"I'm going to kill him."
"No, you won't."
Below the stage, George stood watching the "wild boar" who had stolen his precious cabbage. There stood Locke, smiling radiantly in front of twelve trophies, holding hands with Gwen for a commemorative photo.
George's teeth practically ground together. Hearing his wife's retort, he couldn't help but look at Helen. "I have a hundred ways to make him disappear!"
How many years had he been a detective? How many bizarre and diverse homicide cases had passed through his hands? Countless!
If he were to set aside his principles, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that if he wanted someone to vanish without a trace, he had a hundred ways to do it.
George sneered. "I could make this wild boar roll far out of our world tonight."
Helen leaned back in her chair, a beaming smile on her face as she watched the daughter she was so proud of—and the son-in-law who was essentially a done deal. She glanced at George. "You won't, because you love your daughter."
George froze.
"Think about it," Helen continued. "If Locke went missing now, would Gwen be sad? Would she be heartbroken? Could you bear to see your daughter like that?"
A fatal blow. For any daughter-slave father, Helen's words were lethal. Seeing George's expression, she let out a soft laugh.
She had always thought Locke was quite good. Especially after the Poseidon incident, Helen felt that if Locke and Gwen walked through life together, Gwen would be very happy. Every mother wants her daughter to be happy, and Helen was no exception. She didn't mind Gwen having a romance in the most beautiful years of her life.
As for George? It was just the typical stubbornness of an old father.
...
On stage, after the photos ended, the team moved through the back exit into a small corridor.
Kahn let out a loud roar. "Finally liberated!"
Throughout this month of high-intensity revision, there were several times Kahn felt he wouldn't make it, only to miraculously snap back to life like he'd been injected with adrenaline. It was the definition of "painful but happy."
And now? The dust had settled. They had achieved a Grand Slam. It wasn't just a mission accomplished; it was a thousand-percent over-delivery.
Kahn vented his energy with another shout, then turned to Locke and Matt. "Tonight, how about we hit an Under-21 club?"
Under-21 clubs had first become popular in Hollywood because of the rising number of young stars who weren't yet twenty-one. To tap into that market, alcohol-free clubs were born. They were exactly like normal clubs, minus the booze.
Cindy's eyes lit up as she looked at Gwen. "Yeah, Gwen! We won, let's go have some fun."
She and Kahn went almost every weekend. In the US, being a law-abiding twenty-one-year-old was actually quite boring. For people who were naturally fun-loving but wanted to follow the rules, options were limited. That was why they were obsessed with parties and balls.
Locke and Gwen had gone with them once or twice, but Locke had lost interest the moment he realized how "proper" and law-abiding they were.
Who has the time to go to a 'proper' club?
"I'm not going," Locke shook his head without hesitation. "Find me an 'improper' Under-21 club, and then I'll go."
Kahn was about to reply when a voice drifted from nearby.
"I'd also like to know where an 'improper' Under-21 club is on Manhattan Island. Count me in; I'd like to see it for myself."
"..."
Kahn froze. Cindy quickly pulled his arm, plastered on a smile, and greeted George as he approached. Then, giving Locke a "good luck, you're on your own" look, she and Kahn grabbed a dazed Matt and bolted.
"Dad?"
Gwen gave Locke a speechless roll of the eyes. Meeting Helen's smiling gaze, she turned to the unreadable George to explain on Locke's behalf. "Dad, you know Locke didn't mean it like that. He was just complaining that if a club is called a 'bar,' it shouldn't be dry."
Locke greeted Helen with natural ease.
George's brow twitched. 'Where is my gun?'
Good grief. This wild boar seemed quite arrogant after winning the championship. Was he treating George like thin air? Or did this boar think he already had the cabbage in the bag?
George had a momentary sense of déjà vu. Wait. The Peerless Assassin had treated him like air, too.
Helen spoke up, her face bright with a mother-in-law's warmth. "The competition was brilliant, and the result was amazing. This competition has been running for nineteen years, Locke. Congratulations—you're the first to take twelve trophies."
Locke was the picture of politeness. "Thank you."
He glanced at George from the corner of his eye. Why hadn't he greeted George directly? Simple. George clearly came with ill intent. If Locke greeted him first, he'd be on the defensive.
Locke was most comfortable in "away games"—he knew how to turn a hostile environment into a home-field advantage. Most of his assassination missions, if not all, were "away games."
Besides, his relationship with Gwen was essentially common knowledge and tacitly permitted. George was only grumpy because he wasn't used to his "little silk bird" being taken away. Once Locke was under George's nose enough times, George would eventually accept the new reality: Gwen wasn't his little girl anymore.
Locke was grateful George had raised Gwen so excellently. When he eventually married her, he'd give George a massive red envelope. Honestly, the bride price had already been paid—George was only a Chief Inspector because of that textile mill account book Locke had provided.
Locke smiled at George. "Mr. Stacy, today is worth celebrating. I'm planning to take Gwen to dinner at Chester's. Would you like to join us and help us celebrate?"
George's brow twitched violently. 'Chester's? Why don't you say the full name?'
Chester's Valentine Restaurant! This wild boar was doing a "face-to-face output" of pure disrespect.
George coughed and ignored Locke, looking directly at his daughter. "Gwen, your mom bought that Texas steak you like today. And the hot cocoa is ready. You won the championship; Mom said she wants to celebrate properly at home."
George threw a provocative glance at Locke.
Locke kept smiling.
Gwen, hearing George's words, lit up. "Really?" She hugged Locke's arm. "Then tell Mr. Chester we'll go tomorrow. Let's celebrate at home."
"Okay," Locke nodded.
George's brow wasn't just twitching now; he was vibrating.
Gwen turned back to George. "Dad, you have no idea. The 'nutritional meals' we've eaten these past three days... the taste was just... wow." They weren't bad, exactly, but they were designed for fuel, not flavor.
Locke laughed. "It's finally over. For a second, I thought it would last twelve days."
"Over?" Gwen teased. "This is just the beginning."
Locke looked at her curiously.
"Don't forget, the real battle is just starting," Gwen said. "You joined the competition to build momentum for the Student Council presidency. Don't lose sight of the goal. Tomorrow, Betty scheduled us to work on the campaign publicity plan."
Locke opened his mouth. Who's losing sight of what? I remember joining the election just to get into the competition! The competition was the goal; the election was the byproduct.
He chuckled and looked at Gwen with absolute confidence. "I like winning. And I intend to keep winning."
Gwen met his gaze, her smile radiant. "Do you know what I like most about you?"
George, standing right there, was losing his mind. 'Hey! Hello! I'm standing right here!'
Helen noticed George's "restless leg syndrome" and tugged his sleeve. "Don't speak." She looked at the pair with the gaze of a satisfied mother-in-law. Their state of mind was clearly "lost in each other."
Locke's lips curled up. He looked at her soft lips and said clearly, "My confidence?"
Gwen shook her head. "You could say that. But what I really like is your blind confidence!"
Locke smirked. Then... he leaned down toward those soft lips.
Usually, there is only "zero" or "countless." After the first public display of affection, the second one came naturally when the passion hit.
But just as their lips were about to touch—
"COUGH! COUGH COUGH!"
George broke into a series of violent, exaggerated coughs.
His heart... was cracked wide open!!!
***
Bonus for 100 stones.
200 goal next, thanks for support 🙏
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Read 30 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666