Chapter 504

The villa stood before them, an unassuming façade tucked away in an affluent neighborhood where each residence was worth a small fortune. Despite its prime location, the house bore an air of neglect, as if rarely inhabited.

Debra raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have pegged this as your style.”

Andrew coughed lightly, his face pale. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door.

“This isn’t my house.”

“If it’s not yours, why do you have the key?”

“A friend entrusted it to me.”

There were very few people in Seamar City whom Andrew considered friends. Debra immediately thought of Marion.

The interior was a stark contrast to the exterior, elegantly appointed with a taste that hinted at a bygone era. It was impeccably maintained, as if someone regularly cared for it. Andrew noticed her puzzled expression and offered an explanation.

“I have someone come in to clean periodically. It hasn’t changed much over the years.”

“Is this where Marion used to live?”

Marion had never mentioned it, though he had hinted at something on the cruise.

Andrew gestured for her to sit on the sofa. Above the mantel, a wedding photo caught her eye. A pregnant woman with a gentle face stood beside Dwayne, the late heir to the Houston family.

“This place…”

“This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Houston,” Andrew explained, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. He was little back then, so he didn’t remember much. But he knew how much the couple loved each other. They were unlike the fake couples in business circles; the affection in Dwayne Houston’s gaze was too intense to be feigned.

“The Houston family’s roots were initially in the military, dating back to the previous generation of Caleb. Later, as the country stabilized, they gradually withdrew from the power center and moved to Seamar City to start a business, becoming the renowned clan of today.”

“But why did Marion suffer overseas as a child? Why didn’t they bring him back? They had enough eyes and ears to find him.”

Given the Houston family’s power, finding Marion shouldn’t have been difficult.

“Mr. and Mrs. Houston died in a car accident. A carefully orchestrated one. Realize anything?”

“A car accident?”

Debra’s heart skipped a beat. Her parents had also died in a car accident. A chill ran down her spine.

“What are you trying to say, Andrew?”