?


    Stanley froze, his eyes widening in surprise as several figures surrounded him in a tight circle.


    Marion showed no interest in it. He turned and walked out of the abandoned factory, his voice indifferent as he said, "I''ll leave this to you. Teach Mr. Frazier a good lesson."


    "Got it."


    The ce was soon filled with wails and pleas for mercy.


    As dawn broke, Debra groggily woke up, her eyes fluttering open as she stretchednguidly in her bed. As her vision cleared, she saw a bruised and battered figure before her. She blinked, rubbing her eyes to ensure she wasn''t dreaming.


    Stanley was tied up, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition. He wore a pitiful, resentful expression. "Stanley?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.


    Stanley had been pampered all his life, and aside from a brief stint in prison, he had never known true hardship. Seeing his once-handsome face so battered was a shocking first.


    "I''ve brought him back," Marion said, sitting on the bed. "How you handle him is up to you."


    Stanley''s confidence vanished at the sight of Marion. Only Marion could scare him into such a state overnight.


    "I''m sorry, cousin. I really am. Please forgive me. It won''t happen again."


    "Oh? Now you call me cousin?"


    Debra raised an eyebrow. Stanley dared not look up at her.


    "Mr. Frazier has woken up this morning," Marion said, his tone light yet filled with an underlying threat. I''m sure he''d like to see his son."


    Stanley shivered at Marion''s words. Meeting Ralph was suicidal for him. He would rather be dead.


    "Debra, I was wrong. Please, help me plead with my dad. He''ll kill me," Stanley said, shaking in fear.


    Debra remained unyielding. "There is no use begging me. You''ve severely injured Ralph. If he forgives you, I won''t pursue it further."


    "What? How could you..." Stanley protested, but a re from Marion silenced him instantly.


    "Ben, take him away. I''ll be there soon."


    "Will do."


    Ben lifted Stanley to his feet. Stanley, having learned his lesson, cooperated fully as he was led out of the room. "Your moves are sick, Marion. I''ve never seen Stanley so obedient before."Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "Dealing with scoundrels requires extreme methods."


    Debra nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words. She had been too soft on Stanley before. She had hoped that imprisonment would make him reform, but instead, he had be worse.


    "He''s Ralph''s son, anyway. I''d be d if he could change. If not, I''d rather Ralph didn''t have a son like him."


    Debra pulled back the covers, and Marion reached out to help her up. As her hand touched his warm skin, she instinctively tried to pull back, but he held her wrist, his grip firm yet gentle.


    "Take it slow."


    Debra had just recovered from a fever, and as she got out of bed, her legs felt weak and unsteady. She instinctively leaned forward, and Marion caught her around the waist. She held onto his arm for support.