Chapter 198 — Nando's Shift in Attitude
After hearing that Liam might be unattended, Fiona didn't hesitate. She quickly briefed the diner staff, jumped into William's car, and rushed straight back to 2119.
Inside the house—
The moment she stepped in, she saw Frank and Monica sprawled across the living room, completely out of it.
Their half-dead, drugged state didn't stir anything in her.
No anger. No panic.
Maybe she was numb.
Maybe she had simply… given up.
At this point, she didn't even care whether they lived or died.
If anything, their deaths might make her life easier.
Ignoring them entirely, Fiona bolted upstairs. She found Liam in Debbie's room—alive, unharmed, aside from a dirty diaper.
Only then did she finally breathe.
Relief came—
Followed immediately by rage.
If those two downstairs had even a shred of parental responsibility, this wouldn't have happened.
Clenching her teeth, she picked Liam up, changed him, then stormed back downstairs. On the way, she grabbed a baseball bat hanging on the wall.
Her anger had reached its limit.
Back in the living room—
Frank and Monica were still barely conscious, drifting on the edge of overdose.
Fiona stood there for a moment… then shouted:
"FRANK! MONICA!"
No response.
She inhaled sharply—
BANG!
The bat slammed hard into the coffee table.
The explosive noise startled both of them, but even then, they remained dazed, barely aware.
That was the breaking point.
Fiona's eyes reddened as tears threatened to spill.
She didn't know what to do anymore.
At the doorway, William watched the scene unfold, almost amused by her despair.
He walked over, slipping an arm around her waist.
"How do you want to handle them? I can help."
Fiona lowered the bat slowly.
"…Forget it. I don't want to deal with them anymore. Call the police."
Her voice was hollow.
This family—
It felt like chains wrapped around her, dragging her down, keeping her from ever living like a normal person.
William raised an eyebrow, phone already in hand.
"Are you sure? They're still the legal guardians. If they get arrested, Child Protective Services might take Carl, Liam, and Debbie into foster care."
He wasn't bluffing.
In fact, part of him was curious to see how far things would go.
As expected—
Fiona hesitated.
The moment her siblings were involved, she froze.
She looked at William helplessly, completely lost.
Seeing her unable to decide, William lost interest.
"Fiona… this is your decision. I can't make it for you."
His tone softened.
Fiona nodded.
That was one of the reasons she trusted him—he always seemed to respect her choices, never forcing decisions on her.
What she didn't realize…
Was that William simply couldn't be bothered.
If he wanted, there were dozens of ways to deal with Frank and Monica—calling in Nando, local gangs, anything.
But for now?
It was more entertaining to let things play out.
"I'll just… take Liam with me. Thanks."
Fiona stepped forward, hugged him, and kissed his cheek.
William shook his head lightly. "It's nothing."
She went to wash her face, then left with Liam in her arms.
After dropping her back at the South Side diner, William drove off—
Toward Estefania's apartment.
Downstairs, a Cadillac was already parked.
Inside sat Ado.
The moment he saw William, he greeted him—polite, even a little cautious.
After learning what William was capable of…
Ado no longer dared treat him casually.
And he wasn't the only one.
Even Nando had started to rethink his attitude.
Seeing Ado, William gave a small nod before heading into the apartment building.
He walked up to Estefania's door and knocked.
A moment later, it opened.
Standing there was Steve.
"Hey… come in."
Ever since learning what William was capable of, Steve had become noticeably uneasy around him.
It wasn't just caution—it was fear.
In his eyes, William was now even more terrifying than Nando.
Especially because he always carried that harmless, almost gentle demeanor—it made it impossible to imagine how dangerous he could be when serious.
Once inside—
William saw Nando and Estefania seated on the couch.
The moment Nando noticed him, he stood up instinctively.
"Mr. William, good to see you."
He stepped forward and extended his hand.
William shook it casually.
"Mr. Nando. I hear you've prepared the remaining payment. How was the shipment—did it meet your expectations?"
He spoke lightly, as if discussing something entirely ordinary.
Nando studied him, inwardly shaken.
But as a seasoned Brazilian drug lord, he kept his composure.
He smiled.
"Very much so. The shipment was… excellent. My men and I are extremely satisfied."
Then his expression shifted. Turning to Steve, he said:
"Steve. Bring it."
Moments later, Steve returned with a black briefcase and handed it over.
Nando opened it, then rotated it slightly for William to see.
"Here's the payment. Feel free to count it."
William glanced inside.
Stacks of worn $100 bills.
Money like this would take quite some time to clean through a place like the South Side diner.
But to him?
It didn't matter.
He wasn't expanding operations anytime soon—and he wasn't short on cash either.
So he simply closed the case.
"I trust you, Mr. Nando. No need to count."
Then, with the same calm tone:
"If you need more firearms in the future, you know how to reach me."
He paused, then added casually—
"Oh, and I've been expanding lately. Tanks, military vehicles… that sort of thing. If you're interested."
That sentence—
Made everyone in the room, except Estefania and William, stiffen.
They had already overestimated him.
And still, they were wrong.
Nando felt a chill run down his spine.
Even so, he kept his posture humble.
"…Not at the moment. But if that changes, you'll be the first person I contact, Mr. William."
This time, his tone carried unmistakable restraint.
Because at this point—
Selling tanks no longer sounded absurd coming from William.
It sounded… completely plausible.
(KEEP SUPPORTING THIS SADISTIC BASTARD)
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