Chapter 3

Liam put his arm around Shirley and got into the car, surrounded by their bodyguards.

The car's roar faded into the distance, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust.

The reporters, seeing that the show was over, scattered one by one, pointing and whispering about me as they left.

Then, the station manager came over with a furious expression and kicked my scooter over.

"Marcus, are you out of your damn mind? Ms. Pearce offers you money, yet you refuse it, acting all high and mighty? Get lost!

"Don't bother coming back here! Just looking at you ruins my mood! Forget about this week's pay. Consider it compensation for my mental distress!"

He cursed his way back inside and slammed the door hard enough to shake the walls.

I picked up my scooter and looked at the empty street. Before long, it started to rain. Cold raindrops hit my face, mixing with the blood from my wounds, stinging sharply.

Suddenly, my phone rang with an unfamiliar number.

When I answered, I heard my landlady, Margaret Reed, speaking through tears.

"Marcus, y-you need to come back and move out right away. A group of people just came by. They claimed they were doing a fire inspection and said my house violated rental regulations.

"They want to issue me a huge fine unless I kick you out... I know you're a good person, Marcus, but I have no choice... My grandson is still in school..."

My grip tightened on the phone. "I understand. I'll come over and move out right now."

With that, I hung up and rode my scooter into the rain.

When I got back to that hundred-square-foot basement, Margaret was standing at the door wiping away her tears.

My belongings had already been thrown out. All that I had were a few old shirts, a worn blanket, and a crushed picture frame.

It was the only photo of my parents and I from six years ago.

I silently crouched down and stuffed everything into a canvas bag.

Margaret pressed 200 dollars into my hand and said, "Marcus, take this money and buy yourself some food. T-Those people are dangerous, and you need to be careful from now on."

I pushed the money back. "Thank you, but I can't take it."

I slung the canvas bag over my shoulder, picked up the broken frame, and walked into the rainy night.

The rain was coming down harder, and I had nowhere to go. The space under the bridge was already packed with homeless people.

Later, I found a bus shelter with some cover and huddled in the corner. My clothes were soaked through, and I was shivering from the cold.

Just then, my phone rang again. It was Shirley.

"Marcus, not feeling so great, are you? That basement of yours wasn't exactly comfortable anyway. Since you're out, why don't you come to the Oceanview Villa?

"Mrs. Quinn keeps crying out for your father, and the doctor says only you can calm her down. Liam's project is a bit tricky, and you're the expert, so help him out. As long as you cooperate, I promise Mrs. Quinn will get the best care. Otherwise..."

A piercing scream came through the phone, and I immediately recognized that it was my mother's voice.

It was the sound she made when they injected the sedative.

I ground my back teeth together and hissed, "Deal."

Shirley laughed, her tone dripping with contempt. "Now, that's more like it! You could've saved yourself some trouble if you'd done this earlier. We're at the Oceanview Villa. I'll be waiting for you at home."

The Oceanview Villa was the house I had planned to buy years ago as an anniversary gift for Shirley.

When I arrived, Shirley was sitting on the living room couch, drinking red wine. Liam sat next to her with his legs crossed, holding a stack of papers.

Seeing me walk in, soaking wet, Liam whistled.

"Well, well, look who's here. Why didn't you take off your shoes? That's an expensive rug. Can you even afford to replace it if you get it dirty?"

I ignored him, my eyes fixed on the second floor. "Where's my mom?"

Shirley set down her wine glass and pointed upstairs. "She's asleep in the guest room. The doctor just gave her a shot. Marcus, sign this contract first."

She tossed a document onto the coffee table.

It was an employment agreement between Liam and I.