As soon as Dustin and Natasha stepped out of the police station, the cool night air hit them. He took his phone and made a call. “I ran into some trouble,” he said. “I need a favor.
Gilbert and Frederick were being held inside the police station’s holding area. Although their detention was temporary, they weren’t placed in a standard cell.
Instead, they were assigned to a private holding room with comparatively comfortable conditions. This was an obvious courtesy afforded by the Chandler family’s influence. But the preferential treatment did nothing to cool Gilbert’s rage.
“Damn it! Those blind fools actually dared to lock me up?”
He paced the room restlessly, cursing nonstop. “Once I get out, I’m killing that boy toy Rhys. Then, I’ll deal with the officer who pinned me down earlier.”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He had never suffered this kind of humiliation in his life.
Frederick sat against the wall on the bed with his eyes closed. His face was dark with anger. He didn’t shout or curse like his brother, but his clenched fists and heaving chest showed his fury matched Gilbert’s.
Frederick was the kind of man who didn’t bark to bite. He didn’t shout or threaten when taking revenge. Instead, he struck in the most direct and ruthless way, making his targets pay a price they couldn’t bear.
Dustin hadn’t only injured Gilbert but also humiliated him in front of everyone. Frederick would see that the insult was repaid in full.
One hour later, footsteps and voices echoed from outside. Then, the holding room door opened.
Several well-dressed, imposing middle-aged men walked in. The man leading them was around 50 years old, with features similar to Frederick’s but more stern and commanding
It was Warren Chandler, one of the Chandler family’s key figures and Gilbert and Frederick’s uncle.
“Uncle Warren! You’re finally here,”
Gilbert said, rushing over like he’d found his savior. “Some bastard bullied me. Look at my hand, and see what he did. You must avenge me.”
Warren glanced at his plastered wrist and the bruises on his face. He frowned, and anger flashed in his eyes, but it was mixed with disappointment at his nephew’s incompetence.
“Useless fool!” he snapped. “All you do is embarrass the family!”
Aside from scolding, having his nephew beaten and locked up was an insult the Chandlers couldn’t tolerate.
Warren turned to the police chief who’d entered with him. His expression instantly hardened, radiating authority and intimidation.
“Chief Wolfe, what are you waiting for? Release them now.”
Cedric’s face tightened. He knew Warren had massive influence and was the key figure in the Chandler family. Not only him, but even his own superiors had to show Warren respect.
Based on his past experience, whenever something like this happened involving a Chandler family heir, a single phone call would be enough. The police would’ve released them immediately, smiling and apologizing as if nothing had happened, but not today.
As he recalled the unusual calls and orders he’d received earlier, cold sweat ran down his back. He forced an extremely strained smile.
“Mr. Chandler, the situation is… your nephews are involved in serious charges. Gang activity, armed assault, and public endangerment. The evidence is solid, and they threatened officers here at the station.
Procedure requires we hold them for further investigation.”
“Procedure?”
Warren laughed coldly, as if he’d heard a joke. He stepped forward, staring down Cedric with icy menace.
“Chief Wolfe, have you gotten too comfortable in your position? Are you lecturing me about procedure? One word from me and you’ll be packing your desk tomorrow. Release them now. Don’t make me repeat myself for a third time.”
The pressure made sweat beads on Cedric’s forehead. His lips trembled as he wrestled with himself internally.
On one side was the deeply entrenched, overwhelmingly powerful Chandler family.
On the other were direct orders from an even higher authority. He felt the pressure crushing him and was about to cave in and release the Chandler brothers. But then, a deep, powerful rumble of multiple car engines suddenly filled the air outside the station.
The sound was unlike any ordinary vehicle, but it carried an imposing presence that set everyone on edge. Then came the rapid, synchronized sound of footsteps approaching the holding area.
Warren frowned and, along with Cedric, turned toward the door. They saw a group of people appear at the entrance to the holding room, moving with speed and precision.
Leading them were two young men in black tailored suits, their piercing gazes and icy expressions commanding attention. They carried a rare blend of military precision and lethal skill, and simply standing there, they made the atmosphere feel tense.
Behind them stood a figure that made both Warren and Cedric’s pupils shrink instantly
It was a young woman in simple yet commanding attire. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet her bearing radiated an inviolable nobility and authority.
She stood there, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the room, and immediately became the absolute center of attention. It was Grace Linsor, Dragonmarsh’s most favored princess.
Warren’s heart sank as soon as he saw her. A cold wave of dread rolled over him, and his stomach twisted at the thought of what her presence here might mean.
