Sophia pushed the speedometer to 140 mph. The night was quiet on the island's ring road, with barely any cars in sight. She began her chase, unimpeded.
In that moment, countless thoughts raced through her mind. If he caught up to her, what would he say?
Would he once again doubt her, questioning why she was with Cronus and why she was helping him escape?
After all, she had been pleading with him to let Cronus go. It was her idea to send the brandy that incapacitated Winter's two subordinates to the small building. Piecing it all together, she did appear the most suspicious.
When would he ever learn to truly trust her? When could he truly let go of all the grudges and entanglements?
And her origins—what was the truth behind them? Why had no one ever given her even the faintest clue? Why had her parents and brothers treated her like a cherished treasure all her life, yet she wasn't of the Diaz family bloodline?
The last time she went home, her parents had visibly aged. Her mother's hair was half-white, and as soon as she saw her, she burst into tears. Such a deep bond—how could it be faked?
Had they truly considered abandoning her? Would they really rather cling to their wealth and shares at the expense of her life and safety?
She couldn't believe it. Yet Capone and Harris had spoken of it with absolute certainty.
Capone—when had he discovered the possibility that she wasn't the Diaz family's biological daughter?
He had told her he could let go of his vendetta against the Diaz family, as long as she stayed by his side, raising their child and giving him a complete, loving family.
But was that his true intention? Or was it simply because she wasn't biologically tied to the Diaz family, and keeping her didn't matter to him?
Had he ever truly considered letting go of his revenge against the Diaz family?
She recalled the tone he used while speaking on the phone with Boss Alexander Diaz. There was no joy or humility one might expect when discussing marriage; instead, it was laced with disdain and condescension.
He had said, "If I don't marry her, who else would?"
Was she merely a possession? A plaything marked by his claim, left to be eternally grateful for his so-called kindness?
In the past, she might have impulsively retorted, "If you won't marry me, I'll just go back home." But now, where could she go?
Would returning to the Diaz family truly be the outcome anyone wanted?
Sophia shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. The scenes of Capone reciting nursery rhymes and Tang poems by her side these past few days were still fresh in her mind, yet they now felt on the verge of shattering into illusions.
She was terrified, but she had no idea what to do.
Capone's car was intercepted halfway by Lucas and his men, giving Cronus and the others more time to head toward Nishiyama on the island.
"Sophia, let's drive up into the mountains. The roads are well-paved now, with plenty of turn-offs. We can find a spot to hide for a while. Once Capone and his men are far enough away, we'll contact Lucas again."
Sophia shook her head. "No, if I keep staying with you like this, Capone will only intensify his pursuit. He might even send people to search the island and the mountains overnight. You might not be able to get away! I have to go back tonight, but I can help divert Capone!"
"I can't let you take that risk!" He glanced at her, knowing her condition was delicate. She was pregnant, and her body couldn't handle too much stress. High-speed chases like this were far too dangerous.
"It's fine. You get out here! We're almost at the base of Nishiyama. It won't be hard for you to hide alone. Contact your people as soon as you can. Don't worry—Capone won't do anything to me!"
Sure enough, they were already at the foothills of Nishiyama. It was only then that Cronus realized how far they had driven.
If he got out here and Sophia kept driving forward, the road would head straight north—a desolate part of Mesha Island. The area was remote and winding, with the road twisting to avoid the mountain, mirroring the rugged coastline.
Cronus hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "No, I can't let you drive alone. It's too dangerous! Stop the car!"
Sophia hit the brakes, and Cronus switched seats with her. "I'll drive. Buckle up and sit tight!"
Sophia knew his driving skills were far better than hers, so she let him take over and moved to the passenger seat. After fastening her seatbelt, she instinctively placed a protective hand on her belly and silently prayed: Baby, you need to be good. Mommy will protect you.
Before long, Capone's black Jaguar XJ appeared behind them like a ghost. Its twin beams of light locked onto their car, steadily closing the gap.
"Cronus, you…"
"Hold on tight, and don't be scared!"
Cronus, despite his mild and scholarly demeanor, was bold and meticulous. He drove recklessly but with precision, showing an impressive familiarity with Mesha's terrain.
The perilous mountain roads that seemed treacherous to Sophia were no match for him. He effortlessly pushed the car to 120 mph, weaving through narrow curves and dodging protruding terrain with ease.
But the constant sharp turns made her feel uncomfortable. Normally, she didn't get carsick, but pregnancy had altered her body's responses. Feeling queasy was to be expected.
Still, she couldn't ask him to stop. If he did, Capone would catch him for sure. Once caught, Capone was unlikely to let him go again.
She also knew Diana had been wanting to help Cronus escape ever since he fell ill. This plan was something Diana must have been aware of and fully supported. If it failed, Diana would undoubtedly feel both disappointed and worried.
Capone, burdened by so much hatred and unresolved feuds, might find some relief if he could let go of even just one grudge.
Sophia closed her eyes, as if shutting them could block out all the chaos of the world.
Their car, a vintage luxury vehicle with aesthetics far outweighing its performance, was undoubtedly prestigious. However, compared to Capone's Jaguar, it was outmatched. Moreover, Capone's driving skills were likely on par with Cronus's, if not better. The gap between them was closing rapidly.
"Hold tight! Grab the handle!"
Cronus gritted his teeth, assessing the curve ahead. With a sudden sharp turn, the car's body seemed to drift outward, making Sophia feel as though they were skimming the edge of danger.
Her heart raced wildly. Through the rearview mirror, she could see Capone's relentless pursuit, a familiar ruthlessness etched into his every move.
He must be furious. He must be questioning her loyalty again.
Sophia fought back tears. Up ahead was a fork in the road. The logical route for Cronus, heading north, would be to take the left fork. But instead, he abruptly veered to the right.
The signs indicated this road led toward the villas—an area where Lucas's people might be stationed, but also a place likely swarming with Capone's brothers, waiting to ambush.
"Cronus, we're heading back this way."
"I know. Don't worry!"
He remained calm, having already devised a plan to shake off Capone at the next junction.
The vast ocean loomed under the night sky, its inky surface blending into the darkness. Though the wind and waves were mild tonight, the sound of the sea carried a consuming power, as if it could swallow everything whole.
From his position behind them, Capone could make out the figure of the driver in the front seat—Cronus. His taller stature made him easy to distinguish behind the wheel.
But Capone wasn't entirely sure whether Sophia was still in the car. Before Lucas intercepted him earlier, it had been Sophia driving, but he couldn't confirm if she had stayed in the car or gotten out along the way.
He had been chasing them relentlessly, anxiety consuming him, and hadn't seen anyone on foot along the way. This area was nearly deserted at night, with few vehicles or pedestrians. If Sophia had exited the car, she would have headed toward Nishiyama. Lucas's people wouldn't have captured her—or at least, they shouldn't have.
Regardless of whether Sophia was still in the car, Capone had to catch up to Cronus's vehicle to confirm her whereabouts.
She was carrying his child. He would not allow anyone to take her away from him.
Tonight, he had drunk quite a bit of alcohol, and now, in the midst of this high-speed chase, the alcohol coursing through his veins seemed to ignite, sending a fiery rush straight to his head.
To be honest, he knew this state was dangerous. His mind was clouded, his reactions not sharp. But stopping the pursuit wasn't an option. He couldn't bear the thought of what might happen if he let her slip away. His greatest fear now was Sophia overthinking things—or, worse, resolutely leaving him for good.
As he closed in on them, Cronus suddenly changed direction, speeding into an open stretch ahead. Then, with a sharp screech of brakes, he attempted a quick U-turn to evade Capone's car.
Capone realized what was happening and instinctively stomped on the brakes. But the brake pedal betrayed him—it felt unresponsive, refusing to slow the car down.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, with mere fractions of a second to react.
Capone's car wouldn't stop. The vintage car ahead had already turned sideways, almost blocking the road completely. He could only watch as his car collided head-on with it.
With a loud, gut-wrenching crash, Capone's Jaguar slammed into the vintage car, sending it hurtling through the guardrails and plunging straight into the sea.
Capone jerked the steering wheel in desperation, but it was too late. His car veered off the road, slamming into the roadside embankment. The impact triggered the airbags, the sudden force slamming into his chest and leaving him gasping in pain before he lost consciousness.
His final thought before succumbing to the darkness was a desperate plea: Sophia must be okay. She can't have been in that car. She can't have fallen into the sea…
"Ah!" Sophia let out a startled scream, her voice trembling with disbelief as the car soared into the air before crashing into the ocean. The sensation was surreal, like the disorienting shift between weightlessness and sudden pressure in an airplane.
Only when the car hit the water with a heavy splash did she snap back to reality. Thankfully, the windows were rolled up, preventing the seawater from rushing in immediately.
"Sophia, don't be afraid! Unbuckle your seatbelt—I'll get you out of here!"