    “Despicable! You’re not human!” Christian raised his hand and pped Athena hard. Too hard. Athena was knocked to the ground, her delicate body lying there, blood trickling from her mouth, her once white teeth now stained with blood, making her smile even more ghastly and terrifying.


    She continued tough maniacally, her eyes wide and wild, “A little more, just a little more, let’s die together! Let’s die together!”


    She stood up, spinning and jumping around everyone like a madwoman, even humming a tune from Rohomes in a low pitch.


    “Everyone, you’ll all die with me! No one will leave here alive. Hahaha…”