The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!-Chapter 625: That Took You Forever

Minutes ago...

"Gehran... Jarvis, you may burn me alive, smear my dignity, drag my name through the mud, and take away those I hold dear. However, there is one thing you will never take from me—one truth."

"That I, Ha Himari, will die proudly without ever turning my back on my people. And that the only scar my family and I carry upon our backs is the knife the two of you used to stab us."

Himari’s words echoed across the entire square—and even into the homes surrounding it—amplified by the loudspeakers of the spectacle.

Slowly, the people lifted their heads and stared blankly at the old woman trapped inside the cage. Deep down, they knew they should stop listening. Yet her voice was so clear, so fearless, that even those inside their homes found themselves opening their windows to hear her speak.

She was already imprisoned. Her clothes were soaked in gasoline. Her life hung by its final thread.

And yet, she showed no fear.

If anything, her words, her gaze, and the air around her radiated not only bravery, but an undying spirit—one they had once been so proud of.

Somehow, her voice tugged at something buried deep in their hearts.

Until when could they endure this insanity?

Until when would they grit their teeth and slave away, paying monthly contributions to a government that placed its own interests above all else?

Until when?

Tonight, that endless question finally found its answer.

Until someone stood up against a coward whose courage came only from the armed men surrounding him. Until people rose in retaliation against this madness.

And Himari’s words made one thing painfully clear—that Gehran was not terrifying. That the people were not truly afraid of him. That their governor was nothing more than a sore loser... and a coward.

Those stirred by her fearlessness bowed their heads, faces darkened, hearts burning.

The shift in tension thickened the air, heavy enough to reach the balcony. Jarvis glanced sideways, his expression hardening.

"Governor," he whispered. "She must be silenced before she says more."

The young man beside him panicked. "Governor, she’s swaying the people! You must stop her before they start thinking of doing something foolish!"

Gehran ignored them both, his gaze locked onto Himari. His eyes went momentarily blank as a surge of uncontrollable rage erupted within him.

"Burn them," he breathed, gripping the railing tightly. "Burn her!"

His voice thundered through the speakers. He no longer cared about the timer or the spectacle. All he wanted was to erase that look on her face.

The moment his order echoed, the men holding the unlit torches set them ablaze. Flames burst to life at their tips.

"Shit," Haji gasped as he saw the torch move closer to his grandmother’s cage. "Fuck—no—shit, wait!"

He strained his arms, his head throbbing from earlier blows. When he realized his body still wouldn’t obey him, he ground his teeth and slammed his head against the floor. He lifted his gaze toward Himari.

"Nana..." he whimpered. "I’m... I... damn it!!"

Himari smiled at him and nodded one last time before taking a deep breath. At her age, she would likely suffocate before the flames reached her. And somehow, that thought eased her heart.

In the other cage, panic surged through every nerve.

"Shit!" Chuck hissed, turning to the others. He grabbed Kean’s leg, shaking it, trying to bend and pull it. "Damn it! We have to do something! Still nothing?!"

He had been trying to help restore their circulation, hoping it would speed up their recovery. But even he knew it wasn’t enough.

"It’s helping... barely," Tyga winced, toes twitching slightly. Still, not enough.

Scarlet gripped the bars and hoisted herself up using only her arms. Her legs trembled beneath her, strength still refusing to return.

Their frantic movements halted when they noticed the torch approaching their cage.

All four of them froze.

"Shit..." Chuck muttered, letting go of Kean’s leg as he collapsed onto the floor. "We’re..."

They were doomed.

He swallowed hard, unable to look away from the flames. "Somebody..." he whispered. "Somebody... save me."

Instinctively, Chuck turned toward Haji.

But then, every light in the square went out.

The sudden darkness swallowed everything.

For a heartbeat, no one moved. Pupils dilated as confusion spread. Then the massive screen flickered back on, making it the only source of light in the square.

It glitched violently before stabilizing into a single letter:

[L]

Those who recognized it—even without seeing the full signature—gasped.

"The Thief of Ravah," someone whispered.

The silence that followed was absolute.

That single gasp echoed all the way to Scarlet’s cage.

"The Thief of Ravah?" Kean murmured. "That thief..."

"The madam," Tyga blurted, eyes wide. "She’s... she’s arrived."

Everyone turned to him.

Then Chuck scoffed. "So, what? Why her?" His face twisted. "What’s she gonna do—save us? Her? Could she even do that?!"

No one answered.

Even if Lola were here, how could she possibly save them?

"Goddamn it!" Chuck snarled. "Of all the rescues we could get, why them? It’d be better if the Bellemonte elites showed up—we’d actually have a chance!"

After all, Lola’s group consisted of—well—mediocre members of the Order. Izu from the weakest division. Pika, who had never done anything impressive. Florida and Ransom were decent, sure—but there were only two of them.

Atlas wouldn’t come.

Their boss would rather turn to stone than personally rescue them. Besides, this wasn’t part of the plan.

If they were caught, they were meant to die.

Those were Lola’s words.

Remembering that now only made Chuck more frantic.

"Shit... we’re still screwed!"

Then, a low, devious chuckle echoed through the speakers.

Chuck froze, glancing around in disbelief. It didn’t sound recorded. It sounded live, as if someone had stolen a microphone.

"There was no way," he muttered. "She couldn’t be that insane... right?"

"Haji... you idiot. How do you plan to survive without me?"

Haji flinched the instant he heard the voice. For a brief second, the emotional storm raging inside him vanished.

He knew that laugh.

And that laugh meant Lola already knew about their pathetic capture.

"That psycho..." he muttered. But despite that, his body relaxed. His shoulders loosened, and he exhaled.

Then he laughed. "That took you forever!" he shouted.

Hidden somewhere in the darkness, Lola couldn’t stop her grin from spreading, teeth flashing as she listened.