When Richard Shaw arrived at the hospital, both sides were in a standoff. The hospital’s doctors and patients were being evacuated in an orderly fashion, avoiding any major disturbance.

Because he had to rush to the highest-level meeting, Richard Shaw was in full military uniform. As he walked, his face was stern and imposing, creating a silent anger in everyone he passed.

"Major General, the lady is in the hospital’s warehouse. There’s only one exit, and they have three people, making it easy to defend but hard to attack," the captain of the second team reported, eyes bloodshot with the latest situation.

The warehouse was separate from the other floors of the hospital, with only one main door and a window. It was likely planned in advance; these people came for revenge.

Richard Shaw looked coldly at the direction of the warehouse and its floor plan: no breakthrough point, and the opponents were desperate, fearless of death. This was a dead end, a dead end game.

Unconsciously, Richard Shaw’s fingers clenched tightly, his tall frame trembling slightly, his mind momentarily stagnant, not knowing what to do. He would rather exchange himself for her. She had just given birth and undergone surgery; how could she endure this?

Richard Shaw’s face was grim, breathing heavily as he spoke, word by word: "Negotiate with them, ask what terms they want to release her."

The words were barely out when everyone behind him was shocked. The Major General never compromised, never negotiated. Was he going to make an exception for his wife?

"Major General, they sent over a video," Jack quickly handed over the phone.

Richard Shaw took the video. In the neatly arranged warehouse of the hospital, the light was glaring. Leah, wearing a loose hospital gown, was tied to a chair, pale and bloodless. She was awake, her dark eyes looking at the camera without a trace of fear, only the furrowed brows revealing some pain.

Just after giving birth, and after another surgery, her body was extremely weak. It was no small feat for her to stay conscious. Facing such changes, her face remained calm, showing courage no less than that of these soldiers.

Richard Shaw’s rough hands gently caressed her small face through the phone screen, his tea-colored eyes revealing a painful bloodthirstiness. It was his fault, he let her fall into danger, failing to protect her. He thought they had a long future ahead, but he never dared to tell her he liked her, thinking that not saying, not understanding, would be enough for a lifetime together, without realizing even being together was a luxury.

He finally understood the despair his mother felt back then. His parents had always loved each other, had beautiful times, while he and Crystal Landon hadn’t truly begun to love. Over the years, he suppressed himself, suppressed this feeling. Despair surged like a flood, threatening to drown him.

"Tell them this is just an ordinary person they have, capturing her is useless. The Army Major General is willing to exchange himself for the hostage," he said coldly.

"Major General," everyone behind exclaimed in unison, their faces changing sharply.

The Major General’s identity represented not only himself but also the standpoint of the Military District. Compromising would be akin to surrendering, causing an unprecedented impact.

The Major General knew this yet still intended to go, simply exchanging his life for his wife’s, going surely to his death.

"Go say it." Richard Shaw’s voice was more solemn and cold than ever, his presence as imposing as a mountain, making everyone tremble inside.

Richard Shaw’s request for a hostage exchange quickly reached the other party. Simultaneously, a man hidden in the shadows on a high building opposite the hospital observed every move with a night-vision binocular. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Big Brother, Richard Shaw proposed exchanging himself for the hostage."

The man lowered the binoculars, a hint of surprise flashing across his face; this was quite an unexpected delight. This time, he had paid a huge price for these twelve people to come in.

He provided weapons, equipment, and the hospital’s floor plan, yet the other party was so incompetent that they only captured one woman. The most important Mrs. Shaw and Richard Shaw’s child weren’t even touched. If not for having their people in the medical team as insiders, this woman might not have been captured at all.

What seemed like a failed operation turned out that Richard Shaw was willing to risk his life for this woman, unexpectedly hitting the mark.

Seventeen years had passed. Back then, the Shaw Family used the Cox Family’s corruption case to frantically retaliate against their family. Two lives from the Cox Family, yet they took dozens of lives in return. Their family’s destruction and secret execution left only a few survivors.

Over these years, they hid like rats in the gutter, without seeing daylight. Mrs. Shaw remained reclusive, Richard Shaw stayed mostly in the Military District. They never had a chance until today, until Richard Shaw angered the Middle Eastern forces with a peacekeeping incident. It was an all-or-nothing gamble, even if it meant exposing decades of work, all to kill Richard Shaw and end the Shaw Family line.

"Big Brother, after tonight, all our people will be exposed, this line developed over a decade will be ruined overnight. Big Brother should leave the country to avoid them."

The man caressing the binoculars shook his head, coldly saying, "After living in hiding for so many years, I want to see with my own eyes the Shaw Family line end. Once Richard Shaw is dead, I will leave. Living all these years has already been worth it."

In the hospital, Richard Shaw’s proposal was quickly accepted by the other side. Handling a weak woman and an Army Major General brought entirely different levels of disturbance and panic.

"They agreed," Jack said, reporting the latest response from the other party.

"Two from the second team stay to escort the lady out; others withdraw to a safe range immediately," Richard Shaw solemnly instructed, glancing once at the deep night, face colder than ever.

"If I don’t return, Jack, tell the Old Madam that survivors from seventeen years ago are still out there. Let her follow this line." Richard Shaw could only think back to events seventeen years ago. This incident was too impactful; even his political enemies had to weigh the severity. If it was a blood feud, they wouldn’t care. The Shaw Family’s only major rampage was about that incident seventeen years ago.

Back then, the tragic death of Mr. Cox in prison led to the Shaw Family’s frenzied retaliation, involving five or six prominent families, numerous people, and significant stakes. Surviving members weren’t surprising. But to think they hid so deeply, without any prior hints, and struck with such grand gestures.

Richard Shaw’s face darkened a bit more. Fine, since there are survivors, then eliminate them once and for all.