Chapter 39 : "Shadows of Betrayal"

As Hazel found herself face-to-face with the menacing barrel of a gun, her instincts kicked in, propelling her into action. She wasted no time, fiercely kicking the man in the stomach and wresting the gun from his grip. Swiftly, she pointed it at him, her resolve evident as she warned, "Stop! Move any closer, and I'll put a bullet in his head. Drop your weapon." The man hesitated but had no choice but to comply. He made a feeble attempt to deceive her, but she remained resolute, pulling the trigger and shooting the next man approaching. Startled and fearful, he dropped his gun. "Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice steady.

In the chaos, another man appeared, and Hazel seized the opportunity to act. She shot him, allowing herself a moment to push Hazel away, giving the other man a chance to free himself. Both men grabbed their guns, aiming them menacingly at Hazel. Fear surged within her as she fell to the ground, bullets tearing through the air from an unexpected direction. She cried out, desperately calling for Yunus upon seeing him.

"Let's go now," Yunus urged, his priority the safety of Lucian and Isabella. Hazel acted immediately, bringing them out, her heart pounding with urgency. "We are leaving," Yunus declared, taking the lead as they navigated the grim aftermath of the confrontation, passing through a landscape littered with fallen bodies.

"Ethan!" Hazel's voice quivered with concern as she noticed his wounds. "I'm okay," Ethan assured, holding his injured arm, displaying his resilience. The car stood ready, loaded with luggage, but danger still loomed. Ethan's keen senses alerted him to the presence of two men sneaking up behind, preparing to take aim at Yunus. In a selfless act, he flew to shield Yunus, absorbing the impact of two bullets in his second arm. Yunus's men reacted swiftly, shooting down the assailants until they fell. Anxiety and fear coursed through Hazel as she witnessed Ethan's bleeding form, a mixture of relief and dread overcoming her.