THE HEALING HAND

chapter four

“How do you know about that?” Kael asked, his gaze fixed on the man before him.

The playful calm smile he had on his face was slowly replaced with a more serious look.

Arthur Viremont merely smiled and tapped his golden cane against the marble floor.

“I know more than either of you think.”

Seraphina looked like she was seconds away from exploding.

“This is madness!” she shouted. “Grandfather, have you lost your mind? You cannot force me to marry... this man!”

Her hand shot toward Kael like he was something filthy.

Kael’s jaw tightened. “This man has a name,” he said coldly.

“Oh please,” Seraphina snapped. “You should be grateful you’re even standing here. A man of your calibre is below my standard!"

Kael laughed once.

“Below? Grateful? Trust me, if I knew this was the woman I was sent to meet, I would have turned the car around.”

Seraphina gasped.

“You insolent—”

“Enough!” Arthur’s voice thundered across the courtyard.

Even the guards stiffened.

For a moment, everywhere was silent.

The old man’s eyes moved from Seraphina to Kael.

“You two can insult each other after the wedding.”

“There will be no wedding!” Seraphina yelled.

“There will be,” Arthur replied flatly.

Kael folded his arms. “I’d like to hear why.”

Arthur nodded slowly, as if expecting that question.

“Inside.”

“No,” Seraphina snapped. “Whatever secret game you are playing, I want it said here.”

Arthur studied his granddaughter for a long moment.

Then he sighed.

“Very well.”

He turned and gestured to the guards.

“Leave us.”

Within seconds, the courtyard emptied except for the three of them.

Arthur stepped closer, leaning lightly on his cane.

“The Viremont family is under attack.”

Seraphina frowned.

“What?”

“Our stock has been manipulated for weeks. Three warehouses burned down in the last month. Two board members have vanished. Yesterday, one of our bank accounts was frozen.”

Seraphina’s face changed. “Why was I not told?” she asked

“Because you react emotionally,” Arthur said bluntly.

She stared at him in disbelief.

Arthur continued.“And last night... the incident with Alex Collins was not chance.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Seraphina swallowed.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Arthur said, “you were drugged deliberately.”

Her breathing hitched. “No... Alex wouldn’t—”

“Alex Collins is bankrupt,” Arthur cut in. “He was paid to get close to you.”

The courtyard went still. Seraphina took a step back.

“No.”

“It is true.”

Her voice shook now.

“No.”

Kael watched her silently.

For the first time since meeting her, the arrogance in her eyes cracked.

Fear was beneath it.

Arthur lifted his cane and pointed it toward Kael.

“That is why he is here.”

Kael frowned. “I’m here because your old friend asked me to meet his granddaughter.”

Arthur smiled faintly.

“And because I need the only man powerful enough to keep her alive.”

Seraphina turned sharply. “What does that mean?”

Arthur’s voice lowered.

“The people moving against us are not ordinary enemies.”

Kael’s gaze hardened.

Arthur noticed.

“Yes,” the old man said quietly. “I know the kind of man he is.”

Kael said nothing. His gaze was simply fixed on the old man wondering what he really knew about him.

Seraphina looked between them. “What are you both talking about?”

Arthur ignored her question. “If you marry Kael, they cannot touch you.”

Seraphina let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve gone senile."

Kael nodded. “On that point, I agree.”

Arthur’s eyes flashed.

“You think this is a joke?”

“I think,” Kael said, stepping forward, “you arranged my life without asking me.”

“And I saved yours years ago,” Arthur shot back.

Kael stopped. His gaze darkened by what Arthur just said to his face..

Seraphina noticed it immediately.

Years ago?

Before she could speak, the mansion doors burst open. A woman in expensive jewelry stormed outside.

“Arthur! What is this nonsense I’m hearing?”

Behind her came two younger men in suits.

Arthur’s daughter, Vivian.

And Seraphina’s cousins, Marcus and Leo. Vivian’s eyes landed on Kael. She looked at him once.

Then she scanned him the second time from head to toe before she laughed.

“This?” she said. “This is the man you chose?”

Marcus smirked. “He looks like he fixes tires.”

Leo chuckled.

Seraphina crossed her arms. “Do you see that? For once, I agree with them.”

Vivian stepped closer to Arthur.

“You would marry the heir of this family to a street beggar?”

Kael looked at her calmly. “I assume intelligence skipped your branch of the bloodline.”

Marcus’ smile vanished.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.” Kael said again.

Marcus stepped forward aggressively. “I’ll break your jaw.”

Kael didn’t move. “You can try.”

Arthur slammed his cane down.

“Enough!”

Vivian pointed furiously at Kael.

“Throw him out!”

Arthur’s eyes became ice. “No one touches him.”

That stunned everyone.

Even Seraphina looked confused.

Kael exhaled slowly. “I’ve had enough.”

He turned toward the gate.

“Keep your mansion. Keep your marriage. Keep your family circus.”

Arthur’s voice rose.

“Kael.”

But he kept walking. Seraphina scoffed. A satisfactory smile played on her lips.

“There he goes. I knew he was useless.”

Kael didn’t even look back. Then the front gates exploded inward.

The massive doors flew off their hinges as black SUVs roared into the estate one after another.

Tires screeched to a stop in front of the mansion and armed men jumped out in tactical gear, rifles raised.

Vivian screamed.

Marcus stumbled backward.

Leo nearly fell.

Seraphina froze.

A tall man in a dark coat stepped from the lead vehicle.

His scarred face held no emotion.

He looked directly at Arthur.

“You had your chance.”

Arthur’s grip tightened on his cane.

The man slowly raised a handgun.

“Hand over Seraphina Viremont...”

His men aimed at everyone.

“...and the rest of you may live.”

Panic erupted.

Vivian dropped to her knees.

Marcus shouted for guards.

No guards came.

They were already down.

Seraphina’s face went pale.

Arthur whispered one word.

“Kael.”

At the gate, Kael stopped walking.

Slowly... he turned around.

The wind moved through the shattered entrance.

His eyes were no longer calm.

They were cold enough to kill.

He removed his wristwatch and dropped it into his pocket. Then Kael rolled up his sleeves.

The scarred man frowned.

“Who the hell are you?”

Kael took one step forward.

Then another.

“My bad mood,” he said quietly, “is the last thing you’ll ever see.”