The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)

Over the years, Elisea had endured a hellish training regimen, suffering through hardships to finally stand out from the pool of selected members, barely earning a sliver of trust from Jarvis. Jonas watched with a heart that clenched in pain, finally understanding why Elisea's back bore so many scars from lashes! A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Jarvis," he swore silently, "I'll make sure you pay dearly for this."

With that thought, Jonas picked up his cell phone and strolled to the floor-to-ceiling window. He dialed Brendan and issued instructions for the upcoming operation. This time, he was determined to teach Jarvis a lesson he wouldn't forget.

As Jonas gazed out of the window, his heart swelled with tenderness for Elisea. After all she had been through these years, he vowed to double his efforts to treat her right in the future.

Meanwhile, Elisea had slipped away from the beachfront villa and covertly checked into a nondescript motel. There, she hacked into the shadowy web, remotely surveying the current state of the NK organization back in her home country.

Her mother had been ostensibly living a life of luxury under Jarvis' watch, but in reality, she was under house arrest. Elisea wondered how her mother was managing without her presence. Her eyes flicked across the digital feeds until she focused on the modest courtyard her mother called home. The tidy space brought a small measure of comfort to Elisea.

The camera panned around, and there was her mother, sitting in a corner of the yard, seemingly having breakfast. Seeing her mother's familiar silhouette brought tears to Elisea's eyes; the sorrow was overwhelming. Her mother looked even more frail than before she left.

The morning sun bathed the courtyard in light as her mother, with trembling hands, fumbled for something, nearly knocking over a teapot. Elisea's heart wrenched. Her mother's eyesight had been failing when she left, and now it seemed she could no longer see.

Elisea watched her mother struggle with the simple task of preparing a bowl of oatmeal and couldn't hold back her sobs. Her mother had been subsisting on such meager fare; no wonder she had become so gaunt.

Through her tears, Elisea whispered apologies to her mother, lamenting her failure to win their freedom after three long years.

As she wept silently, footsteps approached her room. She quickly closed the remote feed and wiped away her tears, alert and wary.

The door swung open, and in strode a man in a wide-brimmed hat, the dark figure of Landon. He cast a hungry, predatory smile at Elisea's reddened eyes. "Elisea, the boss has new orders. You're to return to our homeland immediately."

"What?" Elisea stood up in surprise. "What about the mission here?"

"Don't worry about it," Landon replied dismissively. "Someone else will handle it."

Elisea's eyes widened in disbelief. "But why? Who's taking over my mission?"

With a mocking glance at Elisea's delicate face, Landon sneered, "Your current state doesn't suit an assassin. You don't need to concern yourself with the rest. The job to take out Jonas has been passed to me. You should head back."

Elisea was furious to hear her mission had been usurped by Landon. "No! The boss promised me freedom for my mother and me if I took down Jonas. He can't break his word!" If she missed this chance, Elisea knew their freedom could be indefinitely delayed.

Landon laughed cruelly, lifting her chin with a rough hand. "Elisea, look at yourself, all soft and smitten. You've lost your edge to Jonas. You'll never be able to kill him."

Stung by his words, Elisea shoved his hand away, turning towards the window with a frosty voice, "Give me three days. I'll prove I can do it."

Landon scoffed. "We'll see about that."

With a defiant look, Elisea stormed out of the room. Landon's gaze followed her retreating figure.

Elisea didn't return to the villa for the next two days, and Jonas didn't seek her out, each lost in their own machinations. On the third morning, with the sun shining brilliantly, Jonas stood atop the CT Technologies building, eyeing the hotel across the street. He smirked and commanded into his cell phone, "Let's move!"

At Jonas' signal, Brendan and his team of sharp associates swiftly and silently encircled the entire hotel.

Inside a room on the thirteenth floor,

Landon was lost in the throes of

elet

passion with a seductive woman, overpowering her until she was left crying and powerless. Landon brutally continued his vicious thrusts until he was satisfied; he rose from her, uncaring for modesty,

Before he could cover himself, Brendan, who had been listening outside, kicked the door down and, seizing the moment of Landon's shock, pinned him down with his well-trained associates.

The terrified woman, barely wrapped in a towel, fled the scene, in fear of becoming collateral damage.

Landon was trapped under Brendan's heavy blows, and couldn't even turn his head. Realizing he was surrounded by commandos, he feigned innocence. "Whoa, a big misunderstanding! It was just a bit of fun; no need for this overreaction!"

Brendan wasn't fooled, and Landon's fate was sealed under the watchful eyes of Jonas' men.

Brendan stared down at Landon

with a glacial gaze, his voice icy as

he cut through the charade. "Cut the act, Landon. You're the most notorious hitman in the NK cartel: Did you really think you could pull the wool over our eyes? Let me lay it out for you - we've been on your tail for days now. Your time's up, pal!"

With those words, Brendan reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of gleaming handcuffs, striding towards Landon with a grim determination. "Here, let's slip on these silver bracelets, and no funny business, got it?"

A mocking laughter escaped Brendan as he eyed Landon, who didn't even have time to put on his jacket properly. "Gave you one last thrill before the end, so you should be thanking me!"

Caught in the act and now cornered, Landon let out a roar like a cornered animal, baring his teeth viciously at Brendan. His eyes were dark pools of despair, realizing his fate was sealed.