Chapter 2

Marcus' POV

Once I was done packing, I carried my suitcase back downstairs.

The guests were still gathered in the main hall. When Elena saw the suitcase in my hand, she let out a cold laugh.

"Marcus, this little stunt of yours won't make us beg you to stay. I'm warning you, don't even try to pull anything. I won't let you manipulate me the way you did in the… past! The moment you walk out that door, you won't get another cent from the Dempseys!"

I stopped and looked at her. "Don't worry, Elena. I have no interest in the Dempseys' money. But before I leave, I need to take what rightfully belongs to me."

I pulled a document I had prepared in advance from my bag.

"Mr. Dempsey, these are the rights to the Haysworth family's patents, which my biological parents left behind. Since I won't have anything to do with the Dempseys from now on, please sign the transfer agreement and return them to me."

Benedict's expression shifted slightly.

Julius scoffed.

"Marcus, have you lost your mind?" he said, his tone laced with mockery. "Those worthless patents became obsolete years ago. What are you going to do with them? You don't seriously expect to make a fortune from that junk, do you?"

Elena looked equally contemptuous. "Dad, give them to him! Since he's so determined to settle the score between us, return those useless scraps of paper. Otherwise, he'll probably go around claiming the Dempseys stole from the Haysworths."

Benedict hesitated.

Years ago, my biological parents had died in a car accident while saving Benedict and Yolanda. The Dempseys adopted Julius and me afterward to silence the criticism surrounding their deaths.

Naturally, the Haysworth family's businesses and patents were also placed under the Dempseys' management.

After all these years, they had already drained every profitable asset from the Haysworth estate. All that remained were the technology patents they believed had become obsolete.

"Marcus, is this really necessary?" Benedict asked with feigned concern. "You're a grown man. What good will those old patents do you?"

"They're the only things my parents left me. Please sign the agreement."

My voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

The guests were glancing in our direction, and the attention was clearly putting Benedict and Yolanda under pressure.

In the end, Benedict signed the transfer agreement with a flourish and stamped it with Dempsey Group's corporate seal.

I carefully reviewed every page. Once I confirmed that everything was in order, I placed the document in my bag.

None of them knew that these seemingly obsolete patents would become the key to the clean-energy industry's most important technological breakthroughs over the next three years.

In my previous life, Elena had used the patents I handed over for free to turn the Dempseys into the wealthiest family in Jarrow.

This time, I would never hand them the weapon they could use against me again.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey, I'll always acknowledge that you raised me. But my parents repaid that debt when they gave their lives to save yours. From now on, I'm severing all ties with the Dempseys. We don't owe each other anything."

Elena glared at the suitcase in my hand and sneered, "You're certainly putting on a convincing show. Just don't walk out that door, regret it, and come crawling back to us."

I glanced back at her.

"Elena, I wish you and Julius a lifetime of happiness. Just make sure you don't regret your choice."

With that, I walked out of the Dempsey residence.

The night air felt cool against my face, but across both of my lives, I had never felt freer than I did at that moment.

Less than half an hour after I left, a violent storm swept through Jarrow.

Powerful gusts of wind hurled heavy drops of rain against the cab's windshield as I sat quietly in the back seat, watching the blurred city lights outside.

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "Heading to the airport in weather like this, are you? Do you have a flight to catch?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm going to Calton."

"This storm came out of nowhere. It sounds like there was a serious accident on the overpass up ahead, and the road's been closed. We'll have to take a detour," he muttered as he turned the wheel.

At the word "accident", something shifted in my eyes.

Judging by the time, it should be happening right about now.

I took out my phone and clicked on the latest local news alert.