Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Marcus entered the dimly lit corridor of the National Barracks detention wing, flanked by Natalie and Commander Lee.
They stopped before a heavy steel door. Inside was a very dark cell, illuminated only by a single ragged strip of harsh light from a flickering bulb overhead. Wilson huddled in the corner, trembling violently, his face pale with terror. He couldn’t see anything beyond the faint glow.
The door suddenly swung open with a loud clang. Bright lights flooded the cell. Wilson blinked rapidly, shielding his eyes.
Marcus, Natalie, and Commander Lee stepped inside.
Wilson’s eyes widened in recognition. He scrambled forward on his knees, rushing desperately toward Marcus. “Please! Forgive me, Marcus! I didn’t know you were someone important! I swear, I didn’t mean it! Spare me p>
Commander Lee moved swiftly and delivered a powerful kick to Wilson’s side, sending him sprawling across the cold floor. “Does not knowing justify you trying to rape someone?” he growled.
Wilson gasped in pain, curling up. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” He looked up at Marcus with tear-filled eyes. “Please, I’ll do anything p>
Marcus stared down at him coldly. “If you wish to live, you better tell me about that tattoo on your wrist p>
Wilson frowned, hesitantly rolling up his sleeve to reveal the hyena symbol. “This p>
“Yes p>
Wilson swallowed hard. “It’s our cartel tattoo… to identify ourselves p>
Marcus’s gaze sharpened. “What exactly do you do p>
“We sell guns, bullets, cocaine, and other illegal stuff,” Wilson muttered, voice shaking.
Natalie pulled out the bullet casing from earlier and showed it to him. “This p>
Wilson nodded frantically. “Yes, yes! that is ours. we sell them. That’s what we deal in p>
Marcus nodded slowly. “So you must have a leader. Who is it p>
Wilson bowed his head lower. “They call him Lord Ray. Please, take me to him if you want… just spare my life p>
Marcus scoffed. “Give us the name of the cartel p>
“Hyena Gang,” Wilson whispered.
Marcus turned to Commander Lee. “Put him in your cruelest jail. I will verify what he claimed before we take him to the cartel leader p>
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Wilson kept pleading desperately, “No! Please don’t leave me here! Mercy!” but Marcus and Natalie simply turned and walked out without another glance, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.
Outside, Natalie said, “This Hyena Gang… I’ll make my findings on them immediately p>
Marcus nodded. “Also check on Lord Ray. After we make proper findings, we will attack them p>
Natalie nodded firmly.
The next day, Natalie drove Marcus to a secluded helipad. Without giving details, she simply said, “We have some important people to meet p>
A private helicopter took them to a luxurious building on a private island overlooking the ocean.
Upon arrival, they entered a sleek conference room where five influential figures awaited. They were: Senator Victor Kane, a powerful politician; Minister of war Isaac Ruiz, another prominent political figure; Mr. Harlan Voss, a shipping magnate; Dr. Raymond Hale, a tech industry titan; and Mrs. Lydia Beaumont, a real estate empress.
The five looked at Marcus with visible confusion. Together, they controlled most of the city’s key industries and were loyal followers of the Langstone family. However, none had ever seen Marcus
before.
Natalie stepped forward calmly. “This is Marcus Langstone, the sole heir of the Langstone family p>
The room fell into stunned silence. The five figures exchanged shocked glances.
Natalie continued, “Mr. Langstone hid his identity for his safety. That’s why you’ve never met him until
now p>
A few still looked doubtful. Senator Kane leaned forward. “Natalie knows the company operations extremely well. Can Marcus really handle such a vast empire p>
Marcus responded with calm composure. “I understand your concerns. For now, Natalie will continue to oversee all daily operations. I will start from the ground up and prove my abilities step by step. I won’t rush into leadership without earning it p>
Mrs. Beaumont asked sharply, “What about the assassination attempt on your father p>
Marcus met her gaze steadily. “We have already started investigating. The culprit will be captured soon p>
His steady voice and eloquent answers earned nods of approval from the group. Whispers of praise circulated.
Natalie watched him with quiet pride and relief. She knew better than anyone that although the Langstone family possessed immense wealth and power, successfully leading such a vast empire demanded real experience and capability-qualities Marcus had yet to fully develop. Marcus would need thier assistance a lot and they won’t give it untill he earn it.
After they walked out of the conference room, Marcus turned to Natalie with a slight frown. “You should
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have given me a heads-up p>
Natalie smiled playfully. “I wanted to surprise you. How did it feel p>
Marcus sighed deeply as they strolled along the island’s scenic pathway. “Aside from Commander Lee, I actually don’t know anybody. I lived a hard life without knowing anything about our family business. It feels pathetic p>
Natalie placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You are doing well, Marcus. Just find father’s killer and they will follow you without blinking twice p>
At that moment, Marcus’s phone rang. It was Julia. Since it was the weekend and there was no school, she asked him out for lunch, saying she wanted to clear her head. Marcus answered delightfully, accepting without hesitation.
Later that afternoon, Marcus met Julia at the agreed location. She looked slightly tired but still beautiful. As they walked together, Julia asked softly, “How did things go yesterday? I hope Wilson didn’t return to fight you p>
Marcus shook his head. “Nope, everything is under control p>
He then asked curiously, “What about that old man? You looked really cornered and extremely worried that day p>
Julia hesitated for a second before replying, “It’s nothing serious. He’s my uncle. Just some family problems.” Marcus didn’t want to spoil the pleasant atmosphere, so he didn’t press further.
They chose a relatively upscale restaurant known for its quiet ambiance and excellent cuisine. Unbeknownst to them, Jordan had been secretly following them from a distance.
He still couldn’t accept defeat after his expulsion. He hadn’t told his father about it and had even deleted
the expulsion email.
Desperate to return to school, he had decided to expose or threaten both Marcus and Julia with anything
he could find.
Not long after Marcus and Julia sat down at their table and placed their orders, a manager-looking man in a crisp suit arrogantly approached them.
With a cold expression, he demanded, “You both need to leave right now p>
Marcus frowned, setting down his menu. “Excuse me? What’s the reason p>
The manager refused to explain, crossing his arms. “I don’t have to give you one. Just leave immediately. This table is reserved for more important guests p>
Julia looked equally displeased, her face flushing with annoyance. “This is ridiculous. Why are you treating us like this p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.