Chapter 3 - The Secret Debt
The hidden reality behind Marcus’s presence shattered the protective illusions the estate owner had built around his empire. The background report revealed that Marcus’s family had once owned the small tract of land where a portion of the mafia boss's commercial empire now stood—property taken through ruthless corporate maneuvering by the boss's own late associates years ago.
Rather than seeking revenge or harboring malice, Marcus had been working multiple hidden jobs to support his ailing mother and younger siblings after their eviction. On the rainy afternoon he slipped past the gates, he had just been evicted from their cramped apartment, carrying the last remnants of their belongings and sharing his meager lunch because he recognized the look of profound loneliness in Eva’s eyes. He had nothing left to lose, yet he chose to give away his last piece of food to a stranger.
Staring at the documents, a wave of fierce protective urgency overtook the father. In his world, debts were always paid in full, but this was a debt of humanity that money could never settle. Instead of intimidating the boy, the father resolved to use his immense influence to right the historic wrong committed against Marcus’s family, quietly purchasing back their former home and clearing their debts while ensuring Marcus received a full, unhindered scholarship for his future. But before he could execute his plans, a shadow from the criminal underworld caught wind of the boy's connection to the estate, threatening to use Marcus as leverage in an upcoming turf war.
