Marion remained expressionless. "I have nothing to exin."


    "Fine." Drake turned back to Robert. "Did you hear that? From now on, we''re done with each other. You follow your own path, and I''ll follow mine. I''m heading back to Orkgate. Neither of you should contact me again."


    He picked up his tie from the ground and left the house without looking back.


    Debra wanted to exin, but Marion held her back with a shake of his head.


    He didn''t want to exin. It was all in the past, and he didn''t want Robert or Drake to be involved in what was ahead.


    "Honey, some things need to be rified," Debra said softly, patting the back of his hand. "Some rtionships can''t just end because you want them to."


    Marion lowered his gaze and released her wrist. She knew Marion wasn''t the type to mince words. Once something was done, it was done. He never exined, and now she would help him exin.


    Drake had already gotten into his car. Just as he pressed the gas to leave, Debra suddenly rushed in front of the car.


    Drake mmed on the brakes, unbuckled his seatbelt, threw open the car door, and stormed over.


    He yelled, "Are you crazy? Running out like that, you''d get yourself killed."


    Debra forced a smile. "I just need to talk to you."


    Drake''s gazended on her bandaged forehead. "Can you stop being so clumsy?


    You look terrible."


    "It''s alright." Debra touched the bandage.


    Drake knocked her hand away and began unwrapping the bandage


    I.ne


    before she could react. Then d


    Dack to the car and took out


    a new roll.


    Leaning against the car, he redressed her wound and asked, "What do you want


    to talk about?"


    "I want to tell you that Marion didn''t kick you out because..."


    "Not for power? To keep us away from the mess, right?"


    "You know?"


    ?


    "I''ve known him longer than you. We''re not mad that he tricked us but he did it without any exnation. If he had, we wouldn''t have lingered out there. We did all this only to get the truth from him."


    Once the bandage was in ce, he added, "This is where our rtionship ends. Things between us don''t need to be spelled out. We can feel each other, and you don''t need to say anything. We''ve been there, and that is what matters." Cóntent