Chapter 159: Far Worse Than Scum
"Boss, are we really just leaving like this?"
Captain Rico looked puzzled. Luca had come all the way here just to meet Gordon, was delivering that piece of news really the only reason?
Luca merely smiled without answering.
Patrick couldn’t help but chuckle. "Rico, you’re all brawn. You never think about the next move."
Rico shot him a look. "I’m not like you bookworms with all your sneaky little schemes. So quit laughing and explain."
Patrick grinned and leaned against the hallway wall. "Tell me something. Do you think Gordon’s going to verify what he just heard?"
"Of course he is." Rico answered without hesitation.
"What man could swallow something like that? Finding out the woman you’ve trusted betrayed you is one thing. Discovering the son you’ve raised for decades isn’t even yours..." He shook his head. "Nobody could let that go."
Patrick snapped his fingers. "Exactly. And once he confirms it’s true, do you think he’ll just sit quietly?"
Rico paused for a second before his eyes widened.
"Oh... now I get it."
Even locked behind bars, Gordon Luiz still had people on the outside. He still had influence. If he decided to strike, it wouldn’t be some emotional outburst. It would be calculated and devastating.
A slow grin spread across Rico’s face.
"So we just sit back and watch them tear each other apart."
Patrick laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "See? You’re learning."
Rico immediately slapped his hand away.
"Who are you calling teachable? Get lost."
Luca chuckled at the exchange before adding calmly, "We’re not just watching."
The smile on his face turned cold.
"When the timing’s right, we’ll throw a few more bombs into the fire."
...
The following day.
Federal Office of Public Integrity.
Inside the interrogation room, Gordon gripped the verification report with both hands.
The veins along his temples bulged violently.
The words blurred before his eyes.
"No biological relationship."
His chest tightened.
"Urgh..."
A mouthful of blood sprayed across the table.
But he didn’t collapse.
Instead, he slowly lifted his head.
Fresh blood stained the corners of his mouth, making his already gaunt face look almost frightening.
His lips trembled. Nothing came out except broken, rasping sounds.
If someone stood close enough, they would hear only two names repeated over and over.
"Francine..."
"Dexter..."
The hatred burning inside him had changed.
The resentment he’d once reserved for Luca had shifted completely.
He hated the woman who had deceived him for more than thirty years.
He hated the bastard he had raised with his own hands, sacrificed everything for, and nearly destroyed himself protecting.
"Officer Kowalski."
His hoarse voice echoed through the room.
The officer stepped inside and immediately frowned when he noticed the blood.
"What happened?"
"I’m fine."
Gordon wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I need to make a phone call."
"Who do you want to contact?"
"My lawyer."
He paused.
"...And my niece, Annabelle Flowers."
The moment he spoke her name, something cracked behind his cold expression.
Regret.
Guilt.
Annabelle wasn’t his biological daughter, but she was family.
After his older brother died young, Gordon had taken her into his home, raised her himself, paid for her education, and treated her like his own child.
For years, everything had been peaceful.
Until eight years ago.
It had been a stormy night.
Rain lashed against the windows while thunder rolled overhead.
Gordon and Francine were entertaining an important client over dinner, leaving only Dexter at home.
That same evening, Annabelle returned from her graduation trip.
She was only eighteen then, fresh out of high school, beautiful in the effortless way only youth could be.
Her clothes were soaked from the rain.
She excused herself to take a hot shower before she caught a cold.
She never imagined that simple decision would become the nightmare that haunted the rest of her life.
Dexter saw her walk upstairs...
...and followed.
After violating her, he threatened her into silence.
Then he tried to force himself on her again.
Broken and terrified, Annabelle even considered ending her own life.
The second time Dexter cornered her, she screamed that she’d rather die than let him touch her again.
The commotion finally drew Gordon’s attention.
When he learned the truth, he nearly lost his mind.
He grabbed a broom and beat Dexter so badly the young man spent an entire week recovering in the hospital.
But only Gordon knew why he’d been so merciless.
He wasn’t punishing Dexter.
He was begging Annabelle for forgiveness.
As long as she could forgive him...
As long as she didn’t destroy the family...
Everything could still be saved.
Instead, Gordon pleaded while Francine threatened.
Surrounded from every side, Annabelle buried every ounce of pain inside herself.
Soon afterward, she left the country.
She built a successful career overseas and eventually returned to New Orleans to start her own company.
But she never once stepped back into the Luiz family home.
That guilt had followed Gordon ever since.
And now...
Knowing Dexter had never been his son at all...
The regret became unbearable.
’I should’ve sent that bastard to prison with my own hands.’
...
Hale-Viv Conglomerate.
Executive President’s Office.
"Boss."
Captain Rico entered quickly.
"Just like you predicted. Gordon’s already making his move."
Luca leaned comfortably against his chair with his eyes closed.
"Mmm."
Not long afterward, someone knocked on the office door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Secretary Cecelia stepped inside in a perfectly tailored business suit. Her long legs carried her confidently across the office, heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
"You needed me?"
Luca looked up with obvious interest.
His background investigation had already confirmed everything.
Cecelia’s record was spotless.
Although she’d worked directly under Gordon for years, their relationship had remained strictly professional.
There had been nothing inappropriate between them.
One detail from her file, however, had amused him.
She was a widow.
’A widow, huh...’
’That explains the calm maturity.’
’...And probably makes conversations a little easier.’
The corners of his lips almost curled upward.
Cecelia noticed him looking at her.
The intensity of his gaze made warmth creep across her cheeks.
Still, she quickly composed herself.
As someone who had survived years inside the upper ranks of a corporate empire, she wasn’t about to lose her professionalism over a few seconds of eye contact.
She steadied her breathing before speaking.
"President Hale, we’ve removed every employee Gordon and Lady Francine placed throughout the company."
She hesitated.
"However..."
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Go on."
"Lady Francine came to headquarters after hearing about it."
"She caused quite a scene."
"She’s still downstairs."
Cecelia sighed quietly.
"Since she legally owns shares through Gordon’s holdings, no one has been willing to remove her by force."
Luca slowly stood.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So she actually came to my front door."
"Interesting."
He adjusted his suit jacket before glancing toward Rico.
"Come on."
"Let’s go downstairs..."
"...and meet Lady Francine."
The three stepped out of the office and entered the executive elevator.
Moments later, the doors slid open into the main lobby.
Before they could even take a step outside, an angry woman’s voice echoed through the building.
"I am Gordon Luiz’s lawful wife!"
"Even if Gordon has fallen, those shares belong to me now!"
"I’m a shareholder in this company!"
She pointed furiously at the surrounding employees.
"How dare you stop me from entering my own company?"
Her voice rose another octave.
"And don’t forget..."
"I can have every one of you fired whenever I want!"