Chapter 497

The night wind carried a chill, tugging at Xander Quincy's coat hem.

He stood in the desolate East suburbs, fingers absently tracing the creases on his sleeves.

Ethan Sullivan leaned against rusted iron railings, moonlight gilding his silhouette in silver.

"Made up your mind?" Ethan lit a cigarette, the ember pulsing in the darkness.

Xander stared at that glowing tip, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"The Quincy family..." His voice scattered in the wind. "Should've ended long ago."

A stray cat's whimper echoed in the distance like an omen.

Ethan exhaled a smoke ring. "You know your father's methods better than I do."

Xander suddenly laughed, the sound laced with self-mockery.

He remembered the cold instruments in the basement. Reginald Quincy's twisted face.

"Twenty years I've run." He raised a hand to shield his eyes. "This time—"

Headlights from a passing truck sliced through his words, illuminating his pallid face.

Ethan stubbed out the cigarette. "About Rachel—"

"I know." Xander cut him off, fingers trembling slightly. "The girl in red at the airport."

He'd never forget those eyes.

So like the girl who vanished in the rain a decade ago.

"I owe her." Xander turned, his trench coat flaring decisively. "A debt I can never repay."

Ethan watched his friend dissolve into the night before dialing a number.

"Harrison. Bring the car to the usual spot."

An exaggerated groan came through. "Boss! It's 3 AM!"

"Quintuple bonus."

"On my way!"

Twenty minutes later, Harrison appeared with bedhead and two coffee cups.

"Your iced Americano, sir." He obsequiously offered car keys. "Fresh clothes in the back."

Ethan checked his watch. "Take tomorrow off."

Harrison's eyes lit up, but the black Maybach had already roared away.

In the rearview mirror, skeletal trees clawed at the moonlit sky.

Ethan floored the accelerator, the speedometer needle spinning right.

His phone screen illuminated with a text from Lillian:

「Beverly Hills」

The corner of his mouth lifted, but his eyes remained glacial.