When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 106: Unraveling secrets

Chapter 106: Unraveling secrets

As Cain strode out of the warehouse, Marlo remained behind, his shoulders sagging under the weight of Cain’s threats. Samuel watched, his heart pounding, as Marlo seemed to gather himself before slowly making his way toward the exit.

The moment Marlo stepped outside, Samuel slipped out of the shadows. "Marlo," he called, his voice firm yet quiet.

Marlo froze, whipping around with wide eyes. "You—you are S-Samuel? What are you doing here?"

"Saving you from making a mistake you’ll regret," Samuel replied, stepping closer. "Whatever Cain has over you, tell me, and I can help you."

Marlo swallowed hard, glancing nervously around as if expecting Cain to appear out of thin air. "It’s... it’s complicated. Cain has... he has things on me, things that could ruin me. I didn’t have a choice."

Samuel’s gaze softened, his resolve only strengthening. "You always have a choice. I’ll help you, Marlo. But you have to trust me."

Marlo hesitated, his face a mixture of relief and fear. "Samuel... if he finds out I talked to you—"

"I’ll handle Cain," Samuel said, a determined glint in his eyes. "You just tell me what I need to know."

With a deep breath, Marlo nodded, finally breaking under the weight of his secret. He started to speak, his voice trembling. "It all started last year when my parents had a car accident abroad. They didn’t die right away, but they were in the hospital for a long time. My parents needed immediate surgery, and our family had gone bankrupt after my grandparents died. I was desperate for money."

Marlo’s hands trembled as he recounted his story. "That’s when I met Walter Cain. He was looking for someone who could perform plastic surgery to make someone look like another person. I happened to have that skill, and I made a deal with him. I thought he would help with my parents’ medical bills."

Samuel listened intently, his heart aching for Marlo. "But you didn’t have a license for that?"

"No," Marlo admitted, shaking his head. "I had never completed my training, but I was known for my skill when I was studying. Cain accepted the deal anyway because he was desperate for someone like me."

Samuel leaned in closer, his brow furrowed in concern. "What was the deal with Cain? What did he want from you?"

Timmy stood nearby, scanning the area for any sign of danger as he listened closely. Although Samuel had a good idea of what Cain wanted, he needed to hear the truth from Marlo.

Marlo took a shaky breath, glancing around nervously. "He wanted me to operate on someone to make him look like James Lucas. That’s why I practiced on myself first—to look like him."

Samuel’s heart raced at the mention of James. "What happened after that?"

"I tried several surgeries on a man who looked somewhat similar to James," Marlo continued, his voice growing more confident as he spoke. "It was almost successful. Cain wanted me to bring him tomorrow, but I’m hesitant. I know what he’s really up to after seeing the news about James’s return."

"What do you mean?" Samuel pressed, his mind racing.

Marlo clenched his fists, frustration evident on his face. "I don’t want to be part of this mess, but I can’t get out of it. He threatened me, saying he would put the blame on me if I tried to escape. All of our transactions were done in secret, and if this surgery fails, he’ll ruin me. He’ll tell everyone I performed surgery without a license, and that would end my career."

Timmy frowned as he processed Marlo’s words. "No wonder my men couldn’t find any pictures of you from your childhood. The only photos we have are recent ones where you look like James. Did Cain do something to you?"

"Yes," Marlo replied, his voice heavy with dread. "He’s well-connected and managed to erase all traces of my previous appearance. He made it seem like I also look like James, just to remove any loose ends. He’s afraid of what might happen if anyone finds out the truth."

Samuel exchanged a worried glance with Timmy. The implications of Marlo’s situation were staggering. "Where is the man you operated on to look like James?" Samuel asked, his voice steady.

Marlo shifted uncomfortably. "I tried to get away from Cain after I did the surgery. The man I operated on was scared of him too, and we attempted to flee together. But unfortunately, Cain found me first."

Timmy interjected, frustration creeping into his tone. "Of course, he would find you. You fled to your grandparents’ house; it would have been easy for him to track you down."

"But that place was owned by the government now," Marlo insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. "It’s no longer in my family’s name. They left it abandoned, and it was the only place I thought I could hide."

"Why did you think that?" Samuel asked, his curiosity piqued.

Marlo looked down, gathering his thoughts. "That place actually has an underground floor that’s unknown to the public. That’s where the man I operated on is hiding. Cain wants me to bring him tomorrow night. I came up to the ground floor that night you guys arrived to take a breather, and that’s when you caught me off guard. I usually stay underground to stay hidden. I didn’t expect anyone to come to that private island."

The tension hung thick in the air as Samuel processed everything Marlo had said. He knew they had to act quickly to help him and the man who was hiding.

"Go along with Cain’s plan," Samuel said firmly, locking eyes with Marlo. "Just do what he wants for now. We’ll figure things out when the time is right."

Marlo’s brow knitted together in confusion. "How? What do you want me to do?"

"Just follow his instructions," Samuel replied, his tone steady. "That’ll keep you and the guy safe for now. We’ll take care of the rest. And whatever you do, don’t let Cain know about this conversation. Keep it under wraps. I promise I’ll help you get out of this."

Marlo swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of Samuel’s words. "I will trust you," he said, his voice wavering but resolute.