Chapter 19: Chapter 19

The jaw of the sturdy man clenched tightly. It made a rather loud and terrifying sound accompanied by his piercing gaze. His hand tightly gripped a glass filled with thick red liquid.

Perhaps due to the pressure he felt, the glass eventually shattered, producing a cracking sound that made everyone in the room flinch.

However, no one dared to speak.

Only one voice reached the man's ears, the only thing that could save that person was mercy. Unfortunately, the owner of the room was not someone who enjoyed playing with mercy. He was known to be ruthless and brutal towards his enemies or those he deemed incompetent, earning him a reputation similar to the angel of death.

The glass shards seemed to have injured his palm, but he didn't care. The drops of blood that started to seep, moistening his work desk, were also disregarded. In his mind, there was only one name he wanted to destroy: Samuel.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, slamming the table.

The news delivered by Paul had ignited his anger. How could Yengki be caught by Sam's people? If Yengki were to speak, it wouldn't take long for Sam to reach him.

He was not afraid, but he still needed a little more support to make Eagle's Wing stronger.

Quassano, though he felt he could still hold on, truly, the old man was not willing to give him much trust. It was as if he was playing with him. There were several things that often made Gerald question Alfred's trust. However, Gerald couldn't argue much. Alfred had done a lot to protect Eagle Wing all this time.

"Are there others involved?" Gerald asked, glancing at Paul, who was never far from him.

"No, Boss," Paul replied.

But Gerald was not satisfied. Once again, he slammed the table until several files and the water bottle that had been his companion shifted and moved a few inches from their original position.

"Don't ever state something as certain if you can't even handle trivial matters!" he exclaimed.

Paul fell silent.

"Double-check it, Paul." Gerald stood up, and in an instant, he seized Paul by the collar. The person under his command simply nodded obediently. "Make sure there are no mistakes."

"What about Yengki's fate, Boss?" Paul dared to ask. He was slightly out of breath because Gerald's grip on his neck was quite strong. He tried to remain as calm as possible because the matter they were dealing with required immediate resolution.

However, the bald-headed man known for his expertise in handling weapons was one of the reliable comrades. Somehow, Sam managed to trap Yengki, and Paul was shocked to receive the news. If he attempted a rescue, he might only get himself into even bigger trouble. It wasn't just Yengki who was in danger, but Paul himself.

Hearing Paul's question made Gerald growl with restrained frustration. "If we go there, it's just falling into his trap."

His trusted assistant immediately lowered his head.

Gerald chose to leave his office, with Paul following him. Yet, there was still uneasiness lingering within him. Yengki was one of his loyal subordinates, and Gerald had no doubts about that. But he also knew that Sam had a dangerous interrogation team. Under the immense pressure exerted by Sam, Yengki might end up talking.

Before it was too late, Gerald had to do something. "Contact Alfred. Tell him there's a very important matter to discuss."

"Yes, Boss," Paul promptly carried out the order. However, before he could fully execute his intention, one of the subordinates guarding the front gate contacted him.

One of Alfred's trusted people had come for a visit. The news also left Gerald momentarily speechless, but soon he grinned. It was as if he had just come up with a new idea to cover up what was happening.

"Prepare a room and provide the best service," Gerald turned to Paul, who obediently nodded in response.

Gerald deliberately widened his steps, as if impatient to meet the visitor. Just as the main gate opened, the figure who arrived for the visit appeared.

The man was impeccably dressed, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. His face inherited the Quassano blood, which could be considered aristocratic and made their opponents aware that this individual was not just an ordinary person.

His name was Jimmy Lee Quassano.

Jimmy's parents were Alfred's nephew and niece. It should not have been Jimmy who was asked to carry on Alfred's empire. However, his only son had died in an accident over a decade ago. Alfred had to immediately appoint a successor, and his choice fell upon Jimmy. He was the one who was expected to replace the old man with cold hands and a reputation for ruthlessness in the business world.

Nevertheless, Alfred had not made an official announcement yet, despite his frequently troubled health. Sometimes, there were also numerous issues that consumed Alfred's time, now that he was getting old.

But the middle-aged man still held one firm belief. His granddaughter, the only daughter left by his beloved child, was still alive. He didn't know where she was, but Alfred was certain that one day his granddaughter would reunite with him.

The true heir. Not Jimmy, who was now standing in front of Gerald.

However, Jimmy didn't care. After all, the original heir had never been found until now. Equipped with extensive training from his parents, Jimmy had become a person Alfred could trust. He had taken charge of several crucial sectors of the Quassano family. There was only one step left for him to fully overthrow Alfred.

The old man was not easily satisfied. However, whenever Jimmy completed a task flawlessly without encountering any obstacles, Alfred willingly granted his requests without Jimmy even needing to ask. Nevertheless, Jimmy was never satisfied with his current position. He... was a man cloaked in greed, desiring everything excessively.

"Jimmy," Gerald said, stretching out his hand. "Long time no see."

Jimmy only smirked. "Your small talk is annoying, Gerald."

Gerald laughed, his voice filling the grand living room of his mansion. "You can never relax, Jimmy."

"How can I relax when this is what I get?" Jimmy threw a file directly onto the marble table with its distinctive pattern.

Most of the interior in the living room was made of marble. Its beauty was a feast for the eyes, but it merely served as a visual pleasure. What caught Gerald's attention now were the photos of Yengki, beaten and bruised, as if intentionally taken and sent to threaten them.

"You said everything was under control, Gerald!" Jimmy approached the man whose physique was much stronger than his own. But was Jimmy afraid? Not at all. To Jimmy, Gerald was nothing more than a servant dog that he could command at will.

Including targeting another one of Alfred's trusted individuals. Jimmy had to devise a plan to eliminate those around Alfred who did not support him. His ultimate desire was to have complete control, and that included removing one name: Joseph Quassano.

Unfortunately... Jimmy made a mistake by entrusting his desires to Gerald.

Gerald grumbled in annoyance. If it weren't for Jimmy's significant influence over him, he wouldn't tolerate being treated like this.

"Deal with this person immediately."

"You don't need to ask me to do that. Yengki is loyal, Jimmy. He won't divulge his mission."

Jimmy spat, disregarding the expensive floor beneath his feet. "I considered you loyal too, Gerald. But in reality? I can't trust you."

Gerald remained silent, but his fists clenched.

"Where is the weapon?"

"It's safely stored in the vault."

"Until I satisfy my eyes by seeing that weapon, I consider you a liar, Gerald."

Gerald growled. "Don't be too arrogant, Jimmy. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be in your current position."

Jimmy laughed satisfactorily, but he quickly made a move. Fearlessly, he grabbed Gerald by the collar. "We are both crawling at the same point now, Gerald. If I go down, you go down too."

Gerald swiftly pushed away Jimmy's grasping hand, still earning a smirk from the man.

"Show me the weapon, Gerald," Jimmy said firmly.

***[]***

The gust of wind in the quiet public cemetery messed up her hair even more. But the girl didn't care. All she felt was a painful emptiness. Her tears had dried up, grieving the departure of half of her heart.

Although they hadn't been in a relationship for long, Anne and Tony had known each other for a while. Growing up and spending most of their time at the Twin Dragons headquarters had made them close. Even though Sam often asked Tony to oversee the construction of one of the malls, Tony regularly visited the large white-painted house. Besides reporting on the progress, he also came to meet Anne, who rarely left the house.

"I'm too lazy to deal with the streets again," Anne joked, stating her reason. "My issues with the police never seem to end."

" Sam will take care of it for you, An," he replied.

"Sometimes I wonder, what does Sam actually do? Always cleaning up his subordinates' mess."

"That's why, An," Tony approached, tidying up Anne's messy hair. "Let's not cause trouble anymore."

"I won't, really. Sam helped me that one time, and I won't forget his kindness."

Tony agreed with that.

"Help Sam with whatever you can. I do the same, you know."

Anne nodded obediently.

"Wait until I have enough savings, okay? I really want to bring you to meet Mom and Hera, but not just a meeting, An."

"Then?" Anne became confused.

"To propose to you, of course."

Anne blushed, feeling extremely embarrassed. Tony always had a way of making her blush. "That's possible."

"I'm serious." Tony took Anne's hand and held it tightly. "Don't you want to?"

"I do," Anne said with a lowered face.

There were no flower exchanges or fancy dinners like other couples. They simply sat on a bench in the park. Sam's koi fish pond in one corner of the house served as a silent witness to their understated romance.

Far from being romantic in the traditional sense, it still made Anne find it hard to forget how fleeting time was for weaving togetherness. Once again, tears fell from Anne's eyes. Their promise was only an illusion. Losing Tony made her feel even more alone, despite having many people at Sam's house to keep her company.

"I can't handle it, Tony," she said as she knelt, wiping the wooden tombstone that still bore Tony's name in a simple manner. "I miss you."

She didn't know how long she cried and knelt near Tony's grave until she realized there was someone else nearby.

Hera.

"Anne?" Hera called softly, making sure that the girl next to her brother's grave was indeed Anne. Tony's girlfriend. As the girl looked up, a sense of empathy also spread in Hera's heart.

It turned out that it wasn't just her who was in pain from losing Tony. Anne was hurting too.

Anne, whom she knew as cold and quiet, turned out to be this chaotic. The gaze in her eyes had already revealed everything. Her love for her brother was immense. Her brother often talked about the girl he was dating. Occasionally, he brought her home because Tony himself was busy with work.

"Hera," Anne immediately wiped her wet cheeks. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long, Anne." Hera approached. "Mom... sometimes asks about you, An."

Anne just smiled. "I'm sorry I can't go there yet, Ra. It feels like there's still Tony at home. I can't handle it." She closed her eyes softly.

Trying to compose herself in front of Hera. Anne hadn't forgotten that Hera was just as hysterical as she was during the funeral. Tony loved his younger sister. Sometimes Anne felt envious, but Tony said they should love each other.

"It's okay," Hera understood why Anne was like that.

No one spoke to each other afterward. They let the wind blow stronger.

"The police still can't provide any updates on Tony’s death," Hera started the conversation.

She herself was a bit confused about what to talk about with Anne. But it seemed that silence was the best choice. Anne and she were the same. They both missed Tony.

Hera's remark was only met with a faint smile from Anne. She knew that the police wouldn't be able to do much about Tony's death. Only Sam could. Considering this case seemed to involve certain individuals. Unfortunately, Anne's movements were restricted. But what Eland said yesterday had some truth to it.

If Anne's movements were discovered by the Quassano group, it wouldn't just be Anne in danger. The entire household, including Sam, would be at risk. She didn't want to take such a huge risk. However, she wasn't a patient woman waiting for results and seeking revenge for Tony's death.

Anne was certain that this was not just an ordinary shooting case.

"Let's just wait then." That's all Anne could say. She didn't want to make Hera worry. She remembered Tony's message about this beloved Hera.

"I remember Tony often talking about you, Ra."

"Oh, really?" Hera blinked. "Ah, most of the time he says I'm a spoiled child. Usually when he wants attention."

Anne chuckled. "Yes. He said you're a spoiled child, unable to be independent, but brave."

"See, right?" Hera laughed. "I'm sure Tony made my image worse in other people's eyes."

"But you know one thing, Ra?" Anne asked softly. "Tony loved you so much. His younger sister."

Hera's eyes welled up. "Really, An?" It was more than just words; Hera knew that what Anne said was the truth. How much Tony loved her? "I... I miss Tony, An."

Anne couldn't hold back her tears either, but this was Hera. She had to hold back her tears so Hera could lean on her. That's exactly what she was doing now. She embraced her late boyfriend's sister. Sharing tears together besides this still-warm meal.

Her promise in her heart, "I will find Tony’s killer. I promise. With or without Sam!" she said determinedly.