Andrew, who had appeared frail earlier in the day, now showed no trace of his earlier pallor.


    He muttered, "Tonight was dangerous, but at least the show went off without a hitch."


    "Sir," Barton said cautiously, "since Mrs. Houston has started thinking for herself, it proves your training has paid off. Should we pull back our people from Mr. Houston''s side?"


    Andrew leaned back in his wheelchair. "Let them fight a bit longer. His anger needs to burn off."


    "But our men are taking a beating."


    "They won''t die. Double their bonuses."


    Outside the Houston Group headquarters, on a closed-off street, four vans surrounded Marion.


    Wielding an electric baton, he fended off one wave of attackers, but another lunged at him immediately after.


    Three hourster, the bodyguards were utterly spent. Marion''s face was dark with fury.


    "Still not getting lost?"


    "Mr. Houston, we''re just following orders. You can''t go back right now."


    One guard wanted to reason with him, but Marion delivered a powerful kick to his chest.


    "Spare us. We were sent by Mr. Andrew Potter."


    "Go ask him for injurypensation."


    Another swift kick sent the bodyguard sprawling to the ground.


    As night fell, Debra and the others dragged their exhausted bodies back to the Potter Mansion.


    Just as they stepped inside, they


    saw Gand, dressed in a sharp suit,


    strolling in from the backyard.


    Everyone froze mid-step. Their expressions shifted as they took in his appearance.


    Gand was surprised. "You guys came back."


    The group nced at him from head to toe, struggling to reconcile him with the man they''d seen at the Royal Grand Hotel earlier.


    "Mr. Eaton that was an impressive


    stunt you puffed off there," Ericane


    said, pping Gand on the


    shoulder with enough force to make yelp.


    hi


    Gand was confused. "What stunt?"


    Randy stepped forward with a grin "Come on. We all saw it. Your vibe, your tone, and your energy. Jordan was intimidated. Honestly, I''lbnever underestimate you again."


    Gand was lost.


    Erica chimed in, "Anyway, we got Liza back, and Jordan is a traitor. We should be more careful."


    "That brat!" Randy fumed, hands on his hips. "How did he be so devious? What''s he even after?"


    "There''s no use ming him," Debra said, extending her hand to Gand. "Where is the earpiece I gave you?"


    "What earpiece?"


    "The one I stuck in your ear before you got out of the car."


    Gand instinctively touched his ear. There was nothing.