2025-09-04 15:49:52Evan’s arrival brought different reactions to the faces of the three women before him. One was shocked, one was angry, and one was delighted.
Vivienne tried to approach Evan, but Helena immediately held her back.
“Don’t you dare go near Evan! Selene, take Vivienne to the dining room!” Helena barked sternly.
“Yes, Grandma Helena. Come on, Vivienne.”
Selene pulled at Vivienne’s arm, but the woman shook her off and ran toward Evan instead.
“Evan, please, you have to explain to my family that you are not guilty!” Vivienne pleaded, clinging to him.
“How dare you!” Helena yanked Vivienne’s hair, making her granddaughter scream loudly.
“Hey!”
Evan instinctively shouted at Helena, then pulled Vivienne tightly into his arms.
“Grandma, if you truly disapprove of my presence, then take it out on me! But please, do not use violence against Vivienne!”
“What is going on?!”
Evan turned toward the voice. When his eyes caught sight of the figure who had appeared, his whole body stiffened. His gaze widened, as though the world had stopped spinning. He had never imagined meeting the very person he was searching for here.
“Darian Voss!” Evan muttered.
His arch-enemy appeared, flanked by the other members of the LaRue family. His expression was calm, as if he had never committed the fatal mistake against Evan.
In disbelief, Evan asked Vivienne, who was still in his arms, “What’s happening? Why is he here?”
Darian approached slowly, clapping his hands, drawing Evan’s glare back to him.
Evan’s weakened hold on Vivienne was taken advantage of by Helena, who dragged her granddaughter away.
“Evan Caleum—heavens! You come out of prison not repentant, but causing new trouble. What are you doing with my future fiancé?!” Darian demanded firmly.
“No, Evan! I never knew him! I—”
“Enough!”
Helena’s shrill voice cut everyone off, her hand harshly covering Vivienne’s mouth.
“As the head of this family, I will make an important announcement! Starting today—you, foolish ex-convict who has disgraced the LaRue family—are no longer my granddaughter’s husband!”
Helena pointed straight at Evan as she released Vivienne’s mouth.
Evan’s eyes fell on his wife, who hung her head, sobbing uncontrollably.
“And allow me to add to that, Grandma Helena.”
Darian spoke with a calm tone, welcomed by Helena, who nodded proudly.
“Let me reintroduce myself to you, Evan—perhaps you’ve forgotten? I am your former boss, Darian Voss! Do you think it’s fitting for someone like you, who raped a woman, to stand beside a respected lady like Vivienne?"
He stood before Evan arrogantly. Evan clenched his fists but fought to restrain his rage.
He knew he was standing among madmen. Any wrong word or movement would only make things harder for Vivienne.
He tried to stay composed while facing the enemy he had been searching for all this time.
“I won’t say much. I only want to make it clear that I am the victim of Darian Voss’s cruelty. He is the one who raped that woman, and I was forced into a deal to take the blame—because I wanted to protect Vivienne.”
Evan’s words stunned everyone—everyone except Darian. He burst out laughing, slapping Evan’s shoulder mockingly.
“What kind of lunatic dares to slander someone? And your so-called slander is against your own former boss! Evan, you should be grateful you got out of prison without a scratch!” Darian barked.
“Yes, that’s right! A man like Darian would never do something so vile! The Voss family is an honorable family, respected by all!” Helena retorted.
“Really? From where I stand, the Voss family lives only in their own bubble. Ask leaders far more powerful than the Voss family—do they even know of their name?”
Evan’s reply made Darian’s smile twist into a sneer.
“How dare you say that! Do you want to lose your life?!” Darian snapped.
“Go ahead—if you truly think my words are lies and an insult. I fear no rapist born from a dishonorable family—a traitor of the lower class,” Evan shot back.
“Take that back or you’ll regret it, Evan!”
Darian jabbed his finger at Evan, but Evan stood unmoving. He merely shrugged with a mocking smile.
Darian swung his hand at Evan, but just like when he fought Darian’s men at the office, Evan blocked it swiftly.
“Argh!” Darian cried in pain, his arm trapped by Evan’s grip. As though he were made of paper, Evan hurled him effortlessly across the room, sending him crashing against the wall.
“Darian! how dare you, Evan! Call the police at once!”
Helena shouted to the others, who immediately scattered to carry out her orders, leaving only Darian, Helena, Selene, Vivienne, and Gideon in the living room.
Helena and Gideon helped Darian to his feet, while Selene held Vivienne tightly.
“No, Grandma! Please, let me stay here! I want to be with Evan!” Vivienne cried, struggling to resist.
“Go, Vivienne! I promise I’ll come for you again soon,” Evan answered.
Selene looked at Evan with disgust as she forced Vivienne to walk with her. Still, she didn’t dare be too rough, still traumatized by Evan’s outburst at the boutique earlier.
“Catch him!” Helena ordered Gideon, pointing at Evan.
Gideon glanced at Evan, swallowing hard.
“What?! What do you mean?! Are you afraid of that fool?!” Helena snapped.
Gideon, like Selene, was still shaken by Evan’s behavior at the boutique. Even more so now, after learning Evan’s true identity—he knew this man was not someone ordinary. That knowledge was also what pushed Gideon to swallow his pride and forgive Selene. He wanted to stay close and uncover who Evan truly was.
“Useless coward! You’re not reliable at all!”
“Darian, stop! You don’t need to soil your hands with someone so dishonorable!” Helena cried.
“Mother, the police have been called and are on their way!” shouted Nancy, Vivienne’s mother, who had just entered.
“Did you hear that, Evan? You’re going back to prison! Farewell, Evan—this time I’ll make sure you die behind bars!” Darian sneered.
Once again, he grinned wickedly and swung his hand toward Evan’s face.
But Evan didn’t flinch. He smiled, as if waiting for the moment Darian’s hand would land.
Just before it could connect, however, the front door burst open, followed by a sharp command:
Three policemen with thick mustaches stormed in, guns aimed directly at Evan—halting the blow that was about to strike.
“Arrest him, Officer! He’s a dangerous threat here!” Helena shouted.
“Yes, we’ll be taking Evan to the station immediately. You can all come to give your statements later. Move, Evan!” one of the policemen barked.
Evan raised his hands without resistance, allowing the three officers to cuff him.
“Rot in prison, Evan! Die there!” Darian bellowed. “I’ll be the first to testify against you and make sure every word condemns you!”
Evan only smiled faintly as the policemen led him away. Their steps echoed down the staircase, chased by Darian’s curses and Helena’s shrill voice.
“Get in, idiot!”
They shoved him roughly into the car. One of the officers glanced back at Darian and Helena, bowing slightly as if in respect.
“Thank you, Officer! Lock him up right away and wait for me at the station!” Darian shouted.
From inside the car, Evan smirked darkly and muttered under his breath, “Pathetic bastard.”
The officer climbed in beside him, nudging his partner to start the engine. Evan exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to speak, didn’t want to ask questions—he only forced himself to stay calm, reminding himself that at least, in prison, he would reunite with his mentors.
But he hadn’t noticed. The officer seated next to him was tugging off a fake mustache and cap. A wide grin spread across the man’s face as he clapped Evan on the shoulder.
“Hey, aren’t you going to thank me?”
The voice made Evan’s eyes snap open. Shock rippled across his face the moment he recognized the man before him.
“Travis?! You…! How is it possible you’re here?!”
Travis arched both brows with a sly smile. “Of course I’m here to save you, Evan. The situation’s out of control—and it’s time you met the leader.”
Evan frowned deeply. “Leader? What do you mean?”
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104
The suppressed gunshots rattled down the narrow concrete corridor like cracked whips. Evan dropped low, using the fallen operator’s body as a temporary shield as high-velocity rounds chewed into the cinderblock behind him, spraying fine gray dust across his face and coat."Flank him!" the lead operator shouted, his voice ringing with the unmistakable authority of a seasoned paramilitary officer. "Hold your fire on the left arm—don't hit the ring!"Evan’s jaw tightened. They really think I’m just a mark with a piece of jewelry.He rolled to his right, coming up smoothly behind a rusted generator housing. His breathing remained eerily steady, his heart rate kept under rigid control by years of conditioning and the cold, hyper-focused clarity surging through his veins. The serpent ring pressed against his knuckle, its metallic scales humming against his flesh as his senses heightened. He could hear the scrape of combat boots on damp gravel, the sharp intake of breath from three men advan
103
The underground tactical suite beneath the Zurich safehouse smelled of old stone, gun oil, and copper. Jimmy Frank Caelis leaned against the mahogany edge of the central terminal table, his polished loafers gleaming under the stark white LED strips overhead. He picked up a crystal tumbler filled with scotch, swirling it slowly as he watched Evan back away from the holographic display."You look like you’ve seen a ghost, boy," Jimmy said, his voice a low, gravelly rascal's drawl. "Or did you really think your father’s name was enough to make those old bastards in the High Council bow down?"Evan didn't answer immediately. He adjusted the cuff of his charcoal jacket, his thumb brushing against the cool, raised scales of the serpent ring on his left hand. The Vigilantia in Umbra felt unnaturally warm against his skin tonight."I don't expect anyone to bow, Jimmy," Evan said softly. His eyes locked onto the glowing family crests projected over the table. "I expect them to follow the succe
102
The deep cells beneath the Caelis estate did not exist on any blueprint. They lay beneath the foundations of the old winery, carved directly into the damp bedrock where the air always tasted of salt and lime. There were no chandeliers here, no obsidian tables, only the dull, monotonous hum of the ventilation system struggling against the subterranean moisture.Evan sat on a low wooden stool outside the iron-barred cell, a single unshaded bulb hanging between him and the woman inside. His white shirt was still damp from the rain, the blood on his cuffs dried into a crusty, dark brown. In his lap rested the leather-bound shipping ledger Bruno had dropped.Seraphine was sitting on the stone floor, her back against the weeping wall. The cut on her cheek had stopped bleeding, leaving a jagged, dark line that split her pale skin. Despite the chains locking her ankles to the iron ring in the floor, she looked entirely at ease, as if she were merely waiting for a delayed train."You're wastin
101
Vivianne didn't sit. She paced the length of the Persian rug, her fingers tracing the smooth, heavy brass of the wolf’s head paperweight she still held.Thirty guards. Evan had lined them up along the corridor—men in tactical gear, their faces hidden behind matte-black visors, their loyalty bought and paid for by the heir’s personal accounts. But as she stared at the locked double doors, she couldn't erase the memory of the two assassins who had breached his bedroom the night before. They had used codes. They had passed through security like ghosts.If Seraphine was right, the person who gave them those codes wasn't an Elder. It was someone closer.A sharp, metallic click broke her train of thought.It didn't come from the main hallway. It came from the dressing room—the small, private alcove where Evan kept his ceremonial attire and the wall-safes containing the family’s minor ledgers.Vivianne’s heart kicked against her ribs. She lowered her hand, letting the brass paperweight rest
100
"Open it," she said.The guard on the right hesitated, his eyes darting toward the end of the corridor where Evan’s office lay. "Lady Vivianne, Lord Evan gave strict orders that no one—""I am not 'someone,'" Vivianne said, her voice dropping to a low, quiet register that surprised even herself. The terror from the dining hall hadn't disappeared; it had simply turned cold, hardening into something sharp. "Open the door, or you can explain to him why I decided to wait out here where the Valerius sleepers might find me."The guards exchanged a brief look. The threat wasn't real—the estate was locked down tighter than a fortress—but the fear of Evan was. The heavy brass key turned in the lock with a scraping grunt.The door swung inward.The room inside was large, sparsely furnished, and dark save for a single lamp burning on a low side table. Seraphine sat in a high-backed velvet chair, her boots propped on a wooden trunk. She hadn't even taken off her tactical vest. She was running a s
99
The silence that followed Seraphine’s declaration was not the absence of sound, but the presence of a vacuum—a physical weight that sucked the oxygen from the grand hall. The servants’ dying gasps had faded into a rhythmic, wet rattling on the marble, a macabre percussion to the standoff at the high table.Vivianne felt Evan’s muscles cord under her hand, a tension so absolute it felt like he might shatter. The name Seraphine hung in the air like a ghost, cold and clinging. She looked from the kneeling woman—whose black tactical silk shimmered like oil—to the husband she thought she was beginning to understand. The gap between them suddenly felt like an abyss."You're alive," Evan said, his voice a low, jagged rasp. It wasn't a question; it was an indictment of years spent believing in a lie."Life is a relative term when one lives in the shadows of the Caelis archives, My Lord," Seraphine replied. She rose with a fluid, predator's grace, ignoring the Elders who were now clutching the
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