Chapter 4 He Killed Someone

• He had already devised a strategy, intending for me to approach Kelvin so that Kelvin would not place the blame on him.
• "No matter what your request is, I will fulfill it as long as it isn't excessive," Marcus said, clearly pleased with my perceptiveness. He narrowed his eyes slightly, addressing me as though he were granting me a favor.
• I had no desire to prolong the conversation, so I began to tidy the room. However, my mind felt utterly chaotic, making the organization a complete mess.
• ...
• On the first day of the New Year, heavy snow fell, casting an exceptionally desolate atmosphere over the Eckman Residence. Early in the morning, Alice busied herself, taking Taylor to visit relatives for New Year's greetings.
• I was left aside, and ignored by everyone.
• Quietly, I sat by the window in my room, watching the snow drift down outside, consumed by an overwhelming sense of melancholy.
• In seven years, I had ultimately failed to thaw a heart of stone; Marcus and I had reached the end of our journey.
• I didn't know how to move forward.
• For so many years, my world revolved solely around Marcus. Without him, nothing remained in my life.
• Unbeknownst to me, tears began to flow once more. Lost in my thoughts, I received a call from my mom.
• "Oh, Charlotte, you must save your brother! He has really caused a serious problem this time!" my mom shouted anxiously.
• "Mom, please calm down. What has Clement done now?" I asked, unable to suppress my growing concern as I heard my mom's voice break into sobs on the other end.
• Every time I received a call from home, my greatest fear was hearing about my brother, Clement Bolton.
• "Oh no... How can I be so unfortunate to have such a wretched child? How could he kill someone..."
• "What are you saying, Mom? He killed someone?" My mom's words drained the color from my face, and I jumped to my feet.
• Clement had always been reckless; although he was an adult, he showed no signs of maturity.
• If it came down to it, he was indeed capable of causing such a tragedy.
• My mom continued to weep on the line, unable to contain her distress. I could hardly bear it and urged her, "Mom, please tell me what happened!"
• "He was drunk at a bar last night and killed a thug. The thug's accomplices took him away and demanded he pay with his life! What are we going to do? You have to save him!" my mom said in a frantic tone.
• "Mom, I don't know what to do!" How can I possibly save Clement? He's taken a life—what can I do to help him?
• "Quick, contact Marcus. He must have a solution!" my mom suggested.
• After all, Clement was my biological brother. Even though he had erred, I didn't want him to suffer. I quickly hung up and dialed Marcus' phone.
• As soon as the call connected, I anxiously exclaimed, "Marcus, please save my brother! He's been taken by gangsters. You have to help him..."
• My anxiety caused me to lose my composure, momentarily forgetting that our relationship had officially ended just a day prior.
• As expected, there was silence on the other end.
• "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't bother you at this moment, but I truly can't think of any other way... If you're busy, I-I can look for another solution…" I silently berated myself for feeling so helpless, fully aware that Marcus was likely already annoyed with me, yet I still reached out for help in a crisis.
• "I'm almost home, Wait for me." I had expected him to refuse, yet Marcus' magnetic voice cut through the uncertainty.
• Those few simple words provided a fleeting calm to my tumultuous heart. After ending the call, I informed my mom and clarified the details of the situation with her.
• Before long, Marcus summoned me to meet him at the residence's entrance.
• I hurriedly jogged downstairs and climbed into his car.
• He was the only one returning. As I settled into the passenger seat, an unshakeable tension filled the air.
• With a grim expression, Marcus coldly inquired, "What trouble has he stirred up now?"
• His question underscored his impatience. Over the years, although Marcus had remained distant, he had still provided support to my family as Kelvin had instructed, tackling any issues that arose.
• Perhaps he was simply fed up.
• Under Marcus' piercing, icy gaze, I pressed my lips together and replied, "Last night, on New Year's Eve, Clement got drunk and fought with a thug, accidentally killing him. They're claiming he must pay with his life and have taken him to an abandoned factory in Normby."
• Marcus appeared to find this amusing, letting out a light snort. "Pay with his life? Do thugs really wield that kind of power these days? I was unaware."
• "What do you mean?" I asked, perplexed.
• "It's a law-abiding society now! If someone truly died, would the police simply stand by and do nothing?" Marcus retorted coolly.
• "So, you mean that thug isn't dead! They've taken Clement for some other purpose." I immediately grasped the implication behind his words.
• "You're not too foolish," Marcus sneered lightly.
• I felt insulted and couldn't help but think, Do you think you're the smartest person in this world?
• Marcus pulled out his phone and dialed a number, issuing some instructions.
• His voice was low, and I couldn't quite discern everything he said, but it seemed he was arranging for someone to intervene in this situation.