The air in the lobby of Greystone Manor seemed to freeze, so heavy you couldn't breathe. Jackson's gun was pointed at Allison and Ethan, his eyes burning with anger and disappointment. His finger was on the trigger, as if he would pull it the next second and end the confrontation.
"You think you can win this?" Jackson's voice was low and cold, as if it came from an abyss. "Betraying me, revealing my secrets, you think that's going to change anything?"
Allison stood beside Ethan, her eyes fixed firmly on Jackson. Her heart was beating fast, but she tried to remain calm. "Jackson, this isn't betrayal, this is justice. Sarah's death has to be accounted for, and you have to answer for it."
"Justice?" Jackson sneered, his voice full of sarcasm. "Justice is a joke in this town. Power and money are the truth, and you are nothing."
Ethan stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. "Jackson, put the gun down. This is not the way to solve this. We can sit down and talk and find a better way."
"Talk?" Jackson's eyes turned to Ethan with pain and anger in them. "Ethan, you're my best friend. I trust you. You chose to side with her and betrayed me."
Ethan's expression became heavy and his voice held a hint of helplessness. "Jackson, I didn't betray you. I just chose to do the right thing. Sarah's death can't be covered up like this. We have to find out the truth."
"The truth?" Jackson's voice rose a few notches, and his hand shook slightly as he gripped the gun. "The truth will only destroy us all! Do you think revealing these secrets will make things better? No, it's just going to throw this town into chaos!"
Allison's eyes were locked on Jackson, and there was a cold determination in her voice. "Chaos is better than lies, Jackson. Sarah didn't deserve to die like this, and you're going to pay for it."
Jackson's expression changed to a grimace, his voice filled with anger and despair. "Pay the price? Who do you think you are, Allison? You think you can judge me?"
Just then, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. Several police officers burst into the lobby, guns trained on Jackson. "Drop your weapon, Jackson! It's over!"
Jackson's expression turned pale, and his eyes darted back and forth between the police and Allison. "Did you ... you call the police?"
Allison nodded, a hint of icy determination in her voice. "Yes, Jackson. It's time for this to be over."
Jackson's hand trembled slightly, the muzzle of his gun dropping slowly. His eyes were filled with pain and despair, as if he had lost all his strength in an instant. "You ... have ruined everything for me."
The police quickly stepped forward, subdued Jackson and put on the handcuffs. His eyes fell on Allison and Ethan for the last time, a bitter sarcasm in his voice. "You think you can win this? The secrets of this town run much deeper than you realize."
Alison watched his back as he was led away, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She knew that the game of revenge was over, but she couldn't deny that Jackson's words were like a thorn in her side.
Ethan walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder, a note of exhaustion in his voice. "It's over, Allison. We did it."
Allison was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, a hint of icy determination in her voice. "Yes, it's over. But this is just the beginning, Ethan. We still have a lot to do."
Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. "Alison, you've done Sarah justice. Maybe it's time to let go of the hate and start a new life."
Allison didn't respond, she just stared silently at the night in the distance, her heart filled with complicated emotions. She knew that the price of this revenge was far greater than she had ever imagined, and that she would have to face the storm that was to come.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)