Chapter 768: They Were Blocked Tina's smile was like frost flowers blooming in the dead of winter-exquisitely beautiful, but sharp enough to sting.
Even for Adriana Smith, who wasn't the brightest, it was clear that Tina wasn't negotiating with her.
Adriana's hands trembled as she weakly pried at Tina's iron grip around her throat. Her eyes rolled back, sweeping over the gathered crowd.
Just moments ago, these speople had stood with her, united in their disdain for the Dyer family, treating them as a common enemy. Now, they avoided her gaze, shrinking back as though fearing for their lives.
No one dared to step in, not even to offer a word of comfort. Everyone present could see that Tina was not someone to be trifled with-especially with Hayden standing behind her.
Hayden's skills were nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The crowd had thought the two bodyguards were intimidating enough, capable of kicking down a sturdy door with a single blow. But Hayden? He had taken care of those two bodyguards as effortlessly as one swats a fly. His strength was terrifyingly evident.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAdriana Smith's lips quivered. "I... I agree..." "Smart choice," Tina replied with a satisfied nod, finally releasing her hold on Adriana's throat.
As air rushed back into her lungs, Adriana clutched her chest and coughed violently. Her glare toward Tina brimmed with venom, but just as she opened her mouth to speak, her eyes widened in shock.
A sudden gust of wind swept past her ears, followed by a sharp pain at her neck. Darkness engulfed her before she could even cry out.
Tina straightened slowly, her toe brushing off the hem of Adriana's dress. Her icy gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on the dark surveillance camera mounted on the wall. Then, she turned her attention to Bronny. The property manager shivered, his scalp tingling with fear. "Miss Reed, don't worry! The cameras are down today-there won't be any rumors, I swear!" Tina didn't respond but gave a faint cough. "Hayden, stop playing around." "Got it!" Hayden called back cheerfully, quickening his movements. Within seconds, the two tall bodyguards collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Dusting off his hands, Hayden casually tossed his handkerchief to the floor.
He strolled over to the unconscious Adriana Smith, grabbed her by the collar, and glanced at the two trembling children huddling in the corner. His smile was almost too friendly. "You two... you're good at tattling, aren't you?" The two kids, still reeling from the beating Hayden had given them earlier, clung to the table legs and shivered. By now, Tina had already stepped out of the property office.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Hayden crouched down to their level. "Make sure to tell your family that the injuries you have today were caused by your dear aunt. Got it?" "Yes, yes! We understand!" The children nodded frantically.
Tina glanced back at Hayden, who hadn't followed her out yet. "Hayden, hurry up." Hayden, pleased with their obedience, said nothing more. Dragging Adriana Smith behind him, he addressed the onlookers with a smile that sent chills down their spines. "I'm sure you all know what you can and can't say, right?" The crowd nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, we know!" Even if they didn't know, they'd have to say they did! The man was terrifying-his polite smile only made him more dangerous. It felt like if anyone dared to disagree, Hayden would immediately pummel them into the ground. The car Tina and Hayden had arrived in was parked just outside the property office.
Hayden, unwilling to dirty his new car with Adriana Smith, opened the trunk and shoved her inside with practiced ease, as though he'd done this a hundred times before. Tina watched him with a twitching brow. *What exactly had her uncle been teaching this guy?* Still, she kept her thoughts to herself. She wasn't too keen on sharing a car with Adriana Smith anyway, so she didn't object. Instead, she urged Hayden to hurry.
As they were finishing up, two figures emerged in the distance, walking toward them.
The ground beneath them was soft soil, yet their footsteps echoed with a firm, deliberate rhythm.
Tina raised her eyes to look.
The two men were eerily similar, like clones. Though they didn't walk in the sspot, their steps were perfectly synchronized. These were soldiers.
Tina frowned, extending her hand to close the trunk.
But the two men had already noticed them. Their sharp, eagle-like eyes zeroed in on the corner of Adriana Smith's dress peeking out from the trunk. Their gazes instantly turned piercing. "Stop! What's in your car?!" "Whoa, you scared me!" Hayden reacted quickly, tucking the exposed fabric back into the trunk and slamming it shut. "Gentlemen, can we help you with something?" The man in front, unsmiling, kept his eyes fixed on the trunk. "Open it. Now." Tina twirled the car keys in her hand, her slender fingers pressing the lock button. The trunk locked with a satisfying click.
She pulled out a search warrant from her pocket and shoved Hayden into the passenger seat. "We're handling this by the book. Step aside." Circling to the driver's seat, she opened the door, got in, and started the engine with practiced ease.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Hey! What search warrant?! Letsee it!" The man yelled, his voice hoarse as the exhaust fumes hit his face. He staggered forward, coughing as his eyes filled with tears.
Still, he stubbornly chased after the car. If not for his companion grabbing him, he might've run out of the neighborhood entirely.
"That's Jared Farrell's wife," the other man said, shaking his head. "Former deputy director of the X Bureau and now one of the key figures in the establishment of the new National Security Department. If she's detaining someone, why are you trying to interfere?" Meanwhile, at the Pace family estate.
The elderly patriarch was in good spirits today. Ruud had cleared his schedule to stay hand chat with him.
Gabe and Armel had just stepped into the courtyard when the old man spotted them, Redognizing them as Ruud's comrades, he greeted them warmly. "You boys haven't visited in ages! You're staying for dinner tonight-no excuses." Gabe grinned. "Since you insist, I won't argue. I haven't had dinner yet anyway." "1
Armel watched as Gabe rubbed his stomach and shook his head helplessly. "We've been swamped with military matters lately. I've been to visit, but this is the first chance I've had. I just hope we don't disturb you." "Nonsense," the old man said with a chuckle. "I enjoy the company. If anything, it's you boys who avoidlike the plague." "Mrs. Marshall, takeinside. It's too hot out here-I need the air conditioning." "Hot?" Gabe glanced up at the sky.
The clouds were a murky gray, heavy with the promise of a storm. The oppressive atmosphere darkened the horizon, leaving no trace of the sun.
*Is the old man confused?* Armel sighed, smacking Gabe lightly on the back of the head. "You idiot! He's giving us space to talk. Can't you pick up on that?" "You're one to talk. Earlier, I had to stop you from picking a fight with Miss Reed!" Ruud, who had been listening calmly, froze for a moment at the mention of Tina's name. "Miss Reed? Tina? You ran into her?"
"Sure did," Armel replied, oblivious to the change in Ruud's expression. He finger at om jabbed a finger at Gabe exasperated. "You wouldn't believe it-on our way here, we saw Miss Reed dragging swoman off."