THE HEALING HAND

chapter five

They all stared at Kael in astonishment the way he took down the men that just burst into the mansion.

Arthur simply smiled with a satisfactory look on his face. Almost like he knew what he signed up for.

" Jesus Christ!" Vivian shouted, her gaze darting back to the old man. " Is this who you want to marry my daughter off to? A butcher!"

Her voice echoed through the large estate.

" As long as I am alive, you are going to do exactly what I want!" Arthur barked, stamping his cane to the ground.

Marcus and Leo stared at Kael who was just getting up from the floor. His clothes were torn and he was bleeding.

" Don't tell me this thing here is going to marry, Seraphina!" Leo said with a smirk plastered on his face.

" Do you even know what he has done, grandfather?" Marcus said, turning back to look at Arthur.

" Who are those men?" Kael stumbled a bit, trying to stabilise himself.

Arthur walked forward, his gaze slowly going through Kael's body.

" I am sorry you have to face this just when you get here, son. They are the men you are protecting my daughter from. Please, I am going to kneel if you want me too." he said

" And why do I have too? She does not even want me." Kael muttered under his breath.

He was about to say another word when he collapsed to the ground and passed out.

*

[ Some hours later ]

"No!"

" Save him!"

" Don't let him die!"

Kael's eyelid snapped open. He groaned in pain as his eyes scanned the room he was in.

The blinds were drawn to prevent the harsh weather from blowing in.

It had been a long time Kael had fought. His mind went back to the moment he fell in action.

The loud pitch of gun shot and his men rushing to his side to save him.

A servant rushed to his side the moment he got up. " Are you awake,sir?" she asked, staring at his face.

" Where am I?" Kael asked

"Mr Arthur asked that you are brought here. What should I get you?"

"Nothing."

Kael got up, he slowly went to the hanger and grabbed himself a white shirt.

The servant looked at him awkwardly as he walked out of the room.

" I just said it, grandfather. I am not marrying that butcher! Do you even see he way he mascracred those men?" Seraphina barked.

" Those men were going to kill us! Kill you!" Arthur snapped, hitting his cane to the ground. " You don't understand what I am trying to do but in time you will. You will fall on your knees and thank me."

Vivian smirked.

" Marcus and Leo could take down those men without killing them. We could have find out who sent them. Thanks to your so called saviour, we don't have any proof now."

The room went silent.

" We are not just anyone, father. We are the Lockhart! Think of Seraphina getting married to a man who is going to uphold the family legacy. A man everyone woman wants in the city. Joe Linton is the right man for her."

Arthur's gaze furrowed. "Joe Linton!" he muttered under his breath. A Casanova! The same boy whose picture was all over the internet for sleeping with three girls at a time! Goddamn it! Are you being serious, Vivian?"

Vivan stood up, walking towards her father. " Listen to me, Dad. Their family has been dominating the business sector for twenty years now. No one has ever been able to bring them down. Think of how it could be of advantage to us when we marry Seraphina to him. Beside, they attended the same college some years back."

The room went into a deafening silence.

It seems Arthur was beginning to see senses in what Vivain said but instead, his eyes were glued on Kael who just walked out of the room.

" Jesus Christ, Kael! You should be in bed!"

Arthur who seems to be the only one who cares got to his feet rushing towards him as fast as his old legs could carry him.

Seraphina's eyelid twitched in disgust. " He should have died and rid us of his uselessness."

"Are you alright?" Arthur asked, his eyes scanning every part of his body.

Kael didn't say a word. He simply looked at the family his grandfather had forced him to marry.

" Kael? Are you alright?" Arthur asked again

Kael coughed, " Yes. I think I just need a minute to process all of this." he said griping the metal pole beside him.

" Is that my shirt?" Leo said in anger, his gaze fixed on Kael.

Marcus in return laughed. " I can't believe he is already making himself feel at home."

Arthur's gaze scanned the room. "Seraphina, you are going to marry, Kaelm That is the only wish of this old man standing before you."

Seraphina stood to her feet. Her hands akimbo. " And if I say no, grandfather. What are you going to do?"

The room was silent except for the ragged breathing of Kael. Arthur looked at Kael and back to his spoilt granddaughter.

" Well.." he shrugged, " You can kiss your inheritance goodbye. You will not get a cent of whatever is in my name. You can as well try and make your own name and fortune!"

Vivain looked at Seraphina and back at Arthur. " You won't do that to your only granddaughter! You are not a cold hearted bastard."

Arthur laughed, " You really think highly of me, Vivian. If your daughter decides not to protect this family then I don't see any reason why I have to do the same. If she fails to marry the man who suffered a major injury for this family then she might as well forget about everything that comes with the name she carries. She is either getting married to Kael or letting go of her inheritance.

The room went quiet with Kael looking at the old man.

" So, what do you say?" Arthur asked

Seraphina looked at her mother and two brothers who seemed to have given up.

She stared at the man who was soon going to be her husband and with her eyebrows furrowed, she nodded.

" I will!"