No. 1 King Of Valor

8: End Up Like Her Sister

Although Rowan Sterling looked livid, there was a hint of guilt on his face. Just thinking of those two little children wandering on the streets made him want to bury himself in shame.

He was shouting and blaming Kael for not returning to his family sooner, but he was also angry at himself for being weak.

All because of a word from those people, he didn't dare help his own relatives. He wanted to protect his own family and could only watch as his older brother and his beloved niece perished.

He just told Kael that he doesn't deserve to be a husband or a father. How ironic? He is the one that doesn't deserve to be called a man!

He failed his family.

"Rowan, that's enough. Don't you think you are being too harsh?" A soft feminine voice called from behind.

A middle-aged woman came out of the house and pulled Rowan's sleeves gently. She was Ida Sterling, Rowan's wife.

"Isn't it good enough that Kael has returned? Why do you have to yell and turn him away like this?"

Ida didn't wait for her husband to respond. She quickly went over to Kael who had completely collapsed on the ground and helped him up.

"Kael, don't be offended by your uncle's nonsensical words. He has always had a sharp tongue and doesn't think before speaking. But he means well. He—"

"Aunt Ida," Kael raised his head and interrupted Ida's words. His eyes looked empty and soulless. It was a chilling sight to behold.

He looked down at the shorter, elderly woman holding his arm. The Ida he remembered before leaving home was more beautiful and younger.

She was always draped in luxurious apparels and always had a kind smile. But now, she appears to have aged faster than her age.

There were many wrinkles on her face and she was wearing a plain, unlabeled dress. The only thing that hasn't changed was her kind smile.

"Aunt Ida... Is what uncle said the truth?"

At that moment, Ida couldn't bear to meet his eyes any longer. Her face lowered and her smile turned bitter. And with a small nod, she confirmed his fears.

"Yes."

"Ungh!" Kael's breath hitched, turning jagged. It felt as if the world was spinning and was about to collapse on him.

After nine years, he thought he would have a perfect reunion with his wife. That he would be able to give Bridget and their son the world they deserved.

But now that he had returned, his Bridget was dead. How could he accept this?!

Kael was trembling and he struggled to stand up straight. "How did she die?"

He couldn't reunite with his wife like he wanted but at least, he deserved to know this much.

"That..." Ida's voice trailed off as her gaze darted to Rowan. Her husband had lowered his head, as if his worst fear had come to pass.

"Aunt Ida, how did Bridget die?" Kael's gaze turned fierce and he stood up straight.

He had a keen sense of body language. If his wife had died naturally, his uncle and aunt wouldn't have acted like this.

It means his wife didn't—

BANG!

Kael's thoughts were disrupted as the villa's gate was violently kicked open. A young man dressed in flashy clothes, wearing transparent glasses and a cigar in his mouth swaggered in.

Behind him were ten other young men around his age. They looked just as pompous as him.

The young man didn't notice Kael or simply chose to ignore him. His eyes were on Rowan.

He pulled out his cigar and smiled cunningly, "Hey, Rowan, have you thought of my proposal?"

He threw his cigar to the ground and crushed it under his foot. Then he made a show of dusting off the non-existent dirt on his shirt.

"Why are you still wasting my time and delaying making a simple decision? Do you know how many girls in Solara city are dying to marry me?!"

He pointed at Rowan and sneered, "I chose to honor your daughter and give her a chance of becoming my wife, yet you are still refusing me. See, if it isn't because she is just a bit beautiful, I won't spare her a glance or go through all these troubles for her."

He turned to his companions and winked at them. "After all, it won't cost me anything to take her away the hard way. If I take her by force, I'll make sure she ends up exactly like her sister. You know I'm not bluffing."