"Mark?"


    "Grandfather?"


    The spirited shout from upstairs left the Southstream Lanes stunned.


    Fleur was stunned like the rest and snapped right then, "Silence, old-timer! I''m doing this to save your


    life!"


    "I will not be denied!" Mark continued shouting from upstairs. "I''d rather die right now than live under


    such grief! I was waiting to see if any of you kids were going to stand up to these thugs... but rk and


    Gable bailed as soon as they heard the Soranos were here! Only Gavin and Helen stood up against


    them! That''s why I''m announcing it right now: only Gavin and Helen will be the candidates for the next


    head of the Lane family—Oof!"


    Mark was suddenly grunting just as he was about to finish, seemingly struck.


    "Sir!" Helen eximed in shock.


    Frank strode forward, leveling an icy look at Willy right then. "Come at me if you have a problem.


    Bullying an old man says more about you than me."


    "Old man? Who are you talking about?!" Mark wasughing upstairs. "I''m not old yet, whippersnapper!


    Punch me again if you can—Oof!"


    As Mark grunted in pain again, Frank''s brow creased in fury.


    He felt profoundly guilty toward Mark—the Soranos had beef with him, but, unable to find him, they


    came to the Lane family instead.


    It seemed that Willy had somehow connected the dots and realized that Hubert had visited Riverton


    before to attend the arranged marriage between the Lane and the Graves family.


    That in turn led him to Helen, and then Frank.


    And Frank was not about to let Mark die—not when his brother Henry had saved his life.


    Leaping past Helen, Frank red furiously at Willy as he snapped, "Debts will be paid, but only by the


    debtor. Come at me with everything you have!"


    "Come at you?!" Willy snorted and kicked Frank right then, sending him stumbling a few steps


    backward.


    Willy then raised a palm as he sneered viciously. "You''d better kill yourself in five seconds, or my men


    upstairs will kill Gavin Lane. Another five seconds, and it''s Mark Lane. and any second of hesitation


    after that, it''s another member of the Lane family. Let''s see how tough your so-called spine is!"


    Then, chuckling darkly, he said, "Oh, and your girl''s quite hot... But don''t worry, I''ll give her some proper


    loving when you''re dead."


    Frank, however, calmed down despite Willy''s provocation.


    He even closed his eyes and sighed. "I''m curious, Willy—whatever led you to believe you have power


    over me?"


    "What, you ask?" Willyughed and pointed at Gus, who sat nearby. "Do you know who that is? This is


    Gus Zeller—our family spared no expense grooming him to Ascendant rank. No one in Riverton is a


    match for him, let alone you! So don''t ever believe yourself to be invincible, because we can crush you


    effortlessly whenever we want to!"


    Helen nced at Frank worriedly at Willy''s boast.


    She more or less heard about the rank between marital artists, and Ascendant rank was basically a


    god to theyman.


    And Frank had mentioned that he was Birthright rank before. and there was a vast gap between


    Ascendant rank and Birthright rank.


    It was therefore likely Frank would not win against Gus.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    And that was when Gus slowly rose to his feet, striding to the edge of the stairs and looking down at


    Frank as he said, "I have no interest in dealing with you, kid."