Chapter 414: Just A Few Scratches
Chapter 414: Just A Few Scratches
When Ashley and Lucian left the chapel, they rejoined Liza to keep her company.
There was already more than enough on Ashley and Lucian’s plates. Aside from making sure the night’s events wouldn’t reflect poorly on Ashley, they still had to figure out where in the hell Carrotman had disappeared to and who had targeted Tommy. Those questions alone were enough to keep them awake all night.
Liza, on the other hand, had nearly lost her husband.
Even now, Tommy remained in the intensive care unit under close observation.
So, as much as possible, the couple wanted to stay by her side.
However, when they arrived, both Ashley and Lucian stopped in the hallway.
Standing beside Liza was Primo.
"Primo?" Ashley frowned, staring at the boy. "Wasn’t he supposed to be home?"
Lucian instinctively looked at Gustav, who returned the glance. The look on Gustav’s face told them he had no idea either.
"Madam."
Red suddenly approached from the side, stopping a few steps away.
"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner," he began, though he didn’t sound particularly apologetic. "The Young Master wanted to come see Madam Liza. When we told him he couldn’t, he had a meltdown."
Red let out a heavy sigh as he scratched the back of his head.
"It’s not that we didn’t have a choice," he admitted, "but I thought it was best if he stayed with both of you."
Lucian, Gustav, and Ashley simply looked at him.
Both men immediately caught the way Red had phrased his explanation.
He wasn’t claiming he had no choice. He had made the decision himself.
Almost instinctively, Lucian and Gustav shifted their attention to Ashley. Since Red was explaining himself to her, they were curious how she would respond.
Especially Gustav.
Something like this would rarely be tolerated under Lucian. Even if Primo threw the biggest tantrum imaginable, Gustav would still carry out Lucian’s orders without fail—unless circumstances truly demanded otherwise.
"Hm."
Ashley made a soft sound before shifting her gaze from Red to Primo and Liza.
She watched them quietly for a moment before the corners of her lips lifted.
"Good work, Red."
She raised a hand and gave his shoulder a light pat before walking past him.
Red immediately smiled in satisfaction and turned to watch her leave. He even gave her a respectful nod, despite knowing she could no longer see it.
Watching the exchange, Gustav couldn’t help glancing sideways at Lucian.
Lucian noticed.
He looked back at Gustav, whose expression made it seem as though he had just realized how tyrannical his boss could be.
"If you’re starting to reconsider your position," Lucian warned quietly, "don’t. It’s a no."
With that, he continued after Ashley.
Gustav simply watched his boss’s retreating back.
"That’s not what I was trying to say," he muttered under his breath. "Not exactly."
After all, Gustav had served Lucian for as long as he could remember.
Now that Ashley had taken over the company and Gustav had the opportunity to work closely with her, he finally had someone to compare Lucian to.
Watching the way Ashley treated her people—even if her methods were occasionally questionable—had given him an entirely different perspective.
His thoughts came to an abrupt stop when Red turned toward him.
The smile on Red’s face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression as he walked over.
"What can I do to help?" Red asked without beating around the bush. "Now that the Young Master is here, we can provide backup for the investigation."
For a moment, Gustav remained silent.
He wasn’t surprised.
If anything, he was amused.
Even after spending months idling beside Ashley, Red had somehow continued to grow.
Then again, after working closely with Ashley over the past week, Gustav had realized something.
They might not always be doing something extraordinary.
But simply watching Ashley work was enough to teach someone how she thought—and, eventually, how to adapt to the way she processed information.
The corner of Gustav’s mouth lifted into a satisfied smile as he nodded at Red.
*****
Meanwhile, back at the Di Carpio estate, Marshal slammed his palm onto the desk.
Just moments ago, he had been over the moon, even sharing a slow dance with Carmella.
Now, after receiving an emergency call from one of June’s escort guards, his mood had completely soured.
"You!" he roared, glaring at the phone on his desk. "What the hell do you think you’ve done, Memphis!? Have you lost your mind?!"
He ground his teeth so hard that the veins bulging across his forehead looked ready to burst.
"Is this your way of declaring war on me, Memphis?" he scoffed. "If something happens to my daughter, I’ll kill you. I don’t care if we both go down, but I’ll make damn sure I drag you with me."
Marshal shook his head, his blazing eyes never leaving the phone.
"I know all your secrets," he growled. "I know your plans. Do you think you’ll survive once Lucian learns what you’ve been doing behind his back? That monster will skin you alive."
Silence followed for a moment too long before Memphis’s calm voice finally echoed through the speaker.
"I won’t deny that the accident involving your daughter was my doing."
"You—!"
"But I did it to protect my partner," Memphis interrupted before Marshal could explode again. "Marshal, it seems you’ve underestimated Dominion. Even if a large portion of Dominion answers to different masters, Lucian is the Black Dragon for a reason."
Memphis hummed as he leaned back comfortably in the passenger seat, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Marshal frowned.
"Why would Lucian be involved in any of this?"
"Oh?" Memphis chuckled. "You didn’t know? Interesting. It seems your beloved princess neglected to tell you whose event she attended."
Marshal’s expression darkened.
"Your daughter attended the same party as Tomas," Memphis continued. "The event was hosted by Dominion."
Marshal slowly straightened, his eyes fixed on the desk.
"Tomas recently contacted you. It’s only a matter of time before Lucian discovers that. And once your name enters Lucian’s mind, he won’t let it go. Eventually, he’ll connect you to Tomas." Memphis casually looked out the window.
"And once he connects you to Tomas, he’ll connect you to me. So, to prevent that, I had to let your daughter get hurt a little." He paused. "If she’s targeted as well, it weakens any suspicion that you’re the one behind Tomas’s death."
His smirk widened as a dangerous glint flashed across his eyes.
"You understand, don’t you, Marshal?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"A few scratches on your daughter are nothing compared to what would’ve happened if Lucian uncovered your involvement."
Marshal’s jaw tightened as his fists slowly clenched.
Before his thoughts could spiral any further, the office door opened.
"Sir," Scott stepped inside. "The plane is ready for departure. Madam Carmella is already aboard. "
Marshal whipped his head toward Scott and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He picked up the phone, pressed it back against his ear, and strode toward the door.
"Memphis, you’d better make sure they’re only scratches! If her face is ruined, you’ll pay for it!" Marshal stormed past Scott.
Scott remained where he was, one hand still holding the door open as his eyes followed Marshal’s retreating figure.
He said nothing.
Yet the look in his eyes suggested he was carefully weighing something.
A moment later, he quietly took out his phone.
A message had already been drafted, which he finally sent.
[Ghost:
Memphis of the High Chamber of Dominion.]