Silence filled the room. It was when Maxen's foot tapped on the rubber mat that brought back the atmosphere to life. The longer he tapped his foot, the louder it got.

His eyes as clear as the sky darkened like the Cerulean Sea. It held a depth that promised nothing but mayhem to whoever dared lock gazes with him.

That's what exactly Lance Go did. He peered up and his eyes dilated when it locked with Maxen's piercing stare and it made him flinch in his seat. 

"Just nod your head. You don't have a choice anyway," Maxen said and shrugged. "And if you lie, just so you know, that guy is a neophyte, so the chances of him pulling your fingernails is more painful than how I did it earlier."

Olivia gasped, her hand squeezed Maxen's arm and she whispered to his ears, "Can I try it first?"

Pinching her chin, Maxen shook it. "Leave it to the professionals, baby. Just ask whatever question you like."

"Ooooooh." Olivia's shoulders sank. "I never messed with my Barbies before. I thought this is my chance to play with one. Maybe you can teach me how? Like how you taught me to shoot."

Maxen scratched the skin above his eyebrow. He contemplated whether it was a good idea or not although he knew it was a bad one from the get go. "Let's buy a crate of Barbie to practice with, baby. How about that?" 

Maxen fished his phone from the steel table and dialed Jack's number. When the call got through, he didn't blink nor paused to breathe as he said his command. 

He ended the call upon hearing Jack's reply, placing his phone back on the table. Little did Maxen know that the crate of Barbie he ordered would serve a different purpose in the future. 

"Jeez, that's a lame training by the way." Olivia shook her head. Why did she even tell him that piece of information? Now, it backfired on her. Giving up, she asked, "How many questions can I ask him?"

"9 fingernails plus 10 toenails, you can ask as many as you like. If we're lucky and we ran out of things to pull out from him, maybe we can skin him alive?"

"I think he won't last that long though. Can't you see how weak he is? Welp. Ok. I have something that I want to ask before the guns. Just want to confirm my suspicions."

"As you please, my princess." He kissed the outline of her jaw.

Olivia snorted at the title. She stuck a tongue out on Maxen before training her gaze on Lance. "Is your mom a member of the Huks?"

Lance Go nodded.

"Is your biological father a member of the Huks?"

He nodded again.

"This is weird, he's telling us the answers. Maybe we should remove the tape in his mouth?" Olivia shifted in her seat. She didn't like that Lance was dishing out the answers to them. 

She wanted to hear him scream as loud as her heart pounded in her c.h.e.s.t when he attacked her that afternoon.

So without saying a word, she stood up and walked over Lance Go, peeling the tape with much force, his lips bled as it was freed from its muteness.

The smell of iron wafted in the air along with Lance's shriek. It was music to Olivia's ears. She never heard him say sorry to her after he blatantly used her to gain his riches.

"Why are you illegally purchasing guns for months?" Olivia interrogated.

Lance spit the blood that pooled in his lips to the side. "Simple. So the Huks can kill your lover boy. I told you. I'm taking you so you can be safe when they attack this cursed land."

Hearing Lance's admission sent a slush of fiery lava in the pit of Maxen's stomach. He shot up from his seat, his shadow loomed over the insolent bastard.

Looking over her shoulders, Olivia tried to tug a corner of her lips for a smile but she couldn't. 

Husband and wife knew how much armory Lance Go managed to smuggle in the country. It was enough to equip an army. 

She thought, what if it wasn't just Lance who was smuggling guns? What if there were other people who were in bed with the Huks, planning the demise of the royal family?

"I don't think I can stay longer here." Olivia frowned. She realized that Lance Go needed more persuasion for the next questions which Maxen would be asking.

She pivoted on her heel and was heading to the door when Lance Go spoke, "They will attack in a month's time. It's too late for the Suis. Just… go somewhere they can't reach you, Olivia."

Well that escalated too quickly. Olivia paused for a second, thinking if Lance Go would bargain for something. With Maxen's back facing her, she couldn't see what her husband was thinking about that moment until she heard him speak.

"Why should I believe you?" Maxen crossed his arms over his c.h.e.s.t.

"I owed Olivia the truth. Now you have your answers, kill me. I deserve to die anyway."

Maxen's c.h.e.s.t rumbled. The nerve of this guy to come clean when everything was too late for him. "Before I give you what you asked for, you have to tell me where the Huks are hiding."

Lance shrugged. "I don't know. You don't go to them. They come to you. That's how they're undetected for decades."

"So we will let them come to you then. We will throw you back in the forest you were hiding in and we will wait for them to come and fetch you," Maxen suggested, squaring his shoulders. 

He didn't want to stay any longer. He already got a gist of what was about to go down. He could leave the rest of the job to the generals present in the room. 

Ready to leave so he could enjoy a dinner date with his wife, Maxen unrolled his sleeves and adjusted his cufflinks as he spoke with a general in hushed voices.

"Your Highness, it's a lost cause," Lance said, the hint of mockery in the way he addressed Maxen's title was loud and clear. "The Huks had long infiltrated the country. First, they got their money from businesses, businesses that wanted the royal family out. Then they used this money to buy people in the government. You have more enemies than you think you have," Lance warned.

Maxen c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. "They could try, but they will fail, so do yourself a favor and give this general a list of names you came in contact with unless you want him to prolong your agony."

"You don't get it, Maxen," Lance Go trailed off, exhaustion apparent from his wrinkled face and his dry voice. "They wanted what the Suis have. Your money. Your vault of information. Your power. All of it. They were indoctrinated that what you have belonged to them. They won't stop until they see every Sui dropping dead on the ground."

"Lance, Lance, Lance," Maxen tutted. "This isn't the first time the Suis will face a mutiny. We wouldn't be standing here tall and proud if we weren't prepared every time someone attacks us."

"This time is different. Just pack your bags and go. Keep Olivia safe."

"You're a complicated man, Lance. You left Olivia and now you're pleading for her safety as if you really cared about her."

"I do care about her. It's just… I knew I had more chances of climbing up the ladder if I go after Selena," he admitted.

Olivia's bell-like laugh echoed in the room. "I didn't know Henry's treatment was a blessing in disguise. Is that why you left? Because you knew Henry would never recognize me as his daughter?"

"Yes."

"Hmm," Olivia huffed. She peeked at Lance shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t. 

She couldn't believe it was the reason why he left her. He already had everything within his reach yet greed took over him and he wanted more. 

"Just to put it out here, you don't have to feel responsible for my safety, Mr. Go. My husband can take care of that. Do you know what you should be worried about? Your wife and daughter."

"I don't care about Selena or the child. I only cared about you and you know that. We know each other better than anyone."

That's the Olivia he knew and he was happy seeing it so he smiled. But that smile quickly faded, replaced with a look of terror flashing in his eyes.

Click clack click

The deathly sound of stilettos piercing the rubber mat was ominous. The haunting sound scared the rest of spectators inside the room.