THE HEALING HAND

chapter nine

Kael looked through the scope.

The room held its breath. His finger tightened on the trigger.

Bang!

The shot sound echoed through the shooting ground like lightning.

For one suspended second, nobody moved, nobody blinked. Nobody even breathed.

Then every eye snapped toward the giant monitor hanging above the shooting lanes.

The digital screen flickered once.

Twice.

Then the result appeared. 0.0 millimeters from dead center.

A perfect hit.

The hall erupted into absolute chaos.

The people screamed, gasped while shouted curses. Drinks crashing to the floor.

The commentator nearly fell off his platform.

“UNBELIEVABLE! IMPOSSIBLE! A PERFECT CENTER SHOT!”

Even the technicians were staring at the screen like they had seen the impossible.

Joe stood frozen with his rifle still in hand. His face had gone pale like he had seen nothing like what was right in front of him.

Marcus rose so fast he knocked over the table in front of him. “That has to be fake!”

Leo pointed wildly at the monitor. “Check the system! Recalculate it!”

Several women who had been chanting Joe’s name moments ago were now screaming for Kael instead.

“Who is he?”

“That was insane!”

“He’s hotter than Joe!”

Seraphina’s lips parted.

For the first time since Kael entered the building, there was no mockery in her eyes. Only disbelief.

Kael calmly lowered the rifle and placed it on the stand. He did not celebrate. He did not smirk.

He simply adjusted his cuff and turned as if the entire thing had been beneath him.

That silence angered Joe more than losing.

Joe slammed the rifle onto the counter. “No!"

The room quieted slightly.

Joe pointed at Kael. “No one walks in here and does that on their first try.”

Kael glanced over his shoulder. “Then perhaps you need to raise your standards.”

The crowd gasped again.

Joe stormed forward. “You cheated.”

Kael laughed softly. “A poor loser’s favorite word. Does anyone cheat over something like this?" he asked, his eyesbrows arched.

Marcus hurried to Joe’s side. “He definitely cheated. Search him.”

Leo nodded aggressively. “Yes! Search him now!”

The commentator, sensing even more drama, shouted into the megaphone. “Ladies and gentlemen! Allegations have been made!”

The crowd began dividing instantly.

“He cheated!”

“No, Joe’s just bitter!”

“Check the gun!”

“Check Kael!”

Two security men approached Kael cautiously.

Kael spread his arms lazily. “Go ahead.”

They searched him from head to toe.

One of them swallowed nervously. “He has nothing suspicious.”

Joe’s jaw flexed. “Then the rifle was tampered with.”

A technician quickly inspected it. “Sir… no modifications.”

Joe’s humiliation deepened.

The crowd could feel it. And cruel crowds always looked for fresh blood.

That blood became Kael’s.

A woman in a glittering dress scoffed loudly. “Even if he won, so what?”

Another laughed. “Exactly. He’s still Seraphina’s kept man. He is nothing more than just a pair of hands holding that rifle."

The shift was immediate.

The same people who had admired the shot now remembered his social status.

Mockery spread faster than admiration ever could.

“Ohhh, that’s the husband who lives in her house!”

“The househusband sniper!”

“Nice shot, beggar!”

“Can he shoot bills into his wallet too?”

Laughter rolled across the arena.

Kael’s expression did not change, but Seraphina’s smile slowly returned.

Yes. This was the balance she liked. No matter what Kael did, society would drag him back to the dirt.

She rose elegantly, blood still drying on her palm.

“Ladies, please,” she said with false sweetness. “Let’s not be too harsh.”

She turned to Kael. “A lucky shot does not erase reality. You had better stick to the ground, idiot!"

The room hushed to hear her. “You still sleep in my guest room. Or you probably sleep on the ground beneath my bed."

A few people burst out laughing. “You still wear clothes bought with my money.”

“You still entered this building because of my name.”

Now the entire hall roared.

Seraphina tilted her head. “So tell me, Kael… what exactly have you won?”

Kael met her gaze. There was no anger in his face.

That unsettled her more than rage ever could.

Joe regained some confidence and stepped beside her. “She’s right. Congratulations on your shot. But outside the lane, men like you remain what they are.”

Marcus raised his glass. “To talent without value!”

Leo barked with laughter. “To bullseyes and empty pockets!”

The crowd toasted mockingly.

Joe Linton looked at Seraphina, leaving Kael alone. " Linton is inviting a special guest of honour tonight. Only the richest men and women will be there. I want you right by my side. Would you do me the honour of coming?"

Seraphina looked at her friend's, she had a smile on her face the moment Joe looked at her.

" Yes! I would love to grace the occasion with you." she finally said loudly.

Joe grabbed her by the waist and kissed her passionately making Kael a bit jealous.

Seraphina had never kissed him. And even during their marriage, She had walked away without any respect for him and now she was kissing a man right in front of him.

Joe looked back, " Make sure not to bring this loser when you are coming. I would prefer just you alone. I have a lot of important guests to introduce you to."

The crowd clapped the moment Joe turned his back and kept walking out of the big lounge.

But he stopped half way and looked back, " Greet your old man for me. Tell him that I said I am coming for what is mine the moment he drops."

Crowd gasp.

Everyone knows who Arthur Lockhart was but to see Joe say those words, they couldn't help but wonder how much of a power Joe had.

" Did you hear that? Grandfather should have let me marry him! Imagine the respect he would have given him."

Seraphina's gaze darted back to Kael. " Instead, I am stuck with this pathetic loser who thinks he is special."

Everyone walked away from the shooting range while Seraphina and her friend left for their bags again for Kael to carry.

But instead, he grabbed his phone and called Dennis again.

" I want to know who the Linton are inviting over for a very big party tonight. Find out for me!"

The line went dead immediately as Kael grabbed their bags.

Seraphina and her friends practically floated out of the shooting arena. Their laughter echoed through the marble hallway as Kael followed behind them, loaded down with designer bags in both hands.

Mira tossed her hair back. “Seraphina, do you realize what this means? Joe Linton publicly chose you.”

Tessa squealed. “Not just chose her—he invited her to the gathering tonight. The one every wealthy family has been begging to attend.”

Seraphina’s chin lifted proudly. “As he should. I should have been married to him instead of this god forsaken, man."

She glanced over her shoulder at Kael and smirked. “Walk faster. Those bags cost more than your life.”

Her friends burst into laughter.

Kael said nothing. He simply kept walking, his expression unreadable.

Mira linked arms with Seraphina. “Imagine the guest list. Politicians, CEOs, heirs… maybe even foreign investors.”

Tessa gasped dramatically. “And Joe said he wants to introduce you personally. You may become the next Mrs. Linton.”

Seraphina smiled wider at that thought. “Then let tonight be memorable.”

They reached the parking area where sleek luxury cars waited.

Joe’s assistant stood nearby, speaking urgently into a phone. Sweat glistened on the man’s forehead.

Seraphina approached with elegance. “Tell Joe I’ll be ready by eight.”

The assistant barely heard her. His face was pale.

“What’s wrong with you?” Mira asked.

The man looked up suddenly. “Change of plans.”

Seraphina frowned. “Excuse me?”

“The guest of honor has arrived earlier than expected.”

Excited murmurs broke from the women.

“Who is it?” Tessa asked quickly. “A prince? Some billionaire?”

The assistant swallowed hard and straightened his tie. “Mr. Joe ordered everyone to prepare immediately."

Seraphina stepped closer. “Who is the guest?”

Before he could answer, three black armored SUVs rolled into the driveway. Every guard in the compound snapped to attention in anticipation for what was happening next.