The monster outbreak of five years ago had been a defining and catastrophic moment for countless men across the entire country.It had been the kind of crucible that either broke men completely or forged them into something extraordinary with obvious raw and unguarded honesty that was perhaps the most unfiltered thing anyone in the room had ever heard him say. powerful.Men like Henry King had emerged from that period as formidable warriors of remarkable rank and capability.Men like Sebastian had used that same devastating period to build strength, status, and genuine power that commanded real respect.Countless men had walked into that darkness and come out transformed Kings of War, commanders, protectors of genuine significance and value.Rose's father had quietly allowed himself to wonder to genuinely hope that perhaps Alex had been one of those men.Perhaps the mystery of his absence, the inexplicable things he had done today, the strange and undeniable power they had all witness

Hearing what Rose just said, both her parents looked at each other and for a brief moment neither of them had an immediate response. Something in Rose's words had landed somewhere real, somewhere that made the air in the room shift just slightly.But Rose's mother was not done.Not even close, She turned back to Rose with eyes that were still burning and her voice came out sharp and protective in the way only a mother who genuinely believed she was saving her child could manage."Don't tell me," her mother started, pointing at her slowly, "don't you dare stand there and tell me that you are actually thinking about packing your things and walking out of this house to follow this good-for-nothing man who cannot take care of you." Her voice was rising with every word. "A man who cannot do anything. Who has nothing. Don't tell me that is what is going through your head right now, Rose."She stepped closer, her face tight with something between anger and genuine fear for her daughter."Bec

The moment Rose's mother swung the door open, the smile that had already been forming on her face the one she hadn't even fully realised she was wearing disappeared instantly.It was not Aaron King.It was a messenger. A young man in a plain uniform standing at the door with a straight posture and an envelope held carefully in both hands.Rose's mother's expression fell flat immediately. The warmth that had briefly flickered in her eyes on the way to the door was completely gone now, replaced with the kind of look that made people feel unwelcome without a single word being said."I have a message for this household," the messenger said politely.Rose's mother looked at him the way someone looks at something they did not ask for and do not want."Message from who exactly?" she asked, her tone carrying just enough edge to make the question feel more like an accusation."I honestly do not know, ma'am," the messenger replied without losing his composure. "But I was instructed to deliver

“You better accept what is being offered to you right now,” Rose's mother added, turning her sharp eyes back to Alex with a pointed urgency that had not been there before. “Because you know what is at stake here. An 8-star King of War is at stake. So I suggest you take that money and—”“I decline.”Rose's voice cut clean through her mother's sentence and the room went immediately still.Everyone turned to look at her.Rose stood exactly where she had been standing, her expression calm and completely settled, like she had made up her mind long before her mother even opened her mouth.“It is not going to happen,” Rose continued, her voice even and unhurried. “I have already said it and nothing has changed. I stand with my husband. That is my position and it is not moving.”Immediately hearing what her daughter just said, Rose's mother's hand flew to her chest.Her knees buckled slightly and her husband shot forward just in time, catching her by the arm the same way he had caught her b

Upon hearing what Alex just said, both of Rose's parents turned to look at each other at exactly the same time, and the expression on both their faces was somewhere between pure disbelief and offended shock.Rose's father was the first one to find his words.“Did this fool—” He stopped himself, shook his head once, and started again. “Did this bastard just say he wants to come?” He let out a short and humorless laugh, looking at Alex like he had just said something genuinely ridiculous. “Did you actually just say that?”Rose's mother stepped forward slightly, her eyes sharp and her voice carrying the kind of contempt that does not bother to dress itself up.“Were you invited?” she asked flatly. “Did you hear a single word we just said? The invitation was for three people. Me, my husband, and Rose. Three. That is all.” She tilted her head. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Do you honestly think they are just going to open the doors of an 8-star King of War's birthday and let you