Chapter 2: The Return
That morning, the atmosphere at Villa Winston was still peaceful when a knock sounded at the front door.
Knock... knock... knock...
“Good morning.”
Gennifer, who was in the living room, immediately froze.
That voice was far too familiar.
Her heart began beating faster. Without waiting for the servant to open the door, she ran toward the source of the voice.
When the door opened, her eyes widened.
“Marvin?”
The man standing before her offered a faint smile.
Gennifer covered her mouth with both hands. For a moment, she even thought she was dreaming.
“Marvin... how are you here?”
“I’ve been released.”
Tears immediately welled in Gennifer’s eyes.
For the past year, she had been the only member of the Winston family to stand by Marvin. Every weekend, she came to visit her husband, regardless of what her family said.
Time and time again, they had pressured her to file for divorce.
And time and time again, she had refused.
Because from the very beginning, she had never believed Marvin was guilty.
“You’re really home?”
Marvin nodded.
A radiant smile immediately spread across Gennifer’s face.
“Come inside.”
Marvin stepped into the villa that had once felt so familiar to him. Yet for some reason, the atmosphere felt different today.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
Before long, the entire family began to gather.
Derick Winston, who had been reading the newspaper, immediately rose from his chair.
“Marvin?”
His voice was filled with shock.
“How did you get out?”
“I was released, Dad.”
“Released?”
Marvin nodded calmly.
“The court ruled that the MR-25 research wasn’t a weapon. The charges against me weren’t proven.”
But instead of looking relieved, Derick’s expression grew even darker.
“What difference does that make?”
Marvin frowned.
Derick slammed his newspaper down.
“The entire country already knows about your case. Our family’s name was dragged into it too. Do you think everything can go back to the way it was just because the court changed its ruling?”
The atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Gennifer looked uncomfortable.
Marvin drew a deep breath before answering.
“Dad, I never committed any crime.”
“I don’t care!”
Derick’s shout plunged the room into silence.
“All I know is that our family business suffered because of you throughout the past year.”
That was when Elena appeared from upstairs.
The moment she saw Marvin, her expression changed.
“What is he doing here?”
“Mom...” Gennifer said softly.
Elena completely ignored her daughter.
Her gaze was fixed entirely on Marvin.
Once, she had been incredibly proud to have a son-in-law like Marvin. Almost every time she met her friends, she praised Marvin’s intelligence and achievements.
But all of that changed after the case exploded.
Now, all that remained was disappointment.
“You shouldn’t have come here.”
Her words were cold.
Marvin remained seated calmly.
“I came to see my family.”
“Elena’s right,” Derick added. “Your coming here will only create new problems.”
Gennifer immediately stood up.
“Dad, Mom, you’re going too far.”
“We’re going too far?”
Derick glared sharply at his daughter.
“For the past year, we’ve tried to open your eyes, but you refused to listen.”
“I believe in my husband.”
“You’re too naive.”
Gennifer bit her lip.
“You used to believe in him too, Dad.”
Derick fell silent for a moment.
“I believed he would bring great change to this family. But the reality turned out differently.”
“Because he was framed!”
“What proof do you have?”
“The court already proved it!”
The tension in the room continued to rise.
Marvin, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.
“Dad, Mom, I didn’t come here to argue.”
“Then why did you come?”
Marvin looked at them one by one.
“I want to fix everything.”
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Derick let out a quiet laugh.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of warmth in it.
“Fix everything?”
He shook his head.
“Marvin, even your own family is struggling to keep its business afloat.”
The words struck like a blow.
Yet Marvin showed no reaction.
Derick continued.
“Rock Electra is being pressured from every direction. Everyone knows that.”
“Dad...” Gennifer protested.
“Let me talk!”
Derick turned his gaze back to Marvin.
“You’re no longer in the same position you were in a year ago.”
“I know.”
“Then you should also know that no one is placing their hopes in you anymore.”
Marvin remained calm.
“You’re entitled to think that.”
“Because that’s the reality.”
Marvin offered a faint smile.
“I’ll prove you wrong, Dad.”
Derick snorted derisively at those words.
Elena merely shook her head.
“Still as stubborn as ever.”
But before the conversation could continue, sudden applause rang out from the second floor.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Everyone turned around.
Russel Winston was standing on the stairs with a broad smile on his face.
“Wonderful.”
He slowly walked downstairs.
“I just woke up, and I’m already being treated to such a touching speech.”
His gaze immediately settled on Marvin.
“Welcome back, brother-in-law.”
His tone sounded friendly.
But everyone could feel the mockery hidden beneath it.
Russel stopped a few steps away from Marvin.
Then he smiled.
“So you really did manage to get out.”
Marvin stared at him expressionlessly.
“I was never guilty.”
“Really?”
Russel chuckled.
“Then the entire country must have misunderstood you.”
Gennifer immediately frowned.
“Russel.”
“What? I’m just joking.”
Russel raised both hands.
But his gaze remained filled with contempt.
“I’m just curious.”
He leaned slightly forward.
“What was it like living in prison for a year?”
The room fell silent again.
The smile on Russel’s face grew wider.
“Because honestly, I never imagined that the man everyone once considered a genius would end up like that.”
He paused for a moment.
Then he continued in a sharper tone.
“And now, after everything has fallen apart, you still come here carrying the same old dream.”
Russel laughed softly.
“Marvin, you really don’t know when to give up.”