Chapter 317 No Regrets
Those people broke the law,” one officer called out sternly. “They’ll be punished by the justice system. That’s not a reason for you to take their lives. Let the hostage go and turn yourself in. It’s not too late for leniency
Mia sneered. “Easy for you to say. It didn’t happen to you. You have no idea how much it hurts. I don’t care about leniency. All I wanted was to make the people who hurt Lauren–and her daughter–pay.”
“Don’t throw your life away,” the officer said firmly. “You’ve gone too far already?”
But Mia ignored him.
She turned to the child and said gently, “Sweetheart, do you see that man in the black suit? I want you to go to him.”
“No!” i tle girl sobbed, clinging to Mia’s leg even tighter. Her whole body shook with fear.
Mia’s heart twisted. But she had to push the child away. If things escalated, she didn’t want her anywhere near the danger.
So she hardened her expression and snapped, “Are you being disobedient? If you don’t do what I say, I won’t like you
anymore.”
“Madam…” the child looked up at her through tear–filled eyes.
But Mia didn’t budge.
Terrified by the change in her, the girl slowly let go, dragging her feet toward Josh, sniffling with every step.
Mia looked at Josh, her eyes filled with a silent plea. “Josh… please. For everything we once had–take care of her.”
Josh swallowed hard, his throat tight. “I promise, Mia. I’ll look after her. But you still have a chance. Turn yourself in.”
Mia gave him a bitter smile. “Some things… once done, there’s no way back.”
She took a deep breath. The wind tugged at her hair as she stood still in the middle of the chaos, her expression resolute. Life or death no longer mattered.
Then, without warning, she raised the knife. The blade glinted cold under the sun.
For a split second, time froze. Everyone held their breath.
Mia moved, aiming the knife straight for the man’s throat.
But a gunshot rang out–sharp, deafening.
Bang
A single bullet pierced the air–and struck Mia right between the eyes.
Blood burst from her forehead, painting her pale face a vivid red
“No-!” Josh screamed, his voice tearing through the silence.
He froze, eyes wide in shock, staring at Mia’s body as though the world had stopped spinning-
Time seemed to halt. The crowd went still.
Mia felt the heat of the bullet tearing through her skull. Her vision blurred, everything soaked in red. Shapes twisted, lights
flickered.
She was still
standing, barely, sheer willpower keeping her upright.
With her final ounce of strength, she plunged the knife into the man’s neck.
Chapter 317 No Regrets
That’s what real punishment looks like.
With that thought, Mia’s body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Above her, the sky was still blue–but to her fading eyes, it looked as red as blood, darkening into black.
The sound of screaming and shouting faded into silence.
+8 Pearls
And just before her mind went dark forever, she thought she heard two voices echoing in the distance–one calling “Mia” and the other, “Madam”
“Today, local police successfully closed a high–profile serial murder case. After weeks of investigation and tireless pursuit, law enforcement identified the suspect and executed a well–coordinated arrest operation. During the final confrontation, the suspect resisted violently. Officers acted decisively and opened fire. The suspect died at the scene. The investigation confirmed that the killings stermed from a personal vendetta. Multiple victims were murdered in gruesome fashion, resulting in widespread public concern. The suspect’s methods were extremely brutal and caused significant social unrest.The successful resolution of this case demonstrates the city’s unwavering commitment to justice and public safety.”
“Jeez, some people really just snap. She was out of her mind.”
“Good riddance. Can you imagine the panic she would’ve caused if they hadn’t stopped her?”
“What kind of parents raise someone like that? Straight–up psycho.”
“Seriously–if you can’t raise a kid right, don’t have one. Now look what we’ve got. A monster.
Josh sat on the floor, his face unshaven, surrounded by empty liquor bottles.
The room stank of alcohol.
Phone in hand, he stared blankly at the news report on screen.
Tears fell silently down his face.
