Because Debra had once said she liked peace and stability, Marion decided to sever ties with the past.


    The result was that their enemies treated them like sitting ducks without the power to fight back.


    She med herself for being so na?ve and soft.


    Andrew watched from the second floor. Barton said, "Sir, should we tell Mrs. Houston the truth?"


    "Sometimes, growth requires bloodshed," Andrew replied calmly. "She''s smart, but her heart''s too soft. Having her reassess herself might not be a bad thing. If she wants to find the killer, she needs to carve out her own path in Seamar City. To stand at the top, she has to be merciless."


    He waved his hand and said, "Let''s go back."


    Barton hesitated. "Sir, aren''t you going to guide her? She is beating herself too hard."


    Andrew nced downstairs. "She''s not that fragile. She''ll figure it out. She needs to see the world and understand the rules of survival in Seamar City. Erica and Randy both went through this, but she hasn''t yet. Marion helped her deal with the dirty work in the shadows, but from now on, she''ll have to face it on her own."


    The sky was just beginning to lighten. Every city has its dark, dirty streets where no one dares to go.


    Marion stood there, watching his men drag one batch of people after another.


    The police chief, Pedro, wiped his sweat. "Mr. Houston, everyone in the buildingst night is here. There''s nothing suspicious left."


    Marion''s eyes glinted with coldness. He extended his gloved hand and pointed at the two waiters ahead of him.


    "Take care of them."


    "Mr. Houston, spare us. It wasn''t us."


    Marion''s face was devoid of any emotion.


    Pedro swallowed nervously. "Mr. Houston, this isn''t right."


    Before he


    ld finish, Marion''s r


    raised their knives and shed the


    two waiters'' throats.


    Blood spurted out, and Pedro was horrified, unable to utter another sound.


    "Clean it up," Marion said, tossing ck cloth over the bodies.


    His men quickly dragged the corpses away.


    "Sir," another subordinate started, "the funeral has been arranged. Shall we go there now?"


    Marion looked at the sky, where the sun had yet to rise. He lit a cigarette, watching the smoke rise. A faint" smile stered his face, and he ced the cigarette near a wild rose bush on the street corner.


    He muttered to himself, "Caleb, this is for you. You''ve nurtured roses your whole life. Now you can go to heaven and nt roses with the one


    you love." Content belonge


    He turned and left the dark alley.