Chapter 221: Marcus Wanted to Join Too
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Dan’s coat was filthy, covered in black stains, and his shoes weren’t even a matching pair. When he grinned, his wrinkled face scrunched up, and his yellowed teeth made it even worse.
“Bosses, don’t worry! We might be a small village, but the food here is top–notch Please, enjoy!”
Cassius and Robin exchanged a glance.
If they still couldn’t figure out what was going on, they’d be idiots.
This wasn’t a warm welcome.
It was a trap, plain and simple.
Cassius tilted his head slightly and caught sight of Gemma.
Her face was deathly pale.
He wanted to say something, but then he met Dan’s warning gaze,
That was all he needed to understand what Gemma was afraid of.
His voice turned ice–cold, sharp as shards of broken glass.
“Is that so? Then let’s check it out.”
Gemma’s head snapped up, her eyes filled with worry.
*BUL
Robin chuckled. “I’m starving, Let’s give it a try,”
Cassius nodded.
Only then did Gemma snap out of her panic.
How could she forget?
Cassius and Robin had seen more battles than most.
These guys were nothing to them.
Besides, Cassius had bodyguards everywhere.
There were probably men hidden in the bushes, perched in trees, watching their every move,
If the villagers thought they could take on Cassius, they were in for a rude awakening.
Bபட
She glanced at Dan again.
He still wasn’t looking at her.
Or maybe… he didn’t recognize her?
Either way, he acted like she wasn’t even there.
Still, something felt wrong. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it,
Everyone else was happily heading to the meal, so she kept quiet and followed.
By the time Marcus finished going through company documents, it was already late at night.
He rubbed his temples and reached for his coffee–only to find his cup empty.
Frowning, he was about to call his assistant when he checked the time.
11:30 PM.
The entire office had gone dark
Everyone had left hour ago.
Except for him.
Thanks to the mess with the Raven family, the Wilsons had been hanging by a thread.
Luckily, an overseas company had swooped in with an investment offer, keeping them afloat for now.
If the next batch of payments came through, they’d scrape through this crisis.
He got up and walked to the floor–to–ceiling window
His reflection stared back at him–a man who looked far more haggard than he remembered
He reached up, brushing his fingers over the stubble on his jaw. It was rough to the touch
Seating
Chapter 221: Marcus Wanted to Join Too
If Gemma were here, she’d have already grabbed a razor and carefully shaved it for him.
His hand fell away.
His eyes darkened.
The last time she did that was two years ago.
After that, no matter how much of a mess he looked, she never seemed to notice.
Or rather…
She had started letting go of him long before he even realized it.
That’s why she walked away so easily.
Why she looked so calm when they divorced?
A fresh wave of pain tore through his chest.
How could he have been so blind?
The signs had been right in front of him, but he ignored them.
Or maybe, deep down, he’d sensed it. But back then, Gemma never questioned his whereabouts, never restricted him. He thought he had all the freedom in the world. So he let himself look away.
Now, if he could go back in time, he’d punch himself in the face. Twice.
Regret was a poison, eating him alive from the inside out.
Every day, it hollowed him out a little more.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
A knock on the door.
Hector stepped in.
He had been about to leave for the night but stayed behind, worried about Marcus.
He was going to ask Marcus if he needed any food.
Now, seeing Marcus standing in the dim light, his figure almost swallowed by the shadows, Hector’s chest tightened.
“Mr. Wilson.”
Marcus turned. His eyes were red–rimmed, a sheen of unshed tears in them.
But it was gone in an instant, buried deep.
“You’re still here?”
Hector nodded and stepped forward. “Do you need something to eat?”
“No.”
Only then did Marcus remember–his stomach had been acting up for a while now.
He barely ate anymore.
Even when he skipped meals, he never felt hungry.
And when he did see food, it repulsed him.
Thinking back, he hadn’t eaten since noon.
But he hadn’t even noticed.
Ever since Gemma married him.
She had taken care of his health. Made sure he was never running on empty. Because of her, he always had energy to burn.
And over time, he forgot. Forgot that once upon a time, his body had been falling apart. That he had hovered at death’s door for years.
If not for her efforts, he’d still be a blind man, helpless and easy prey.
“…What’s Gemma been up to lately?”
Hector hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden question.
But he answered carefully.
“The hospital set up an Integrated Medicine Department just for Ms. Kelestine. A few top specialists have joined to support her.”
Marcus let out a faint smile.
She had always been incredible.
Hector continued.
“But Ms. Kelestine is on leave. She went back to her hometown.”
“Oh, right,” Hector added. “Some people from her hometown showed up at her office, caused a scene. The police took them in. I didn’t think it was
Setting
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Chapter 221: Marcus Wanted to Join Too
important enough to report.”
Marcus‘ expression shifted.
Back when he was blind, Gemma had told him about her childhood. About the suffering she endured.
And he had promised himself that once he regained his strength, he’d make them pay for what they did to her.
But
“Get ready. We’re heading to the village.”
Hector blinked, stunned.
Weren’t they divorced?
Wasn’t he the one who assumed Gemma would come crawling back to him?
Now he was chasing after her?
“Mr. Wilson, is this…. a business trip?”
It couldn’t be just to see Gemma.
Marcus rubbed his brow.
“Yeah. Something like that. Just make the arrangements.”
“..Understood.”
Hector turned to leave but paused.
“Should I arrange a full team to go with you?”
Marcus thought for a moment.
“No, just hire a few temporary bodyguards. That’s enough.”
Hector hesitated. “If the madam or Ms. Mabel asks….?”
“Tell them I’m on a business trip.”
“Got it.”
As Hector left to make the arrangements, Marcus turned back to the window.
It was past midnight. The streets were empty, the city eerily quiet.
A long, slow exhale.
“Gemma…. I’ll do what I promised you. I’ll prove it to you, one step at a time.”
“No matter what, give me one more chance. Don’t shut me out completely, okay?”
Silence. The office was too quiet.
No answer came, of course.
His figure disappeared into the darkness, swallowed whole by the night.
