[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322E1C3D0-303":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},303,89,"Chapter 89: \"Don't Look at the Shadows Beneath Your Feet.\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus felt his phone vibrate against his thigh. He caught a glimpse of the notification, his jaw tightening until the muscle pulsed. He flicked his tongue against his back molars, a silent, predatory reflex.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline, keep chatting with Remi. I have a brief matter to attend to.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Of course.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The moment he stepped out of the hospital room, the warmth vanished from his expression. His eyes ignited with a cold, jagged light.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Inside a private suite at L’Avenue, a towering man slouched on the velvet sofa. With his hair buzzed short and a jagged, visceral scar carved into his face, he radiated a volatile, bottom-line hostility.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Romeo, you’re seriously handing over the underground casino to him? His wife is fine, isn't she? Isn't this an overreaction?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The man opened his narrow, serpent-like eyes, locking onto the woman beside him with a lethal stare.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hmph. My dear sister, I might be willing to offer it, but that doesn't mean he’ll accept it. Save your breath and pray for your own skin.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What’s that supposed to mean?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Click.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The door swung open. Marcellus strode in with a steady, rhythmic gait. Without a word, he lunged, his hand snapping around the woman’s throat. A sinister, bloodthirsty smirk pulled at his lips.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It means, Juliana, that I’m here to make sure you pay the price.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With a single, effortless motion, he lifted her off the floor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Juliana’s feet kicked uselessly at the air. As the oxygen fled her lungs, her consciousness began to fray at the edges. She clawed at his wrist with the last of her strength. Her face turned a bruised, ugly purple, veins bulging in her forehead, while her eyes, wide and bloodshot, stared back with the raw, primal fear of death.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus didn't blink. He gripped her like a man disposing of vermin, his fingers tightening with mechanical intent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus! Let her go! At least spare me the mess of watching you kill her.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus glanced at the man sitting across the room, casually swirling tea in a porcelain cup. He let out a sharp, mocking laugh and released her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Juliana collapsed to the carpet, gasping like a drowning animal. A violent cough racked her frame, and a dark splash of blood sprayed across the floor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus stepped back, his expression curled in visceral disgust. \"Filthy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus... you... you actually wanted me dead. Cough, cough.\" Juliana clutched her throat, her face twisted in agony.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You talk too much,\" Marcellus muttered. \"Seems I'm getting soft.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo remained indifferent, calmly pouring another cup of tea. \"Marcellus, sit. Let’s talk.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus dropped into the armchair opposite him, crossing his legs with a casual, defiant grace. He let out a cold, sharp laugh. \"Talk? A blood-sucking leech has no right to negotiate with me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Then what do you want?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"My terms haven't changed. Leave the country. Don't ever come back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Ha. You think you can just toss us aside?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus closed his eyes, an impatient tension vibrating in his shoulders as he twisted the ring on his finger. \"I’m giving you a way out. Don't force me to do this the hard way.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Biting the hand that fed you? That’s not very honorable, Marcellus.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You don't have a choice.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo leaned forward, his face inches from Marcellus’, his voice a low challenge. \"You think I’m just going to let you hold the leash?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus reached into his coat, pulled out a thick envelope of photographs, and tossed them into the air. They drifted down like confetti, blanketing the table. He flashed a wicked, razor-sharp grin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Then I’ll just have to do the public a favor. Consider it my way of earning good karma for my wife and child.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo took one look at the photos—the secrets they’d kept buried—and slammed his fist against the table.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Their gazes locked, the air between them sizzling with static. It was a clash of titans—the tiger and the serpent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eventually, Romeo ground his teeth and bowed his head. \"Marcellus, you’re a ruthless bastard.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He grabbed Juliana—now limp as a ragdoll—and shoved her toward the lackeys waiting in the hallway.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Brother, should we go to the hospital?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo didn't even glance at her. He rolled his eyes, his patience evaporated. \"No. Take her back to the base.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Juliana’s nose was bleeding profusely now, her eyes a map of burst capillaries, and her face was so swollen it was unrecognizable.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"But, boss, she looks like...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If she dies, she dies. She spends all day acting like a total moron, and now she’s handed him all our leverage. I’m going to end up dead because of her.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The lackeys kept their heads down, terrified to say another word.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back at the base, Romeo dumped her in the medical wing. \"Save her if you can. If not, feed her to the dogs.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Damn, Romeo. Such harsh words.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo sighed, closing his eyes in defeat. \"Flynn, we’re leaving the country.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Flynn didn't stop his examination of Juliana’s injuries. \"Did she mess up?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She gave Marcellus the handle he needed. He’s forcing us out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I told you. He isn't one of us. You can’t share a tiger’s territory.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A calculating, cunning light flickered in Romeo's dark eyes. \"He thinks he’s trapped a snake? I’m not done yet. There’s more to the world than this country.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a quick check-up, Flynn wiped the blood from Juliana's face with a damp cloth, a faint, twisted smile on his lips. \"She’s stupidly cute.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Romeo stared at him like he was insane. \"Flynn, are you blind? If she weren't family, I’d kill her myself. What do you even see in her?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Love is a mysterious, agonizing thing. It makes you restless, it makes you miserable, it makes life feel like a slow crawl to the grave—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Shut the hell up with the theatrics! You sound like a dying donkey. A moron and a lunatic—the two of you are a perfect match. Stay locked in your little nightmare!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Flynn flicked the bloodied tissue into the bin with a fluid, practiced toss.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes, indeed. I’ll take that as a blessing, brother-in-law.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back at the hospital, Marcellus sat quietly by Evangeline’s side, his gaze tracing the soft lines of her face with a gentleness that bordered on worship.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You’re back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline blinked awake, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She leaned into him, but as she drew close, she caught a faint, metallic tang—the unmistakable scent of blood. She assumed it was just a lingering odor from the clinic, but then her gaze drifted to the toe of his shoe.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There, tiny, dried droplets of crimson marred the leather.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus, where did you go?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her voice was low and steady, her eyes sharp with an unspoken interrogation. Marcellus knew she had pieced it together. He didn't bother with a lie.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I went to take care of that woman.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You...?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus smiled, stroking her hair. \"Don't worry. I didn't do anything drastic. Just a little lesson in boundaries.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His expression was perfectly mild, but Evangeline couldn't find peace. She remembered too vividly how he had dismantled Juliana and Jonah in her past life.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She gripped his hand tightly. \"Marcellus, you cannot do anything illegal.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And if... I already have?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The room went silent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus let out a soft laugh. \"I’m teasing. Don't be afraid.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I know what kind of man you are.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The suddenness of her statement made Marcellus’s heart skip. His smile faltered, his gaze sharpening as he searched her face, trying to discern the meaning behind her words.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ve always known what kind of man you are. And that woman—I’ve seen her before.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"How could you have?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. \"What if I told you I’ve seen the way you dispose of people?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus cycled through every memory he had, certain she never could have witnessed such things. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Does it scare you, Evangeline?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It does. So, since you’ve chosen to walk toward the light, stop looking at the shadows beneath your feet.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus leaned down, pulling her into an embrace, pressing a kiss to her temple. \"Evangeline, your hair smells like it needs a wash.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You—are you disgusted by me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her voice spiked, her eyes flashing with indignant annoyance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A low rumble of laughter vibrated in the man's chest, shattering the heavy, suffocating tension that had gripped the room.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272914740]