Chapter 179 Investigation
Marvin and Renee walked into the surveillance room, and the staff
immediately straightened up, knowing Marvin was there. The footage they showed was odd, though–Ryland had been seen stepping out of the elevator, but then the screen went black. After a moment, everything snapped back to normal, and soon it showed Marvin and Renee stepped
into the room.
Now the real mystery lay in what happened after the blackout.
“Someone deliberately sabotaged the camera,” Marvin said, his tone sharp
as a tack.
The staff member shuffled nervously. “W–we can’t be sure about that.”
“You’re in charge of the security work! How did you not notice such a long blackout?” Marvin’s voice cut through the room like a knife.
Renee had seen this coming. She was only here to make sure no vital clues had slipped through the cracks.
“We’re done here,” she said, her voice cold as ice.
Marvin, ever the shadow, followed her as she strode toward the elevator. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Where are we headed now?”
“To find answers.”
Before the elevator could start its ascent, the doors were hastily forced
open.
It was the grieving couple, the ones who had just lost their daughter.
But their faces didn’t hold the sorrow and pain one might expect. Instead, they wore expressions twisted by something much darker–anger, perhaps.
The woman snapped, “I told you I should’ve handled it! But you never listen. Look at how generous they were! They offered us a huge sum right up front. If we had just negotiated, they would’ve given us more! But no, you’re useless. You couldn’t even bargain properly.”
The man, equally furious, shot back. “Yeah, and you’re not useless at all, huh? What about when they had a knife in our faces? What’s more important–your life or the cash? You stupid woman! And when we get home, you’d better hand over half the money, or else!”
As the elevator doors slid open on the third floor, Renee stepped out, unaffected.
Behind her, the couple continued to argue about when and how to split the settlement money, their voices growing more bitter with each passing
second.
“Unbelievable! Their daughter just died, and they’re still squabbling over money like it’s a game.” Marvin clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Renee remained quiet, lost in thought. She had seen the worst of human nature play out before. When Johnny passed away, the Carter family had clawed at his inheritance like vultures, tearing away any illusion of dignity
they once had.
Marvin exhaled sharply. “Their daughter would be devastated if she ever found out what kind of people her parents really are. Don’t you think?”
Renee, scanning the area, replied with a faint smirk, “Hardly.”
Marvin raised a brow. “Why not?”
“Because she had long since seen through them. Years of letdowns had likely chipped away at any illusions, leaving nothing but quiet acceptance. She wouldn’t be heartbroken—just resigned to the disappointment.” –
A strange feeling crawled up Renee’s spine. Something was off.
When they reviewed the surveillance footage, each room on the third floor
had a waiter stationed outside. But now, the hallway stood eerily empty.
“Where are the staff members?” Renee straightened slightly, her eyes
narrowing.
Marvin blinked. “What staff members?”
Renee crossed her arms. “When we checked the surveillance footage, there was a staff member stationed outside every room on the third floor. Now, not a single one is in sight.”
Marvin’s brows furrowed. A beat passed before realization struck. “You’re right.” He snapped his fingers. “I’ll make a call and find out what’s going on.”
Renee arched a brow. “Who exactly are you calling?”
“The manager, of course. I wouldn’t bother Uncle Shaun over something
this small.”
Moments later, Marvin hung up, his expression unreadable. “Apparently,
their shift is over,” he muttered.
Renee scoffed, seeing right through the flimsy excuse. It was obvious- those people had been deliberately reassigned elsewhere.
Marvin frowned, the pieces clicking into place. His tone was more cautious now. “Maybe… I should ask my uncle after all?”
