The lightning faded, leaving only the echo of thunder and the sharp scent of rain. Chen Hao's gun gleamed beneath the stormlight, aimed directly at Rui's chest.
"Step aside," he snarled. "You don't understand what she's carrying — what that child carries. They're worth more than your life."
Meilin's heart pounded. She moved in front of Rui instinctively, spreading her arms wide. "If you want me, then take me. But you'll never touch my daughter again."
Chen Hao's expression twisted. "Still so dramatic, Meilin. Do you even remember what you were before you became their experiment? A pawn. Just like me."
Rui's jaw tightened. "You're nothing like her. You chose this."
"Chose?" Chen Hao barked a hollow laugh. "You think I chose to live as their dog? To kill for their secrets? No, Rui. I did what I had to — just like you're doing now."
The rain fell harder, soaking through their clothes. Xiaoya whimpered softly behind Meilin, clutching her mother's hand.
"Please," the little girl whispered. "Don't fight…"
The sound broke Meilin's heart. "Rui," she said, voice trembling. "If we don't stop him now, he'll never stop chasing us."
Rui nodded slowly. His gaze locked on Chen Hao's. "Then it ends here."
He lunged forward before Chen Hao could fire. The two men crashed to the muddy ground, wrestling for control of the gun. A shot rang out — loud, blinding. Birds exploded from the trees.
Meilin screamed. "Rui!"
For a breathless second, no one moved. Then Rui stood, breathing hard, the weapon in his hand. Chen Hao collapsed to his knees, clutching his shoulder, blood spilling between his fingers.
"It's… over," Rui said, voice low and shaking.
Chen Hao's head tilted back as he laughed weakly. "You think killing me will stop them? There are others… bigger than me."
Rui's expression darkened. "Then I'll find them too."
Chen Hao's laughter faded, replaced by a strange calm. "You'll never escape what's in your veins, Meilin. It's already begun."
"What do you mean?" she demanded, stepping closer.
But before he could answer, his eyes rolled back — and he fell, lifeless, into the mud.
The forest went silent except for the rain. Rui dropped the gun and turned to Meilin. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, tears mixing with rain. "No. But what did he mean? What's already begun?"
Rui hesitated, glancing toward Xiaoya. "He's right about one thing — they'll never stop until we end this completely. The only way is to destroy everything linked to that research."
Meilin swallowed hard. "Including me?"
"Never you," he said firmly, pulling her into his arms. "But we'll have to go back — to the city, to where it all started. If we destroy the source, they can't follow us anymore."
She buried her face against his chest. "Then we'll go together."
Xiaoya looked up at them, eyes wide and brave. "Will we be okay, Mommy?"
Meilin smiled through her tears. "As long as we're together, my love — yes."
Thunder rumbled again in the distance. Rui glanced at the darkening forest and tightened his grip on their hands. "Let's move before dawn."
They walked into the rain — three shadows bound by love, loss, and something that refused to die.
Behind them, the fire from the villa still burned faintly through the trees — a reminder of ev
erything they'd lost, and the fight that still lay ahead.