Thora's eyes shifted, and she smiled just a little. She turned and saw Marlon approaching with a cane. His steps were slow but deliberate, each one grounded with quiet authority. He had shown up after all. Two days ago, Thora had visited him in the hospital again. He showed no signs of waking, but his brain-wave monitor remained stable. It indicated his brain stem was active; Marlon wasn't in immediate danger. Thora leaned close and whispered, "I hope you wake up before I leave." Otherwise, Thora would have no choice but to find someone with healing or regeneration abilities, though she wasn't even sure such people existed in this timeline. But when she was ready to leave, she caught a tiny ripple on the brain-wave monitor. Her eyes narrowed on the monitor. She had a rough speculation, but with Marlon still lying motionless, she didn't say a word and walked out. With him standing tall in front of everyone, Thora knew her guess had been right. Marlon had already woken up. She just didn't know how he did it. Everyone else was dumbstruck by his presence. "Dad?" Norman's voice cracked with disbelief. Laurel looked like her nightmare just turned into reality, her face twisted with fear. How did this happen? Wasn't this old fart supposed to be a vegetable lying in the hospital? Why was he standing here? And he looked perfectly fine, nothing like someone who just got out of a hospital bed. Marlon walked straight toward Thora."Mr. Green." Those who had been quietly observing quickly greeted him with respect. But Marlon didn't even look at them. He went straight to Laurel, whose legs had already gone weak. "You wanted evidence, didn't you?" Marlon said coldly. "I am the evidence. I was dying because of you. And I never signed any document changing the inheritance." Then he raised his voice, firm and sharp, "Thora!" Thora answered, "Grandpa." "Laurel tried to murder the original Luna, and then she tried to kill the Alpha and the general of the empire. She also forged the succession decree. Handle it as the law allows." His statement confirmed everything Thora had said earlier. In front of everyone, it became a death sentence for Laurel. Thora's voice held no emotion. "Under the Empire's law, execution on the spot." Before Thora could even lift her gun, Norman slapped Laurel hard across the face. "Dad almost died because of you!?" "Norman, I didn't mean to! Please believe me! I did it for the family and the pack! Don't let them hurt me. Our son is still so little. He needs his mother." Laurel cried and crawled forward, trying to grab Norman's leg. But before she could reach him, Norman kicked her away. "You still have the nerve to beg me!?" The commotion finally reached the backstage. A maid hurried in, carrying little Alfie, who had just woken up and was crying for his mom. The moment Alfie saw Laurel lying on the floor, he burst into loud wails. Laurel panicked like she'd just grabbed her only lifeline. She scrambled over and wrapped her arms around him. "Marlon! Norman! Alfie's a Green too! And Hazel! They can't grow up without a mother! Look at Alfie, he's only one!" Laurel cried desperately. Alfie kept sobbing. His pitiful sobs tugged at everyone's heart. Even Norman's stern expression softened. "Dad, what she did was wrong, but Alfie is still a baby." "When my mother died, Felix was younger than this boy." Thora's cold voice cut him off. Norman froze. There was nothing he could say. It was true. When Diane died, Felix had been even younger than Alfie, and Thora wasn't even two. And back then, Norman couldn't wait. He had rushed to bring a new mate home. Marlon took a long breath, lifted his cane, and brought it down on Norman with a sharp crack. "You fool! What's going on in that thick head of yours?! All you ever see is that woman! Are Thora and Felix not your children?! "You had a perfectly good mate, and you still wandered around looking for other women! You brought her into our home! If it weren't for you, this family wouldn't be in this mess!" He hit him again. "If Thora hadn't been sharp enough, would you still be stumbling around in the dark? Allow this woman to manipulate you? She even tried to tamper with the succession decree! Were you planning to let her destroy the pack too?!" "Dad!" Norman tried to explain, but another blow stopped him. "Do you really want me dead before you'll wake up?!" Marlon yelled. Norman froze at that, panic flickering through him. "Dad, no—I didn't—" Thora watched the scene without emotion. Norman curled up, covering his head as Marlon struck him, and she couldn't help finding it ironic. Human nature truly was complicated.Norman could be cold, selfish, and even murderous toward his daughter. But to his father, he showed perfect respect. He wasn't a good man. In fact, he was the kind of man people would call a disgrace. Yet as a soldier, he had stayed loyal to the empire. He had never betrayed it. Did he deserve to die? He had indirectly caused Diane's death. He had allowed Laurel to plot against Marlon. His sins were unforgivable. But in Thora's eyes, he still hadn't crossed the line that was punishable by death. Everything that happened came from his stupidity, pride, jealousy, and weakness. Thora's combat boots clicked against the floor as she stepped forward, stopping in front of Laurel. Laurel knew then—no one could save her. "Thora," she pleaded, her voice shaking, "I raised you and Felix all these years. Please let me go. Look at your little brother; he's too young to lose his mother." Even with all the hatred in her heart, begging was all she had left. Thora stared down at her, expression blank, her eyes steady. She had kept Laurel alive only to find the people behind her. But now she didn't need her anymore. The item those people wanted was with Thora now. And they would come looking for her sooner or later. Thora leaned down and lifted Alfie out of Laurel's arms with one hand. Laurel screamed, her voice breaking. "Why are you taking my son?! Give him back! Give him back to me!" Without the child to hide behind, her panic hit like a storm. Her body trembled. She was in such fear that she could barely form words. Thora looked at her calmly. She simply turned the silver pistol in her hand, the metal glinting under the lights, and raised it to Laurel's forehead. She didn't hesitate. "I told you, murder must be paid for."The moment the words left her mouth—Bang! The sound of the bullet tearing through flesh echoed across the hall, cold and final.