Once White had finally managed to steady himself, Aria rose to her feet, locking eyes with Flynt. “I’ll go to yourb, on one condition: you guarantee their safe passage out of the border region.”


    A dark, sinister glint flickered in Flynt’s eyes, and a thorn in his heart that made him crave murder.


    Damon suddenly interjected, “Perfect chance. Just kill them.”


    Flynt snarled at Damon, “Shut your mouth.”


    Damon’s face darkened with rage, murderous intent ring toward Flynt.


    But Flynt didn’t even spare Damon a nce, his gaze locked on Aria. “Deal. You stay. My men will see them out safely.”


    White staggered forward, his voice desperate. “Aria, you shouldn’t do that.”


    White thought, ‘What good could these guys possibly be up to? It must be something harmful. They’re actually using me to ckmail Aria. I wish I could just end it all right now!’


    Aria narrowed her eyes. “Are you disobeying me now?” White could only sulk in silence.


    Aria met Owen’s gaze. “Do you trust me?”


    Owen said firmly, “I trust you.”


    Flynt was a ticking time bomb, always there. Even if he didn’t detonate at that moment, he eventually would. And if even Madelyn couldn’t deal with the fallout….


    Owen thought, ‘Not like I could handle it either. But if anyone can handle this, it’s Madelyn. If she says she’ll blow up Flynt’sb, then it’s as good as done.


    ‘All I need to do is locate the ce, wait for the right moment, and bring Madelyn back to Huthailia.


    Owen said, “Don’t worry, I’ll get White back to Huthailia safe and sound.” Aria’s eyes crinkled with a soft smile.


    White blurted out, “No, wait, Owen. How could you just let her go with them? You’re her boyfriend. You should’ve stopped her froming to save me.” He got so worked up that his head spun.


    For once, Flynt found himself warming up to White. “White has a point. Your boyfriend doesn’t seem too concerned about your safety, does he? Why not break up with him while you have the chance?”


    “Break up?” Aria chuckled, ruffling Owen’s hair affectionately. “Where else would I find a boyfriend who’s this handsome, attentive, and caring, all in one package?”


    White’s eyes widened in disbelief. He wondered, ‘Since when did my ice-cold, ruthless Aria be like this?’


    As Aria withdrew her hand, Owen caught it, his fingers intertwining with hers.


    Suppressing the turmoil in his eyes, Owen managed a faint smile. “I’ll be waiting for you at home.”


    Damon said coldly, “Got it.”


    Flynt watched their intimate exchange, a dark glint flickering in his eyes. He raised his hand in a sharp gesture, and several of his men immediately stepped forward, motioning for Owen and White to leave.


    White choked out, “Aria-”


    Aria said coolly, “Move.”


    Without another word, Owen steadied White, turned, and step by step began retracing the path they hade. Flynt’s men followed close behind, guns at the ready.


    Damon frowned. He thought, ‘Flynt’s actually letting them go? Just so Aria would go to hisb?’


    It wasn’t until their figures vanished from sight that Flynt finally withdrew his gaze and turned to Aria with a faint smirk. “Now, you can rest assured ande with me, can’t you?”


    Aria’s smile vanished, leaving only a chilling indifference. “Lead the way,” she stated tly.


    Flynt smirked. “Theb isn’t here. We’ll have to stay a couple more days.”


    Flynt said, “Leave everything you have on you here, including those silver needles. I’m sure Ms. Saxon wouldn’t want me to frisk you, would you?”


    Aria swiftly disarmed herself, tossing her sidearm and ammunition to the ground. Flynt, unfazed, bent down to retrieve


    them.


    Damon’s eyes twitched with rm, but before he could speak, Flynt cut him off. “And the silver needles,” Flynt demanded.


    Then, Damon watched in shock as Aria produced dozens of silver needles from her person.


    1:17 pm