Chapter 11

Emilia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! Don't worry, Derek. No one walks into the Thornfell estate and causes chaos without consequences. He'll be punished." With her anger boiling over, she stormed toward Donald.

"Mr. Winston, what is this?" she snapped, pointing at Jaden. "This is the explanation you went to ask for? Supporting your daughter while she hooks up with another man-in front of my nephew? I don't expect you to be this shameless!"

Donald's expression hardened.

He'd tolerated Emilia's condescension long enough. But now, she was crossing the line. No one insulted his daughter in front of him—no matter what. Even if he's family is facing some financial challenges they're still part of the seven elites of Ravenmoor, he wouldn't tolerate anyone speaking to him in this manner.

"That's enough out of you," he snapped. "Don't you dare speak about my daughter like that."

Emilia blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Donald said coldly. "You don't get to stand here and call my daughter a 'hookup' just because your precious nephew got jealous."

Emilia's face twisted. "You ungrateful bastard. I trusted you! And this is what I get? Betrayal? Letting your daughter whore herself around in public?"

"Watch your mouth. The Winston's are still part of the elites of this city!"

"No-I won't, elites my foot, we all know your family is crumbling at the moment and you only gave out your daughter because you needed help from the Thornfells." she spat. "You raised a disgrace. If we hadn't found out now, my nephew would've ended up marrying public property!"

Donald bowed his head in shame, there was an atom of truth in what she was saying.

Hannah gasped. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm calling off the engagement immediately," Emilia continued. "And since we already paid off half your debt as part of the bride price, I expect you to return it tenfold. If not, my brother-in-law will make sure you pay with more than just money."

Hannah's voice cracked. "How can you say that about me? How could you humiliate me like this?"

Emilia's eyes blazed. "Shut your mouth, you little whore. Both of you-kneel and apologize to Derek. Or I swear, I'll make sure you regret ever showing your face here."

She pointed directly at them.

Jaden took a single step forward, eyes like steel. "And how exactly do you plan to make us kneel?"

His voice was calm. Too calm.

"You've crossed a line, boy," Emilia growled. "You're going to regret every word."

She turned sharply. "Kael!"

The room fell into a chilling silence.

An older man descended the stairs slowly. He wore a dark blue robe, his hands

folded behind his back, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, President Emilia?" he asked, his voice smooth and quiet.

As soon as Hannah saw him, her breath hitched. Her entire body tensed.

"M-Master Kael..." she whispered, voice shaking. "He's here."

Her hands trembled as she grabbed Jaden's arm. "Jaden, please... it's him. The Reaper. He's Lucian Thornfell's top enforcer. He's done unthinkable things. If we defy him, we won't get a second chance."

She tried to pull Jaden back, her voice barely a whisper. "Please... just kneel. Apologize. We won't survive otherwise."

As Kael stepped into the hall, his very presence silenced the murmurs, dread settling over the room like a stormcloud.

Emilia didn't waste a second. Her voice rang with venom. "I don't want him dead quickly, Kael. Drag it out. Break every bone in his body. I want him to beg before he dies."

Derek chimed in, pointing furiously at Jaden. "He dared to steal my fiancée right in front of me! This is the most humiliating day of my life-kill him, Kael! Tear him apart!"

Still bleeding and limping, Dusk leaned on two guards, his robes stained red. Yet the sight of Kael brought a sneer to his face. "Master Kael... finally. Justice has arrived. I knew pretending to be dead would pay off. Now that you're here, I can breathe easy. He won't last a minute against you."

Kael didn't step closer. He didn't need to. His voice was cold, emotionless, carrying across the hall like the toll of a bell.

"Young man," he said, hands still behind his back, "you've offended the wrong people. You have five seconds to kneel or die."

"Five seconds?" Emilia hissed. "He's giving him an option? I told you to kill him, not preach to him! What is this mercy?"

But even in her rage, Emilia knew better. Kael wasn't her lapdog. He was Lucian Thornfell's blade and she was just a relative by marriage. She bit down her fury and watched, seething. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Fɪnd-Novel.net

Derek saw her hesitation and stepped forward, puffed up with false courage. "You hear that? You're lucky Master Kael is being generous. But make no mistake— you're already finished."

Then he spun on Hannah, voice dripping with spite. "And you-shameless wench. You dare flirt with this trash in my presence? You'll regret ever disrespecting me!"

Hannah shrank back, trembling but defiant. "I never loved you, Derek! Leave me alone!"

"You what?!" Derek's eyes widened in rage. He lunged at her, hand raised high-

SLAP!

But it wasn't his hand that struck.

Jaden's palm cracked across Derek's face like a whip, sending him flying to the marble floor. The hall gasped.

Jaden didn't flinch. His voice remained flat. "Where's the music box I told you to bring?"

Derek let out a pained howl, clutching his cheek. "Y-you still have the nerve to ask about that damned thing-in front of Master Kael? Kill him! Master Kael, kill this bastard now!"

And Kael moved.

Gasps echoed across the hall as the feared enforcer surged forward.

"This fool's dead!" someone whispered.

"No one survives the Reaper," another muttered.

"Arrogant to the end... asking for a music box? In front of Kael?"

Dusk pumped his fist weakly, eyes wild. "Yes! He's finished now. He may have

beaten me but Kael is in a league of his own."

Emilia's eyes gleamed. “End him!" she barked.

Derek, still on the floor, sneered through swollen lips. "I'll make him grovel once

Kael's done. He'll crawl like a dog at my feet."

Kael's fist lit up with swirling energy-raw destruction in motion-as he charged. But then he stopped.

His eyes caught something.

A golden insignia plate gleamed faintly on Jaden's shoulder.

Kael's pupils shrank. His steps faltered. His fist lowered.

That plate... no one else bore it.

Only one man was ever given that insignia.

The King of War.

Kael's voice dropped, barely audible. "That... that can't be... Who are you?"