Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 1968

How much easier it would have been if Raiden had just finished Estelle off when he had the chance. But he missed the chance - and she had slipped away!

He knew that if you gave Estelle even the slimmest shot at freedom, she'd take it and run with it!

Now, disguised as a maid, was she plotting her stealthy revenge against Raiden?

Did she have secrets about her that he wasn't privy to?

If he could uncover them, perhaps he could swiftly send her to meet her maker!

A vengeful glint in his eye, Zack glanced at the elevator and noticed Estelle had descended to the lobby. Without a second thought, he hopped into the adjacent lift.

Once downstairs, he saw Estelle, carrying a box of late-night snacks, get into a car.

Where was she off to?

Zack wasted no time. He jumped into another car and tailed her.

The roads of Zion were a maze in the dead of night, trees casting long shadows under the faint glow of the street lamps. Zack followed at a safe distance until the car turned into an upscale residential area. He parked his car along the curb, watching Estelle, with her box of midnight munchies, enter one of the villas.

He got out and stood in the shadows, recognizing the villa as belonging to Alvis.

Was Estelle really just there to deliver some late-night snacks, or was there another agenda at play?

Zack's curiosity, now spiked with excitement, kept him waiting in the shadows. No sign of Estelle leaving only made him more certain that whatever she was up to with Alvis was clandestine. Did she know Alvis?

What was their real purpose in Zion?

He lingered a bit longer and then carefully scoped out the area before nimbly vaulting over the wall. As he looked up, he caught the silhouette of a man and woman embracing in a kiss behind a curtain on the second floor.

His heart skipped a beat, his gaze intensifying with the thrill of discovery. Estelle and Alvis' big secret was within his grasp!

He surmised that Estelle must have seduced Alvis, probably looking to use him against Raiden.

The shadow play ceased, suggesting they had retreated further into the room, possibly to the bed.

Zack darted to the villa's base, leaping and scaling the wall with agile movements until he reached a window. Clinging to the sill with one hand, he pulled out his phone with the other, ready to capture the compromising evidence.

Raiden would surely want to eliminate Estelle if he knew she was a threat.

And what about Jonathan? How would he react to seeing a photo of Estelle's betrayal?

Zack was practically quivering with anticipation, envisioning how he wouldn't even have to lift a finger - Estelle's fate would be sealed.

As he flipped onto the balcony and into the room, the lights suddenly flashed on, and a woman's scream pierced the air.

Zack's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the man in the golden fox mask.

Alvis held a gun steady, his gaze cold and forbidding.

Zack's face drained of color as he raised his hands in surrender, "Mr. Alvis, please don't shoot, I—”

A loud 'bang' echoed, and Zack felt the impact in his chest. His body was flung backwards, tumbling down from the second floor. Jonathan holstered his weapon as Sylvia ceased her screaming, turning to Estelle with a raised eyebrow in silent communication. Below, Zack lay in the garden, his life ebbing away, eyes wide with terror as blood bubbled from his lips.

A shadow approached. Zack turned, straining to speak, "Mr. Alvis!"

Jonathan stood over him, his voice devoid of warmth, "Curious to know who's hand you're dying by today?"

In Zack's fading gaze, a moment of clarity seemed to strike - a realization.

Jonathan slowly removed the golden fox mask, fixing his stare on Zack, "The time has come to settle scores that have been long overdue!"