Chapter 452: Another Culprit

The next morning, Mallory arrived home after spending some time at her husband’s place. She had heard about the downfall of Hartz Industries and that Colin Hartz was missing. Her husband and two sons had accompanied her as well.

"Father, have you heard about Hartz?" Mallory asked as she settled on the sofa and looked at her father. "His wife said he’s missing. We need to help them. Whoever dares hurt our relatives—we should punish them."

Before Mallory could say more, a voice interrupted her.

"Oh, so you’re already here before you were dragged here."

Mallory looked up at the man coming downstairs, holding his wife’s hand.

"Aiden, what kind of way is that to talk to your aunt? Why would you drag me here? This is my home—"

"Just shut that annoying mouth of yours," Justin said, his expression calm, but his tone cold and sharp.

"You—"

"You lost the right to be my aunt the day you conspired with Colin Hartz to kill my parents and their children," Justin said coldly.

Mallory felt a shiver run down her spine, freezing in place. Her husband and sons looked at her in shock.

Aeldric, who had heard it, was once again taken aback. He glared at Mallory. "What is he saying?"

"Have you lost your mind, Aiden?" Mallory shouted as she stood from the sofa. "You’re so greedy to get your hands on the entire wealth alone that now you’re framing me with some nonsense? Why would I kill my own brother and his family?"

"The reason—you know it better. But if you’ve forgotten, just wait a while. You’ll see the mirror," Justin replied. "And as for your tears over Hartz—I was the one who caused his fall, for what he did to my parents. He’s just waiting for death now, which I’m going to give him today. Now think about what’s coming for you."

Mallory swallowed hard and looked at Aeldric—her only hope. "Father, d-don’t trust him. He’s plotting against me to take all this wealth for himself..."

"Shut up!" Aeldric raised his voice and glared at her, his words nearly failing him from the sheer anger he was feeling. "Though we are ruthless and hunt others without mercy, we do hunt our own—our family. You have broken that rule, so you will be punished."

Mallory panicked, "Father, how can you just trust him so easily. I am your daughter and he is...."

"I trust him more than anyone here," Aeldric countered angrily.

"I’ll leave her to you," Justin said to Aeldric. "You better punish your daughter as she deserves—or I’ll have to step in. And you might not like the cruelty I’ll show your daughter."

Now Aeldric fully understood who Justin was—the leader of Obsidian, the most feared and cruel group. They had a reputation for killing their enemies in ways beyond imagination. Their leader was known as the demon from hell.

"Father, I..."

"Take her away," Aeldric instructed the guards. "And keep her in the underground chamber. No food, no water."

Mallory heard it and fell to her knees. She was well aware of the underground chamber—where not even a ray of sunlight reached. The person was locked away until they died, slowly counting their last breaths. She would die miserably in the darkness, never knowing whether it was day or night, or how many days had passed.

She would only be taken out when the guards smelled the stench of her decaying body—and then she’d be buried.

Her husband and children looked at her—helpless and terrified—knowing that no one could go against Aeldric.

Mallory’s husband spoke up, "Father-in-law..."

"Want to join your wife?" Aeldric interrupted him coldly. "I’d be pleased if you accompanied her in death. You can even take your two sons. The whole family can die together—just like how she wanted to kill her brother’s family."

At this, the man and his two sons shut their mouths. She looked at them helplessly, but there was nothing they could do.

The guards dragged her out of the house to take her to the underground chambers.

"Father, I was wrong... Please forgive me... Give me another chance... Please, Father..."

Her pleading voice faded as she was taken away.

Justin held Natalie’s hand and was about to leave when he heard the old man.

Aeldric called out to him. "Are you going to punish him? I want to come as well."

"None of your business," Justin replied coldly. "You failed your son back then, and now you have no rights." And with that, he left.

Aeldric could say nothing—only watch as Justin walked away.

He then looked at Mallory’s husband and sons. "You three—leave this country and never show your faces to me again."

The three felt as if they had just been spared and left immediately. They couldn’t save their mother, no matter what they tried, but they had to save their own lives before Aeldric changed his mind.

It was already surprising that this scary old man even allowed them to leave.

----

Inside the car, Natalie looked at Justin, who appeared serious. He was punishing people related to him by blood—and he had to do it.

She placed her hand over his to comfort him. He looked at her hand, held it in his, and gently kissed it, feeling its softness.

She let him, then asked, "Are you sure what you’re going to do is right?"

"That’s how it’s supposed to be," he replied, then looked at her. "If you were in my mother’s place, what would you have wanted?"

Natalie thought for a while, then hummed, "You’re right."

They soon reached Marina’s home, where Marina had already been informed about what had happened the previous night. She was desperately waiting for them.

Upon arrival, Justin had to inform Marina about Mallory. Though the older woman felt hurt, she knew her daughter had done wrong and deserved to be punished. Having lived in a mafia family, she had long since turned her heart to stone. And after losing Alexander, she had lost even the last shred of softness—knowing how brutally her son had been tortured to death. His lifeless body had told the story, and the pain still lingered in her heart to this day.

"Where is that pig, Colin Hartz?" Marina asked angrily, her voice trembling. "Bring him to me. I’ll kill him with my own hands."

Natalie gently hugged the older woman and said, "Calm down, Grandma. Today, that man will get exactly what you want him to."

The old woman slowly calmed down, just as the sound of cars arriving echoed outside Marina’s residence.

Aaron had arrived, and he saw the scene.

Justin looked at him and said, "Bring him to the rear garden."

Soon, a man was dragged to the rear garden of the residence—where Serena was sitting in her wheelchair, staring ahead blankly.