In the sterile, white expanse of the hospital room, Gideony listlessly on the bed, a stark contrast to the bustling life outside. Tubes and wires snaked around him, making him look more machine than man, hisplexion ghostly pale without a hint of color.


    Gone was the imposing figure he once was. Now, he seemed to have aged decades overnight, resembling a man on the brink of death rather than the power broker he used to be.


    Tarquin sat across from him, his face a mask of indifference. "Misery often follows the detestable," he thought, devoid of sympathy.


    At Gideon''s age, one would expect him to be surrounded by family, basking in the warmth of his twilight years. Instead, his own hubris had led him to this grim juncture.


    "What''s your price?" Tarquin asked curtly, cutting to the chase. He knew Gideon wouldn''t divulge any information about his parents'' murderer without demanding something in return.


    Gideon''s eyes, full of anger and frustration, met Tarquin''s. His breaths were shallow andbored as he struggled to speak, "Pay me a fortune... get me safely out of the country, and I''ll tell you... who killed your parents."


    It was clear Gideon was beaten. With the Bradford Group now under Tarquin and Alpha''s influence, he knew he stood no chance. Broke and indebted, he saw no future for himself here. His demand was simple: a hefty sum to live out his remaining days abroad infort.


    "If you refuse... you''ll never find the killer," Gideon threatened, his voice barely above a whisper.


    A smirk briefly crossed Tarquin''s face at the thought of Gideon fleeing the country. "How much? When do you want to leave?"


    Relieved at Tarquin''s apparent agreement, Gideon signaled his associate, who quickly spoke up, "Mr. Tarquin, here''s the amount he''s asking for. If it''s alright with you, please transfer the funds to this ount and arrange a private jet for his departure. He wishes to leave today, the sooner, the better." They were clearly in a hurry, fearing that the police or Alpha would catch up to them before they could escape.


    Tarquin nced at the figure, his expression unchanging, and made a quick call to arrange everything. Soon after, Gideon''s associate excitedly confirmed, "Sir, the money''se through!"


    Gideon checked the transfer himself, a ghost of a smile ying on his pale lips. "And the jet?" he asked, eager. "It''s being arranged," Tarquin replied coolly.


    Unable to contain his excitement, Gideon confessed, "The person behind your parents'' death... it''s tied to Verity." Tarquin frowned, "Verity?"


    "Yes. Initially, I suspected the eldest for her overt ambition... But it turned out, the real threat was Verity. She always kept a low profile, making her the perfect adversary. I''ve gathered enough evidence linking Kendrick''s death to her. Once I''m safely airborne, I''ll send you everything."


    Tarquin''s face darkened, "So, she''s involved but not the murderer?"


    "The evidence... it implicates her as a participant in the car ident that killed your parents. I can''t confirm if she''s the killer, but she''s definitely connected."


    "And Verity aside, who else in the Bradford family was part of this plot?"


    "That''s it. They''ve always been scheming, each too wary of the other to truly unite against your father."


    In the dim light of the hospital room, Tarquin''s resolve hardened. The pieces of a decades-old puzzle were finally beginning to fall into ce.