Frank drove straight to Salazar House with Quinn after leaving Sage Lake Sect.The Salazars had been messing with him too many times, and there was no reason to let them live now.Frank called Trevor on his way there, asking him to send his people over to clean up the mess he would make.-Donald Salazar was seated in his drawing room and having a drink with a guest, who happened to be none other than Eron White."Mr. Salazar, is it true?" Eron asked, looking hopefully at Donald. "You told me that Sage Lake Sect could restore me as the head of the family.""Don't worry." Donald spread his arms proudly without hesitation. "Maron Ocean and I had an agreement. Once he takes his place as the sect chief, he will restore my family to its former glory. When that happens, I just need to put a good word in—helping you reclaim your place as head of the White family couldn't be easier."Seeing how cheerful Donald was, Eron picked up his glass and saluted him fawningly. "Thank you so much,
Even as Eron continued drinking, he felt a rising foreboding sensation.As if on cue, Donald suddenly beckoned at a servant to bring pen and paper. "Ah, I almost forgot—come on, Eron. Let's have our agreement put in writing, in case alcohol causes our conversation to slip your mind.""In writing?" Eron exclaimed in surprise."Yes." Donald grinned. "Write here that you're willing to have your daughter marry me. My pledge for you in turn is to do my utmost in restoring you as head of the White family. How about that?"Eron was hesitant. "Is that… necessary?""Of course," Donald was suddenly solemn despite his smile. "I am a man of my word, and verbal promises never count in my opinion. Don't you agree?"Eron glanced between Donald's smile and Donald's bodyguards who stood around them, and he felt sweat trickling over his brow.Still, after musing to himself for a while, he suddenly laughed and picked up the pen. "Well, since it's your principle, I shall certainly follow. It's good
"Quinn Ocean?! You're alive?!"Donald stared at Quinn in disbelief, more shocked to see her than Frank!"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm alive and kicking!" Quinn laughed icily as her brow creased, and she bellowed, "You killed my father and forced me off a cliff. And now, you shall pay!"Even as Quinn leapt toward him, sword in hand, Donald was clenching his jaw so hard his teeth could break."Fucking mooks! All of them!" he growled. It was now obvious why his men never found Quinn's corpse!However, he was not about to just roll over and die—he promptly overturned the table and quickly leapt backward to draw the sword hung on the wall. After everything was said and done, he was still a vigor wielder!Still, Quinn was an unstoppable entity of rage, slicing through the table and clashing swords with Donald!On the other hand, Frank slowly strode inside and immediately saw the man sitting limply on the floor. "Hmm? What are you doing here, Eron?""I, I…" Eron kept trying but
Donald's left hand—kept hidden from view—suddenly pressed on a hidden depression on the wall.Then, a black handgun popped out, landing in his hand.As Quinn kept charging at him, sword poised, he grinned savagely as he brought the gun to bear between her eyes."What—"Quinn's eyes widened, not expecting Donald to have such a trick up his sleeve!Worst of all, he would shoot her through the head even before her sword reached him!Biting her lip, she closed her eyes as she resigned herself to her fate…Bang!Clang!The crack of a gunshot resounded, soon followed by the stifling scent of gunpowder.Quinn opened her eyes, presuming that she had been shot… only to see Donald's gun flying out of his grasp and the bullet shot striking a vase behind her."Frank Lawrence!!!" Donald was glaring savagely at Frank.He saw Frank firing a burst of his pure vigor, sending his gun flying!"Die!"Seeing her opportunity, Quinn raised her sword and sliced off Donald's hand."Argh!!!" Dona
Mona stood nearby awkwardly, blinking."Hmm…" she mused as she glanced at Frank. "Should I be hugging you too, Frank?""Quit it." Frank shoved her away even as she moved up.Kiki was the last to arrive, clicking her tongue in wonder as she watched the other ladies chattering, pouting, flirting, or bawling around Frank."What's this, Trevor?" Frank asked when he saw Trevor Zurich arrive with his men.Trevor grinned. "It seems that they weren't subject to any abuse—Maron might have an agenda here, but it was just house arrest at best. In fact, they were kept in the guest room and not the basement.""Yeah, don't worry, Frank—we're fine," Helen said with a smile."What do you mean 'fine'?" Vicky folded her arms before her chest, snapping in annoyance. "I had to sleep in the same bed with you, and you almost knocked me off! Go on a diet, Helen!""S-Shut it!" Helen blushed, retorting loudly, "You go on a diet!""Tut, tut. Denying it with all that flab around your belly?" Vicky reach
"Yes, Mr. Lawrence." Trevor agreed to it right away without asking any questions.Frank then returned to his Maybach to find it congested, with the ladies arguing endlessly on who got to ride shotgun.Eventually, Winter triumphed, not because Vicky or Helen actually lost, but because neither woman could stand the thought of the other riding shotgun."Hmph. I've ridden shotgun with my darling many times anyway," Vicky huffed, folding her arms before her chest. "Who's your darling? How brazen," Helen snapped, her ice-like beauty persona long forgotten."Oh, just stop it already…" Frank was left rubbing his brow—his days of peace were long gone."I won't be going back to Skywater Bay," Kiki said, standing outside the car and waving him goodbye. "The Soranos have given up on me after Hubert Sorano's death, and I can live the way I want to now.""Are you going to be alright?" Frank frowned, somehow worried."Don't worry. Vicky has my back!" Kiki grinned and winked at Vicky, while V
Helen waved him off, smiling faintly. "Just give it a rest—I bring good tidings, as we Northstream Lanes are now completely a part of the Lane family again.""Uh huh, and?" Frank remained unaffected.Helen was not surprised and kept smiling. "Well, that's not all. Uncle Gavin also told me that I'm now a candidate for the head of the family!""Just a candidate?" Frank snorted in disdain. "Hey, don't get too greedy!" Helen bumped him in the head, giggling. "Others would have to rack their brains scheming just to get the opportunity. It's already amazing that someone like me, who was only recently taken back, was chosen at all!"To be honest, Helen was as apathetic about being brought back to the main family as Frank was. They would only be a branch of relatives, having a superficial relationship with the Southstream Lanes without any meaningful exchange.As such, becoming a candidate for the next head of the family was different! The title alone carried weight and position over th
In the end, Vicky was the heiress of an important family.Helen certainly dulled in comparison, just as her pride could not take it.Therefore, now that she had the chance to become the head of the Lane family and become an equal of Vicky's, she would seize it.As for who would come up on top, that depended entirely on their respective abilities!Ring…Helen's phone started jingling just then, and she answered it. "Hello?"Gina was immediately snapping, "Where are you? Come back to the manor right now! Remember Madam Lang, Mark's second wife? She's here, and she's also being very specific about wanting to see you!""She wants to see me? Why?" Helen asked even as she glanced at Frank.Mark was brother to Henry Lane—Helen's grandfather—and had married three wives in his younger days. It also happened to be the reason Henry and Mark had parted ways in the past.Nonetheless, Gina was at once cheerful, "Oh, don't you get it? It must be because your uncle has informed you that you'r