THE SECRET BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 8: The War God.

Elira's eyes meet Carl's at the back of the Hall where he was staining alone with the box in his hand, completely stunned in place like a man who has just walked into the wrong room.

Shock passed through her expression. Her jaw dropped then closed back, muttering his name under her breath. She never expected to see him there.

"Carl.."

The entire hall seemed to hear her whispers. Heads turned, uniformed attendants gawked, focusing all attention on him now rather than the event.

Murmuring buzzed through the hall. Directional. Aimed at Carl.

Even the music slowed like it wanted to listen to the incoming humiliation and make a beat or rhythm out of it.

“Isn't that the useless son-in-law?”

"That's him?"

“Yes, I heard he killed an elite and was thrown into prison. Life imprisonment. Why is he even here?"

A woman wearing a red gown, stirred her glass of wine and sipped it. She twisted her lips in disdain as though Carl's presence was the bitterest thing on her tongue.

"He looks really miserable. Someone toss him out already. He's choking up the air with his mess already."

Quiet laughter passed through the row.

Sarah, seeing the little disturbance rose to her feet from the family table. Anger flashed across her feature immediately her eyes landed on Carl.

"What the heck?" She pushing back the chair so fast it scraped the carpets. "What is that criminal doing in this place?!"

She crossed the room, her heels clicking the Marble sharply.

She stood in Carl's front, her eyes darkened in anger.

"What are you doing in this place? Are you here to embarrass us?"

"Sara.."

"Don't!" She cut him off, closing the gap with him till there was only a thin line between them. "Don't call that name." Her finger snapped to the door. "Get out of this place now while I'm still cool or I'll ask the Securities to drag you out."

Carl didn't move. He just stared at the woman who had fallen to his feet before, pleading with him to take blame for her daughter's crime. That woman was gone. Who was standing in his front right now was someone different. Cold and unwelcoming.

"You know, this place is actually not a prison." She sneered, her lips twisted in disdain. "People like you are not here. You're unfit for this gathering. A threat to the lives of everyone here."

Carl scoffed. "A threat?"

"I only just want to see Elira." He said.

Elira was already beside her mother. She looked at Carl. Barely. Then she looked away immediately. The attitude was blade, cutting Carl deeper. She didn't look away because she was guilty about kissing Henry while he watched, and neither was it pity. She was avoiding him, like a broken piece of furniture she had longed disposed and found in the same room she never wanted.

"Elira, I'm.."

"Can we not do this right now, Carl" She cut him off, fluttering her brow. Her voice was flat. It wasn't angry. It was something worse and that made it more hurtful. "Please leave. I'll let you know when to come back."

"You're giving him a chance! He's not worth it!" Sarah hissed.

"No, mum." Elira breathed through her nostril, tired already. Today is her birthday and the company's anniversary. She didn't want anything to ruin the day for her.

Carl looked at her. The flicker of annoyance she was hiding behind her lashes, the anger she was trying so hard to control in front of the guest. This wasn't the woman who he loved in the past, not the woman who had pleaded so he that shoulder her crime. This woman didn't want him and he didn't need any other evidence seeing the ring another man slipped into her finger.

Carl let out a Sharp bitter laughter. "So, you want me to leave?" His voice was low. He wasn't angry. Just bitter amusement and disappointment.

"I came home after all this years and this is how you welcome me? With your family?"

"You walked into this place without an invitation. Don't act like you're a victim here, Carl." Sarah spat, her eyes blazing inferno.

"We're having an important guest today, you need to leave right away." Sarah spun to the entrance, her voice cutting through the room. "Securities!!"

Two tall Securities arrived at the scene, intimidating and unkind, both holding batons, ready to strike on command.

"Remove him from this place!"

Carl scoffed. He didn't even glance at the Securities. He simply held up his hand, stopping them cold. Carl stared into Sarah's eyes, like he was searching for the answer to his question even before he asked.

"So, that important guest is more important than me?"

Sarah burst into laughter that rippled through the room and bounced off the wall.

She threw her hair backward, staring at Kade in cruel amusement.

"The War God of the four Cardinal is coming here today. We received his invitation. Do you know who that is? Compared to him you're a rat. It's an insult comparing him with you, a low-life" A sharp laughter escaped her lips that wasn't quite a laugh. " You've stayed too long in that prison and it had messed up with your head badly.

The God of War is the most powerful man in this country, the world bows at his feet, everyone sings his name, he protects this country but you are just a filthy roach rotting away useless behind Bars. Only the Vernovas family has connection with him."

Her finger snapped to the door.

"Get out of this place now and don't ruin things for us."

Her voice was sharp.

Carl laughed, the mocking kind of laughter and shook his head.

"So, you really think the Vernovas has connection with the War God and that is why you sell your daughter out to the.."

Sarah's palm cut through the air to slap him across the face. The impact was loud. But it wasn't Carl's face. He caught her hand mid-air, wrapping her in iron grip.

Sarah tried to force out of it, but it was impossible.

"Let go of me now!!?" She screamed. "Securities!! What are you idiots waiting for?! Beat him!!"

"If you ever dare to raise your hand at me again, it'll be the last thing you do." Carl's voice was flat.

Sarah blinked in shock, her voice catching. The man staring at her was different from the man she knew in the past.

Carl shoved her hand back. He looked at Elira one last time. Disappointed. Then he turned without any words and walked out of the place without looking back.

Sarah stumbled back, clutching her wrist and lashing out Behind Carl.

As soon as Carl stepped out of the Hall, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"I need you to cancel the invitation right away." He simply said with a voice that held quiet command.

"Mr. Blackthorn...is there any problem?" A voice cracked from the other end, carrying sheer weight of reverence and fear.

"I have nothing to do with the Kensington family anymore. Anything concerning them henceforth I'm not involved again."

The person at the other end gasped. His name is Mr. Rothwell, a man famous and wealthy in the Tech industry.

Then his voice became hardened.

"Mr. Blackthorn. The Kensington family must have offended you." He said, "should I pull out every deal from their company including every pending proposal they submitted. We have been considering the Kensington family only because of your influence, Mr. Blackthorn."

"The decision is left to you," Carl clipped.

"But.. what..what about your promise, Mr. Blackthorn?"

"I'll fulfill it." He simply said.

"Thank you Mr. Blackthorn...thank you, Sir.." Mr. Rothwell stuttered, his voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.

"Since you're not interested in the Kensington family anymore, I can't risk it. I'm cutting off every deal with them." He added.

*****

Inside of a Vast office with floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city, a woman wearing a crisp Black blazer sat behind a Polished desk, files neatly arranged in her front, a sleek computer opened in her front but she wasn't focused on it.

Cassandra.

The cold and ruthless CEO of the Sterling family, the daughter whose father was cast out of the Kensington family several years ago. She built her company from scratch, she wanted to prove everyone wrong and bring dignity back to her father.

But at that moment, she was thinking about the man who saved her earlier from Henry.

A sharp knock came on her door, pulling her out of the thought.

"Come in."

The door Gilded and her assistant walked in. A slender woman, poised and eloquent. She held a tab like it was a sword.

Cassandra sat straighter.

"What did you find?"