Hulk : The Thunderstrike

Antonia's words had just left his mouth when Mathew, who was about to sit on the couch, nearly stumbled to the floor.

Mathew quickly composed himself, masking his unease. Glancing sideways, he saw Antonia.

Ah, it's him!

Mathew, who initially intended to lash out, held back his words, replacing them with an unhappy expression.

"Officer, my wife is missing. She's missing!" Mathew's voice trembled slightly, but he tried to remain firm.

"So, can you stop joking with me? I'm not here for jokes; I just want my wife back!"

The tension in the room thickened.

Sam and the two officers accompanying him frowned, feeling that Antonia's tone was far too casual.

Sam, in particular, felt that even if Antonia suspected Mathew, it was unprofessional to accuse him without evidence.

Beside them, Stella timidly said, "Officer… please don't joke with my dad. He's already suffering enough, sobbing like this…"

She couldn't hold back her tears, breaking down completely.

Seeing her cry, Sam felt conflicted and prepared to caution Antonia to tone it down.

But Antonia wasn't joking.

He smirked faintly, then stared at Mathew with a piercing gaze. His voice turned cold and solemn as he asked, "Mathew, doesn't your conscience hurt when you kill someone?"

This sudden and shocking question stunned everyone in the room.

The timid look in Stella's eyes deepened, and Mathew's reaction was even more dramatic.

He nearly fell backward but managed to sit down with a thud.

Moments later, as if electrocuted, Mathew shot up abruptly, his face twisted in anger and fear.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Mathew was livid, his voice filled with hysteria. "Officer, what's wrong with your colleague?"

"You think being a cop makes you invincible? Does being a cop mean you can slander anyone you want? Murder? When have I ever murdered anyone?"

"Are you saying cops can just throw baseless accusations and face no consequences? Is that it?!"

Mathew's voice rose to a roar, his tone as sharp as a cornered animal.

Sam and the other officers exchanged uneasy glances, silently agreeing to intervene.

Sam stepped forward, intending to calm Antonia, while the other two approached Mathew to keep him in check.

However, before Mathew could finish his rant, Antonia moved suddenly. He strode forward and grabbed Mathew by the collar, hoisting him up effortlessly.

"Antonia, stop!"

"Antonia, don't act on impulse!"

"Antonia, calm down and put him down!"

Sam and the others were caught off guard and started shouting.

Stella screamed in terror, curling into a corner of the couch, trembling.

Mathew was petrified.

This officer wasn't following protocol—he acted on a whim!

Why? Why was he so intense?!

Mathew couldn't understand. He was certain Antonia had no evidence of his crime. So why was he so bold?

Were the police in Chicago now more reckless than criminals?

How could this be happening?!

Mathew felt a surge of indignation.

His face flushed as he shouted, "You're a cop? Fine! You think you're powerful? Go ahead, kill me! Let's see if you've got the guts!"

Unlike petty criminals, Mathew was a murderer, and he was acutely aware of the consequences of his actions.

If his crime were exposed, he would be staring down the barrel of a death sentence.

He was betting everything on the hope that Antonia wouldn't dare cross the line.

After all, cops couldn't act without evidence. Right?

Mathew's defiance left Sam and the other officers stunned.

They couldn't help but think, Could this man be this angry because he's been wrongfully accused?

The civilian officers hesitated, their instincts telling them to intervene but faltering under Antonia's intimidating presence.

"Antonia…" Sam began, his voice uncertain.

He suspected that Antonia had some sort of lead but lacked concrete evidence.

Sam worried that if Antonia's behavior forced a confession, it would jeopardize his reputation and career, no matter how well-intentioned his actions were.

If Mathew confessed because of Antonia's aggression, it would cast a shadow over the merits of his previous accomplishments.

Sam couldn't let that happen.

"Antonia, don't act impulsively. If you have a theory, verify it first before taking action…"

Antonia scanned the room, noting the apprehension on everyone's faces.

He shook his head, tightening his grip on Mathew.

His fingers dug in, and for a fleeting moment, he considered squeezing the life out of this man.

But he reminded himself of who he was: a cop.

Cops needed evidence.

"Mathew," Antonia sneered. "I'm not joking, nor am I slandering you. Every word I've said is true."

His voice turned sharp, resolute. "Since you're so insistent on denial, fine. I'll make you admit everything before the day is over!"

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