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MARCO's POV

I clenched my fist tightly as I read the message that I received just now. I just woke up; planning to go to the kitchen to cook for my wife but the bad news met my eyes upon checking my phone.

I wanted to fly into a fit of rage and just kill my enemies just like I usually do. I've been restraining myself these past few months for the sake of Maggie, but now, the hidden demon inside of me was about to be awaken because my enemies went too far this time.

I placed my phone on top of the computer table and then quickly went to the bathroom to have a quick shower. I wanted to awaken my senses in order to think things clearly before going to my enemies.

Upon finishing my morning rituals, I got dressed in a hurry, all the while thinking of any ways to save my father but my mind wasn't working for some reason. I couldn't think straight because I was fearing for my father's safety. Thinking that the enemy got him took a blow on me.

My jaw flexed as I mentally shook my head. "Relax, Unu. You're Thamuz. You shouldn't let your enemies have the pleasure of playing you like this."

After I finished, I was about to go out of the room when attention went to Maggie on our bed, still sleeping. She looked so innocent while sleeping like an angel. I carefully sat on the edge of the bed and then touched her rosy cheek in a feathery manner. She stirred.

I thought she was about to wake up but her breathing became steady again after that. I carefully leaned over and then kissed her on the lips tenderly.

"I love you, queen. Wait for me." I whispered full of love before exiting the house. While driving towards the hospital, my jaw was flexed the entire time. My hands were clutching the steering wheel tightly while thinking of what might happened to my father in the hands of Apollyon at that moment.

Apollyon got him and it was my fault because I couldn't protect him enough. I thought sending some of my men to guard him was enough to keep Apollyon away but I was wrong. They still got him.

"Damn you, Apollyon. If you ever harm my father, I will make sure to send you straight to hell." I uttered in loathe. I wanted to call my men for reinforcement but they wouldn't make it even if they wanted to.

Late last night, Dui called me and asked for our men to go help him with his mission. According to him, he needed most of our men because they finally found the hideout of the remaining members of the Horeeya in Texas.

I agreed to send almost all our available men to attack the enemies lair because I wanted the Horeeya to get erased at once. I made that decision while I was so rattled of the thought that Maggie might leave me if she discovered all my secrets not to mention the current state of my father.

Because of that hasty decision-making, Apollyon saw that as an opportunity to move.

For sure, Dui and our men were already in the heat of battle at this instant.

I didn't know how Apollyon discovered that Dui and our men left for mission but he clearly used his brain this time and took advantage of the situation. But then, I didn't care anymore. All I wanted at the moment was to finish all these and save my father.

I would never let Apollyon outwit me in any way. Yes, he's has the upper-hand right now but I will make sure to turn the tables on my favor.

When I arrived at the hospital, I furtively scrutinized the area but everything seemed normal. I went straight to my father's room but just like I've expected, he wasn't there anymore. The hospital bed was empty.

"Minchia!" I cursed in rage. I took out the gun that I was hiding behind me and cocked it, readying for the battle. The silence was deafening, indicating that something was about to happen.

Even though the hospital was quiet and seemed normal, I knew for a fact that Apollyon and his men were hiding somewhere, waiting for the right moment to attack.

I carefully opened the door and was about to exit the room when a nurse, who seemed to be so scared, entered. She looked like she was about to burst into in tears because of so much fear.

"M-Mr. Pearce, someone asked me to t-tell you to go to the r-rooftop. Now." Her voice was shaking. Her hands were trembling.

"Where is my father?" I asked instead.

"T-They have him." I gritted my teeth upon hearing her answer. I stormed out of the room and then marched my way towards the stairs.

There were elevators but I didn't want them to ambush me the moment I arrived on the rooftop. While I was ascending the stairs, my hands were clutching then gun tightly as I carefully observed my surroundings, looking for any signs of danger.

I was expecting any surprise attacks while going up but I didn't receive any. I didn't see any Apollyon's men either. This is not good...

When I reached the rooftop, I was about to open the door when I heard a ticking sound coming from the other side. My eyes widened when I realized what it was and run away as fast as I could. I descended on the stairs like a ghost was after me.

Thankfully, I was fast enough because the bomb exploded.

Even though I got away, the impact still got me that I fell on the stairs until to the landing of the stairs. That weakened me because I got injured quite a bit. I tried to get up but I heard a cocked of a gun.

"Don't move or I'll blow your skull." That familiar demonic face warned. I looked up at the person who was standing before me and I was right. It was Apollyon. I smirked even though my forehead was already oozing with blood because of me falling on the stairs just now.

"Is this all you've got? Blackmailing me by taking my father?" I asked in controlled animosity and his face contorted in anger.

"Why not? Look, it was effective because you came. Don't worry, Thamuz. I am just about to start making you life miserable just like what you did with mine." He answered arrogantly before calling his men. I knew it. They were just lurking around. I could sense their ugly heads even just before I entered the hospital.

"Get him!" He commanded. I was about to fight back but Apollyon spoke.

"If I were you, I wouldn't fight back because we have your father. Any unwanted move from you and he will die." My jaw flexed as my plan of fighting them head-on, froze. I couldn't risk my father's life. I had to put my plan to the side for now and wait for the right moment.

"You're nothing but a coward." I uttered in disgust but he just laughed.

"Take him to the rooftop! Now!" Four of his men dragged me towards the rooftop but I didn't fight back. I let them think that I already lost my will to fight.

"I can't believe that you really came. Why didn't I think of this strategy before? I've never thought that you still care for your father after what they did to you." My eyes turned into slits as I saw who just spoke. Dimitri.

Just like Apollyon, he looked greedy and evil as f*ck. Just a glance of him and I already knew what kind of person he was.

I've never met him in person before but Mantus already filled me and Dui with information about him. He's the real father of Apollyon.

"They never did anything bad to me and Marcus because you were the one who was behind of what happened in the past. You even faked your death in order to achieve your goal and that's to secure a spot for your loser son in the Alessi family. Yes, you succeeded that time because you managed to get rid of me and Dui, the real heirs of the Alessi clan, but it's different now. Now that we already know what you did, I will make sure to eliminate your sorry a*s in this planet together with your coward of a son!" I hissed full of hatred.

"Let's see about that." The corner of Dimitri's lips twitched upon saying that. He then ordered his men to continue beating me up more. My hands were already itching of fighting back but Apollyon and Dimitri had my father who was currently unconscious. My eyes widened when I saw how they forcefully pull him up by the arm from lying on the floor.

Even though my whole body was already painful, I didn't care about it. All I wanted was so make sure that my father would be saved from the clutches of Apollyon and Dimitri and I couldn't do that if I would just let them beat me up like this. I had to think of any effective way to defeat them.

"It's a shame that this is what you've become, Thamuz. I've never thought that you would be weak and turn into a stupid maggot like this one day. Since you didn't bring Maggie with you, we will have your father's head instead. I'm tired of waiting for so long. I've waited long enough for this to happen!" Dimitri said. The look of victory was all over his face. Even Apollyon had the same look.

I couldn't help but to laugh at the two losers in front of me. Keith's face contorted in anger because of my sarcastic laugh. His eyes blazed with fire.

"Bring him here!" He commanded his men. They dragged me towards them, which was I've been wanting to happen since a while ago.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked me, squinting his eyes. I smirked.

"Because you're nothing but cowards!" I spat at them.

"Damn you!" Keith exploded and punched me just like I've predicted. The men who were holding me let go of me as I pretended to be weak enough and fell on the floor. That was my cue. I was about to grab Keith's arm and twitch it when I heard that voice.

"Marco!" I looked at the direction of the one who screamed and I was right. Maggie. Fear crept within me. How come she's here?!

"N-No! Runaway, my queen! Don't come near us!" I shouted in panic. I deliberately didn't tell her where I was going because I didn't want her to follow me. I didn't want to get distracted of my plans.

I didn't fight back even though they were already beating me up in order to let Apollyon and Dimitri think that I was already weak and incapable of defending myself because I was cooking for something. I wanted to surprise them with an unexpected attack. But now, I had to change my plan because Maggie appeared all of a sudden. I feared that they would get her too and use her against me.

"Look who's here. I can't believe that you actually came here, Maggie. Thamuz is really stupid. He didn't realize how stubborn you were. I knew this would happen." Keith said triumphantly upon seeing my wife. He then gazed at me. "I guess, I already won, Thamuz. The price is here."

What he said made me see red. I spat at him that Maggie was already my wife and that shocked him. He couldn't accept what he just heard. Because of that, he pointed his gun at Maggie and I felt like my head became bigger in fear for my wife. The situation was messed up and out of my control anymore.

I thought I could turn the tables in my favor but then, this happened. Maggie came.

I wanted to fight back but I didn't want to make a single mistake that would cause me to lose my father nor Maggie. Thankfully, Dimitri stopped Apollyon when he was about to pull the trigger and told him that there was still a way for him to have Maggie. That's to force us to sign a divorce paper.

I voiced out my displeasure of what they were planning and that pushed Apollyon to tell Maggie my secret. He punched me in my stomach in order to stop me from interrupting when I tried to. My heart sank when I saw the shock on my wife's face upon hearing the revelation of Apollyon.

I was planning to tell everything to her after rescuing my father but Apollyon took that opportunity to tell the truth away from me.

Raw pain was visible on Maggie's lovely face and I couldn't take it anymore. When she lose consciousness in front of me, I lost it.

I kicked Apollyon's weakness down there with all my might but no one heard his scream because a loud explosion echoed just near the torn down entrance of the rooftop at the same time. The blast followed by series of gunshots from everywhere.

I didn't know what was happening but I was glad that happened. Whoever arrived saved me time to kick my enemies butt.

Because of the explosion, Dimitri and their men's attention was shifted to that direction so I used that as an opportunity to kick the man who was restraining my right hand. He groaned in pain and automatically lost his grip on me. I followed my attack with two punches using my available hand until he fell on the ground.

I did the same thing to the other man on my left.

"What the f*ck are you still waiting for?! Get him!" Dimitri roared in panic to his two remaining men when he realized what just happened. They charged at me. I didn't know how I managed to still fight after all the beatings I just received. Maybe because of strong will power; the will to save my loved ones from these b*stards.

When I managed to beat their men, I was about to take down Dimitri together with Apollyon, who was still cupping his balls in pain, when Dimitri held my father in hostage. He pointed a gun against his temple.

"One wrong move and your father dies!" He threatened. I could see the desperation and panic in his eyes. I was about to answer when I noticed someone standing behind Dimitri.

"Papà, watch out!" Apollyon warned when he noticed what was happening but it was too late. A loud gunshot echoed followed by Dimitri falling on his knees. Another gunshot and he fell on the floor, dead.

"B*stard!" Apollyon screamed as he was about to retaliate at Dui, who just killed his father, but I shot him before he could even pull the trigger.

"Y-You'll pay for this, Thamuz!" He threatened before he fell on the floor as blood oozed from his body. He desperately tried to move even though he was already too weak to do so but gradually lose his strength after and lose consciousness.

"I don't owe you anything, Apollyon. I've got nothing to pay to you. You and your father are the ones who took our lives away from us because of you ambitions. You don't deserve the Alessi name." I spat with a stoic face.

While I was staring at Apollyon and Dimitri lying on the floor, I couldn't feel anything. They took many years of our lives because they wanted to gain power. Dui and me never experienced how to have parents guiding and loving us while growing up because Dimitri made them believe that we already died.

I couldn't understand how Dimitri managed to influence Keith with his evil plans. I guess, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree instead.

I shifted my gaze to my brother who was now checking on our father. I didn't expect him to come to our rescue, but he did. I thought, they were in Texas.

"He's still alive." He uttered after he checked our father's pulse. Even though he looked serious, I could tell that he was worried of our father. He stood up after he fixed our father's position.

"Thank you, frati. You came." I said faintly as I felt my knees wobbled, slowly losing my strength. Now that everything was finally finished, I could feel the damage that they managed to inflict on me.

"Frati!" Dui managed to catch me before my body land on the floor of the rooftop. "Frati! Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. I looked at him through my half-hooded eyes.

"Don't w-worry about me. T-Take Maggie to the hospital." I managed to say before darkness consumed me. I wanted to go to her but I couldn't move my body anymore. I was so afraid that something bad happened to her.

I didn't know how long I was out. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital bed.

"How's my wife? Is she okay? Where is she?" I bombarded Dui with questions. He averted my gaze. My heart throbbed. Judging from his expression, I knew something happened.

"Speak up, Dui! Where is my wife?"

He heaved a sigh and then finally answered. "She left the hospital when she woke up. I tried to stop her but she was determined to go. She even told me not to follow her no matter what happens. I think, she already left you."

I couldn't react right away. I had the hard time processing that in my head. But when it finally dawned on me, I got off the bed right away even though my body was still aching.

"Where do you think you're doing, frati? You should stay in bed!"

"No! I have to find my wife!"

"But-"

I stared daggers at him. "Don't you dare stop me, Dui. I have to see Maggie!" I said thunderously and he heaved a sigh, couldn't do anything but to agree.

I won't let you leave me, my queen. Never.

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What do you think of this chapter?

Did Maggie really leave Marco for good?

If you were Maggie, would you get mad at Marco for what he's done to you?

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