Claire Chapman patted her shoulder. "Alright, stop thinking about it. I’ll keep an eye on the vehicle. You head back inside."
Paige Sumrs considered it for a mont, then did as she was told.
She needed to check on Erin Quinn.
When she got back on the vehicle, it was both surprising and perfectly logical to see that Ace, Nora Lowell, and Leanne Walsh had been brought back, along with the two team mbers who had taken them away.
The three of them were a complete ss—their clothes were filthy and their hair was disheveled.
This was especially true for Leanne Walsh.
Whether before or after her rebirth, she had never endured such hardship. As a female Water Ability User, she had always received special treatnt. But now, these people were treating her like an ordinary person, even threatening to chop off her hands if she dared to run!
Fear and anger gnawed at her, and her heart swelled with hatred.
Nora Lowell was just as resentful.
As the daughter of Norgate’s City Lord, she had faced difficult situations before, but this was the first ti she had ever been treated like a prisoner.
But she was incredibly cunning and never let her emotions show on her face.
She appeared quite calm.
She even occasionally chatted with the team mbers beside her, sighing over the chaos outside and remarking on how difficult it was just to survive.
Because of this, Marcus Monroe’s n thought she was a decent person who had simply fallen in with the wrong man. Nora Lowell sensed this and began plotting how to distance herself from Shawn Monroe without offending Ace. It was especially important that Marcus Monroe knew she was only on this mission to repay Shawn Monroe for saving her life.
There was nothing romantic between her and Shawn Monroe.
Seeking advantage and avoiding harm—it had beco her survival instinct!
However, no matter how composed she appeared on the surface, she was seething with hatred on the inside.
As she sched for a way out of her current predicant, she also resolved not to let the two team mbers who treated her this way get away with it. And of course, there was that woman who had latched onto Marcus Monroe and taken her earring! Cruel thoughts swirled through her mind.
Sitting in the corner, Erin Quinn could hear both of their thoughts without even trying. Despite having listened in on many people’s minds, she was so unsettled by their overwhelming hatred that she couldn’t sit still. The mont she saw Paige Sumrs get back on board, she buried her head in Paige’s embrace and mumbled, "They’re so scary..."
Paige Sumrs frowned, gently soothing the small girl in her arms.
Glancing around the vehicle, Paige noticed most people wore strange expressions. Even Nora Lowell’s face was neutral. Only Leanne Walsh stared back brazenly, her eyes full of venom.
’But Erin said "they," so both of them are involved!’
A cold smile spread across Paige Sumrs’s face, making everyone else in the vehicle uneasy.
Only Isaiah Langley and Marcus Monroe, who had clearly heard what Erin Quinn said, gazed thoughtfully at the little girl as she slowly cald down.
’But is it really going to end this easily?’
’Too naive!’
Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, Paige Sumrs suddenly stood up, leaned forward, and took a step.
SMACK! SMACK! Two sharp, loud slaps echoed through the vehicle.
She slapped Leanne Walsh with a forehand, then Nora Lowell with a backhand. As everyone stared in disbelief, Paige Sumrs slowly sat back down. "Lose the venomous glares," she said coolly. "Even if I don’t kill you, I have plenty of ways to make you wish you were dead. If you don’t believe , you’re more than welco to try!"
Leanne Walsh froze for a mont, then let out a shriek and lunged at Paige Sumrs like a madwoman.
But before she could get out more than a short cry, Howard Everett struck the back of her neck with the edge of his hand, and she crumpled to the floor.
Nora Lowell, of course, was not so impulsive. An expression of stubborn indignation appeared on her beautiful face. She cupped her rapidly swelling cheek as tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
"Why must you humiliate like this! We weren’t strong enough to take the supplies, and we have nothing to say about losing. If you want to kill , do it outright. I will not accept such baseless accusations!"
Paige Sumrs scoffed. "And so what if you don’t?" She stared at Nora’s face, into her eyes, seeing straight through to the hostility hidden deep within. She slowly repeated, "You don’t accept it. So what?"
As if on cue, the other team mbers in the vehicle either looked down or busied themselves with cleaning their weapons.
’This is intense!’
Paige Sumrs was usually so easygoing and cheerful around them; it was the first ti any of them had seen her fly off the handle. Her voice wasn’t loud, but her words carried a chilling bite.
A flash of humiliation crossed Nora Lowell’s eyes. She was about to speak when Ace tugged on her sleeve and cut in, addressing Marcus Monroe directly. "Young Master Monroe, look... there’s no need for this... Nor..."
"It’s too noisy." Marcus Monroe’s gaze suddenly fell on him and Nora Lowell. "You two."
He unleashed his aura, and the pair imdiately felt an imnse pressure bear down on them. Cold sweat began to pour down their faces.
In truth, Ace’s Superpower Rank was two ranks lower than Marcus Monroe’s, while Nora Lowell was only one rank lower. But the gap between the Fifth Rank and the Sixth Rank was a major threshold, one that required a massive breakthrough to cross. That was why, to most Superpower Users, Sixth Rank and above were considered High-level, while Fifth Rank was not.
The pressure released by a High-level Superpower User like Marcus Monroe was naturally overwhelming for them.
The vehicle instantly fell silent, the only sound being the ragged gasps of a few people.
Marcus Monroe said coolly, "Know your place. Don’t do anything unnecessary. You don’t accept it? Fine. Get out and run alongside the vehicle. You can get back on when you’re ready to accept it."
The ever-perceptive Grant Yardley imdiately produced a rope. To prevent them from escaping, it was, of course, safest to tie their hands and make them run behind.
Seeing this, Martin Warren and the team mber next to him quickly covered their mouths and turned away, their shoulders shaking suspiciously.
Even Howard Everett wore a wry smile. ’That’s a vicious move! He’s clearly getting revenge on soone’s behalf... Speaking of which, the boss has always been cold, especially to won. He’s never even given one a pleasant look. For him to show this much concern for Paige Sumrs is rare. But in my opinion, she’s not a good match for him. She’s too impulsive...’
Just then, Paige Sumrs, the very subject of his internal critique, chuckled softly. She pushed down Grant Yardley’s hand, which was eagerly readying the rope, and shook her head slightly.
’Threats are one thing,’ she thought, ’but I was just angry they scared Erin Quinn. I don’t actually have a taste for torture. When I have a score to settle, I’d rather just kill the person and be done with it.’
’But these people can’t be killed, so this will have to do.’
Only then did Nora Lowell manage to suppress the terror in her heart, lowering her gaze.
Now, she finally understood one thing with absolute clarity.
’This man, Marcus Monroe, has absolutely no affection for . Any designs I once had on him were a complete waste. If you’re not one of his people, you’re an enemy. And with the way he protects Paige Sumrs... perhaps the only way to get rid of that woman is to kill him first!’
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