C543 I Can No Longer Protect Her

Frank froze. “And that's not even the worst part. I told him about my intentions to avenge my family.” The Mayor's expression changed instantly. “You did what?” “I told him that I wanted revenge for what happened to my family.” The Mayor slammed his hand against the desk. “Why would you do something so foolish? Did you mention my name?” Frank quickly shook his head. “No, Grandpa. I didn't mention you. Nobody knows about our connection, so that part is still safe. But there's a problem.” “What problem?” “Ann Smith will come after me. After what happened at the warehouse, she'll know that someone was trying to use her. We need to prepare ourselves before she makes her move.” The Mayor frowned, thinking carefully about the situation. “Then go and make the necessary preparations. The Potter Cartel is yours to build, but you must be careful. If I'm going to help you, you need to make sure nobody connects you to me. Do you understand?” Frank nodded. “Yes, Grandpa.” “Good. Now go. We don't have much time.” Frank paused "Grandpa Ann smith said her real name is Hanna Gupta. She also said I have made a big enemy by trying to kill her." The Mayor frown "What? She is from the Gupta family? Then she is not easy to deal with be careful Gupta family are trained from the young age to survive battles." Frank whispered to himself "Is that why she did not panic when I killed her team?" He slowly turned and went to his room, leaving the Mayor alone with his thoughts.

For several moments, the Mayor remained where he was, staring at the closed door. Then he slowly walked towards his bedroom, but the conversation continued to trouble him. What if someone discovered his connection to Frank? What if Ann Smith learned that Frank Potter was his adopted grandson? What if Gupta family threatens his job as the Mayor. What if Mark Mooney joins them as the Police Minister?" He stopped beside his bed and shook his head. “No,” he muttered. “I can't allow that to happen.” He had spent years building his reputation and establishing himself as a respected political figure. He couldn't afford to let a this destroy everything he had worked for. Then another thought crossed his mind. Alicia. She was the daughter of the Police Minister, what if she discovered his involvement with Frank, she could become a serious threat. The Mayor's expression hardened. “Since the Minister's daughter decided to turn against me, then perhaps I no longer need to protect them from the law.” He paused, considering the consequences. “They've betrayed me by interfering with my plans. Why should I continue protecting them?” Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Very well. I'll deal with that tomorrow.” But even as he prepared to rest, one question remained at the back of his mind. Had the situation already gone too far for him to control? Meanwhile The drive to the Gupta family residence was strangely quiet. Two women who had spent so long fighting each other, causing one another pain, and seeking revenge for their lost loved ones were now sitting in the same car. Hanna drove while Alicia sat in the passenger seat, watching the road ahead. Neither woman spoke. Outside, the road wound through dark woods, with only the car's headlights illuminating the way. Both were exhausted after spending the entire night awake, but neither suggested stopping to rest. They knew that reaching the Gupta residence would not mean the end of their troubles. If anything, it would be the beginning of another difficult conversation. Eventually, the trees began to thin, and the Gupta family residence came into view. It was still early in the morning.

The previous day had been consumed by Samson's funeral, leaving the family with little time to attend to the arrangements that followed. Now, everyone was awake early, cleaning the grounds, organising the remaining funeral items, and ensuring everything was put back in order. In the middle of the yard stood Miller, Darry, and Victor. Despite their disagreements and the tension that had divided the family, they were working together, directing the preparations and making sure everything was handled properly. There were times when family disputes had to be put aside, even if only temporarily. A car slowly entered the yard. The three men stopped what they were doing and turned towards it. At first, none of them paid much attention. But as the vehicle approached, they recognised the driver. Hanna. And sitting beside her was Alicia. For several seconds, nobody moved. Miller stared at the car in disbelief. Victor stood frozen, unable to understand what he was seeing. Darry's expression, however, quickly changed from surprise to anger. The car came to a stop. Hanna switched off the engine, and the two women stepped out. Alicia looked towards the men and smiled. “Grandpa.” Victor frowned, still struggling to make sense of the situation. “Alicia? How are you here? Didn't Hanna kidnap you?” Miller looked between the two women, relief washing over his face. “Hanna! Alicia! You're both here.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Thank God. At least you're safe.”

His eyes moved over Alicia, as though he needed to reassure himself that she was standing there unharmed. Hanna closed the car door and faced the three men. “Grandpa, Alicia told me you wanted to speak to both of us. So, here we are.” Miller looked at her carefully, clearly surprised by the calmness between them. Before he could respond, Darry stepped forward. “Hanna, my child, what are you doing with her?” His voice carried a mixture of anger and disbelief. “She's the woman who killed my brother. She's the woman who killed your father!” He pointed towards Alicia. “And you brought her here?” Hanna remained silent. Darry moved closer, his anger growing. “Your father is dead, Hanna! How can you stand beside the woman responsible and act as though nothing has happened? You should have killed her when you had the chance!” The yard fell silent. Victor looked anxiously at Hanna, while Miller watched both women, trying to understand what had happened between them during the night. Alicia's smile faded. She had known that returning to the Gupta residence with Hanna would provoke questions, especially from Darry. But knowing it and facing it were two different things.