THE DEJECTED SON-IN-LAW

10

While Serena and her friends were playing, an unexpected guest knocked on the door of the Whitmore family villa.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Lily, who had just finished preparing breakfast, asked with confusion.

The middle-aged man carried some gifts and handed her his business card. "Hello, Mrs. Whitmore. I am Marcus Thornton, chairman of Thornton Enterprises. Sorry for the intrusion."

Marcus smiled, but Lily's face turned pale.

Shane, who'd been watching the morning news on the sofa, was even more shocked when he heard this. "How did you find our home?" he demanded.

Marcus replied with a confident smile. "After decades of operating in Riverton, I won't claim I have the power of life and death, but I can certainly find someone's residence. For example, didn't your daughter have dinner with friends at Red Rose Bar last night?"

Marcus cast a provocative glance at Shane while showing him several photos.

The photos depicted Serena, drugged and unconscious on a bed.

Shane shuddered. "It was you! You did this to my daughter last night!"

Marcus ignored the accusation and continued with a smile. "Mr. Whitmore, do you know what I want? As I've said before, please relinquish the city hospital supply contract. You may earn less money, but you can ensure your family's safety."

"Otherwise..."

Marcus paused deliberately. "Mr. Whitmore should know how Victor Cross from the Dragon Tiger Gang operates."

Shane's face went deathly white.

Victor's name was infamous throughout Riverton's underground. He was notorious for his ruthless, brutal methods.

Over the years, countless wealthy businessmen had died at his hands, and many young heiresses had been violated by him.

Shane had always suspected his father's death was connected to Victor and the Dragon Tiger Gang.

And now, Marcus had come directly to his home, using Victor as leverage.

Shane felt genuinely afraid.

Last night, his daughter had been saved just in time. But what about next time?

"All right, I'll give it to you!"

"Wait for me at the office in half an hour." Shane clenched his fist and finally chose to compromise.

"Haha, excellent." Marcus left satisfied.

"Shane, are you really giving that supply contract to Marcus Thornton? Father gave his life for it," Lily asked sorrowfully after Marcus departed.

Shane sighed heavily. "Marcus has the Dragon Tiger Gang's backing, with Victor behind him. We can't afford to provoke these people."

"Ah... if only some powerful force could wipe out the Dragon Tiger Gang."

Shane looked helpless.

Victor and Marcus were close associates. With the Dragon Tiger Gang's support, his Whitmore family stood no chance against Marcus.

At that moment, the TV was still broadcasting.

A news report suddenly caught Shane's attention.

"Last night, a major incident occurred in Riverton. The headquarters of the notorious Dragon Tiger Gang was mysteriously wiped out..."

"The deputy head of the Dragon Tiger Gang died on the spot, and leader Victor Cross was seriously injured and has voluntarily surrendered to authorities. The case remains under investigation, and the identity of the mysterious force is still unknown..."

The news anchor's voice echoed through the room.

Shane and his wife stood frozen.

"What... what is this..."

"Is this a miracle from heaven?"

---

"Dad, what's going on?"

"What happened?"

"Why did you call me back so urgently?"

Serena had rushed back to the villa from her friend's house after her father called minutes earlier, insisting she return immediately.

Shane said nothing but showed her the news report.

"Isn't this Red Rose Bar?"

Serena recognized the background instantly, her face registering shock.

But when she heard the full report, her surprise transformed into horror.

"Vi... Victor surrendered?"

"The Dragon Tiger Gang is finished?"

Serena couldn't believe it, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Confirmed."

A few minutes later, Serena hung up her phone.

She'd just spoken with a friend in the police department.

"Father, it's been verified. The Dragon Tiger Gang was massacred last night, both leaders killed or captured."

"Moreover, the time and location match exactly when my friends and I were at Red Rose Bar."

Serena's face paled, her chest heaving slightly—perhaps from shock.

Only now did Serena realize she'd actually been trapped in Dragon Tiger Gang headquarters last night.

If not for some mysterious force that happened to massacre the gang, Serena didn't know if she'd still be alive and standing here.

"Hahaha~"

"This is truly a blessing for the Whitmore family!"

"With the Dragon Tiger Gang gone and Victor arrested, I wonder how arrogant Marcus can still be?"

After receiving confirmation, Shane was immediately overjoyed.

The weight that had pressed on his heart was suddenly lifted!

Lily and Serena also felt immense relief.

The Dragon Tiger Gang had been one of the top three underground forces in Riverton, if not the first.

"To massacre Dragon Tiger Gang headquarters in a single night—the perpetrator must be one of Riverton's most powerful forces."

"Dad, who do you think did it?" Serena grew curious.

Moreover, for some reason, the more she thought about last night's events, the more suspicious everything seemed.

---

At that moment, Marcus's furious voice erupted through the phone.

"I've been waiting outside your company for an hour!" Marcus shouted angrily. "I'm warning you—if you don't appear in ten minutes, I'll have Victor bring me your daughter's head!"

However, Shane on the other end wasn't panicked at all. Instead, he chuckled lightly. "Mr. Thornton, haven't you seen this morning's news?"

"I advise you to visit the prison and see Victor now. Otherwise, you won't even get to see him one last time."

"Hahaha..."

After laughing, he hung up.

At first, Marcus was puzzled and didn't understand Shane's meaning. Not until his subordinates called with news that Rex was dead, Victor imprisoned, and the Dragon Tiger Gang destroyed did Marcus's expression change drastically.

"How is this possible?" Everything had been fine just last night.

"Quick!"

"Quick, back to the company!"

After a long moment of trembling, Marcus no longer cared about any supply contracts. He immediately panicked and shouted orders, driving straight to his company.

---

As news spread, the downfall of the Dragon Tiger Gang rapidly circulated throughout Riverton.

Across the entire city—whether in business circles, among ordinary citizens, or within underground forces—it caused seismic shockwaves.

Ordinary people cheered, wealthy businessmen stood shocked, and underground forces had already begun moving to seize the territory and industries the Dragon Tiger Gang once controlled.

However, everyone shared the same unanswered question.

Who was responsible for all of this?

Who was the god-like figure that single-handedly killed Rex and destroyed the Dragon Tiger Gang?

---

Victor, leader of the Dragon Tiger Gang, was being held in Riverton City Prison.

"I did it all, I confess..." Victor repeated these words over and over, even though a full day had passed since his arrest.

"General Steele, we've interrogated him multiple times. Victor keeps insisting he's the one who killed everyone," several detectives reported respectfully outside the interrogation room.

Before them stood several people in military uniforms, led by Morgan.

Her mission last night had been to capture Rex Malone, a military fugitive. Although Rex was now dead, there were still matters she needed to clarify.

"He did it?" Morgan replied coldly. "He doesn't have the capability."

She'd examined the crime scene multiple times last night. While police suspected gang involvement, with the Dragon Tiger Gang being massacred by rivals, Morgan had concluded it was the work of a single individual.

Moreover, whoever killed Rex with a single blow was undoubtedly an extremely skilled martial artist—possibly even stronger than herself.

"What about those three young women? Have they revealed anything?" Morgan remembered the three unconscious girls on the bed when she'd entered the attic.

The officer in charge shook his head. "They were all drugged and woke up in the hospital without knowing anything."

Morgan furrowed her brow. "Then pull up nearby surveillance footage. I'll review it myself."

"Yes, General Steele."

The Riverton police department had to show respect to this formidable female war goddess, so they naturally didn't dare refuse.

And so, Morgan personally reviewed nearby surveillance footage with her two assistants.

"Hmm?"

"Here, zoom in."

Soon, Morgan noticed a figure on the street in the footage.

She ordered her assistants to enlarge the image and was surprised to find she actually recognized this person.

It was Cal!