Chapter 149: You don’t get to run anymore
Karlo staggered back a step after the pistol was kicked from his hand.
His expression darkened with fury.
"Take her down!" he roared.
The remaining guards charged without hesitation.
Clara didn’t wait for them to surround her.
She rushed forward first.
The closest guard swung a heavy punch at her face.
She slipped to the side just in time, letting the fist cut through empty air. Using the opening, she drove her elbow into his ribs.
Thud!
The man gasped as the air left his lungs.
Before he could recover, Clara grabbed his wrist, twisted it behind his back, and shoved him into the second guard charging from behind.
The two men crashed into each other.
Another guard came at her from the right with a baton.
Clara ducked low.
The baton whistled over her head before smashing into a nearby chair instead.
She planted a kick squarely into the guard’s knee.
He stumbled forward.
Clara immediately followed with a palm strike to his chest, sending him sprawling across the polished floor.
"One at a time!" she called. "You’re making this too easy!"
One of the guards groaned.
"She’s mocking us!"
"Stop talking and catch her!"
Two more rushed in together.
Clara stepped backward, forcing them into the narrow space between the table and the chairs.
Their movements became restricted.
One accidentally bumped into the other.
"Watch where you’re going!"
"You pushed me!"
"I did not!"
Clara sighed dramatically.
"Seriously? You’re arguing in the middle of a fight?"
She grabbed the edge of the heavy chair and shoved it toward them.
The chair slid across the floor, striking both men in the shins.
"Agh!"
They toppled over one another.
Meanwhile, Gen quietly slipped free of the chair.
No one noticed until one of the guards reached for her.
She caught his wrist.
Twisted.
A sharp cry escaped his mouth as she forced him onto one knee.
Without wasting a second, she drove her knee into his stomach.
The guard collapsed, clutching his abdomen.
Another man rushed toward her.
Gen sidestepped him and hooked her foot around his ankle.
He lost his balance and crashed face-first into the table.
Clara glanced at Gen while blocking another punch.
A small smile appeared.
"So you can fight."
Gen didn’t even look at her.
"I had to learn somehow."
"Fair enough."
Another guard charged Clara from behind.
"Miss Claire!"
Gen shouted.
Clara instinctively bent forward.
The guard’s flying kick missed her completely.
Using both hands, Clara grabbed his leg and pulled.
The man landed flat on his back with a loud thump.
"Ouch..."
He lay there staring at the ceiling.
"I think... I saw my ancestors."
Even in the middle of the fight, Clara couldn’t help laughing.
"You’ll survive."
Across the room, Karlo watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes.
Neither woman fought recklessly.
They moved with purpose.
Every strike was calculated.
Every dodge efficient.
They weren’t merely defending themselves.
They were controlling the battlefield.
Suddenly...
Clara caught movement from the corner of her eye.
Thomas.
While everyone was distracted, he was quietly inching toward the open doorway.
His bound hands didn’t stop him from sneaking away.
He glanced over his shoulder.
They’re too busy fighting...
This is my chance.
Step.
Step.
Just a little farther...
Then Clara’s voice rang out.
"Thomas."
He froze.
Slowly...
He turned around.
Clara smiled brightly.
"And where exactly do you think you’re going?"
Thomas forced an awkward laugh.
"I-I wasn’t running."
"Oh?"
"I was... looking for help."
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"You looked surprisingly committed to finding that help."
Thomas immediately changed direction and bolted.
"Gen!" Clara called while ducking another attack.
"Your father is escaping!"
Gen’s expression instantly hardened.
"Leave him to me."
Without another word, she sprinted after Thomas.
Thomas looked over his shoulder.
Seeing Gen gaining on him, his face lost all color.
"W-Wait!"
"I raised you!"
Gen’s cold voice answered him.
"And that’s supposed to help your case?"
She kicked a nearby stool.
It slid across the floor.
Thomas’s feet caught the edge.
"Ahhh!"
He stumbled forward and crashed face-first onto the marble floor.
Gen reached him within seconds.
She grabbed the back of his collar and effortlessly dragged him away from the exit.
Thomas flailed helplessly.
"Let go!"
"I’m your father!"
Gen’s grip only tightened.
"You stopped being that a long time ago."
Back in the center of the office, Clara glanced over and gave Gen a thumbs-up.
"Nice catch!"
Gen nodded once.
"Thanks."
The remaining guards exchanged uneasy glances.
One swallowed nervously.
"...Boss."
Another quietly took a step backward.
"I don’t think we’re winning this."
***
Meanwhile back where Gen and Thomas where...
You’ve run enough," Gen replied coldly, refusing to loosen her hold.
She had no intention of letting him escape.
Not this time.
Thomas stumbled as Gen forced him forward, but his eyes kept darting around the room, searching for any chance to break free.
Then he saw it. The corridor outside.
The guards who had fled moments earlier were nowhere in sight.
This is my only chance!
Without warning, Thomas threw his weight backward.
Gen tightened her grip, expecting him to pull away.
Instead...
Thud!
Thomas lashed out with his leg, driving a powerful kick straight into Gen’s abdomen.
The sudden impact caught her off guard.
Her grip loosened for a split second.
"Ugh..."
She staggered back, instinctively clutching her stomach.
Thomas didn’t waste the opportunity.
He tore himself free and sprinted toward the exit as fast as his legs could carry him.
"I’m not dying here!" he yelled without looking back.
Gen slowly straightened herself, wincing from the pain.
Her breathing grew heavier, but the determination in her eyes only deepened.
She watched Thomas disappear into the hallway.
"No..."
She muttered quietly.
"You don’t get to run anymore."
Ignoring the ache in her stomach, Gen pushed herself forward.
Her footsteps echoed through the corridor as she chased after him.
Ahead of her, Thomas glanced over his shoulder.
Seeing Gen closing the distance, panic flooded his face.
"Why won’t you leave me alone?" he shouted between breaths.
Gen didn’t answer. She simply ran faster.
Every step brought her closer.
Every heartbeat reminded her that she had spent years waiting for this moment.
Thomas had escaped her countless times before. But today...there would be no escape.
With unwavering resolve, Gen charged down the corridor, her eyes locked on the man fleeing before her, determined not to let him slip away again.