The Heir's Return

Chapter 15. Purgatory

"Insolent!" Owen snapped, his face flushed red. "Do you think the Edelweiss family is an inn? That you can come and go as you please, and take our daughter with you?"

"Which daughter do you mean?" Javon countered, his voice as sharp as ice.

A cold smile touched his lips as his eyes locked onto Oliver at the top of the stairs. "The one you use as a bargaining chip, or the one you allow to bring other men home and defile the family name in her own bed?"

The faces of the entire Edelweiss family instantly changed. Aleesha, having been called out so brazenly, shrieked in fury. "You bastard! How dare you insult me! Guards! Seize him! I'll tear his mouth apart!" She grabbed a nearby porcelain vase and slammed it to the floor, where it shattered into a thousand pieces.

The bodyguards hesitated, caught between Aleesha's command and the lethal aura radiating from Javon. Oliver Edelweis said nothing, his sharp eyes sweeping the room, trying to figure out who had leaked his family's dirty secrets.

In that moment of chaos, a thin figure ran frantically down the stairs from the third floor, her maid's uniform slightly torn. It was Lina.

"Mr. Forger!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were fixed on Javon as if he were the only savior in the world. "Quick, go upstairs! Mr. Conner... he broke down Miss Sherly's bedroom door!"

Javon's heart felt like it was being squeezed by an icy hand.

The next second, he moved. No longer walking, but launching himself forward. He took the mahogany spiral staircase three steps at a time, his form a mere blur to the stunned Edelweiss family.

As he neared the third floor, he could hear it. The sound of a struggle, Sherly's stifled screams, and Javier's disgusting laughter, followed by the heart-wrenching sound of tearing fabric.

Javon's rage erupted into a righteous inferno.

CRASH!

Sherly's solid teakwood door disintegrated into splinters, exploding inward as if hit by a cannonball.

The scene inside the room burned itself onto Javon's retinas. Sherly's wheelchair was overturned in a corner. On the floor, Sherly was struggling, her nightgown torn at the shoulder, while the savage Javier Conner pressed her down, trying to kiss her by force.

"YOU'RE DEAD!"

Hearing that thunderous roar, Javier turned in shock. He only had time to see a fist rapidly growing larger before a heavy blow landed squarely on his face.

KRAK!

His nasal bone shattered. Javier was thrown sideways, his head hitting the floor hard, and his world spun in a sea of pain and stars.

"Javon..." Sherly whispered, tears now flowing freely down her cheeks, a mixture of relief and terror.

Javon didn't answer. He walked closer, grabbed Javier by the collar, and lifted the man's body from the floor with one hand as if lifting a sack of trash. His iron hand clamped around Javier's neck, cutting off his air supply.

"Gasp... he...lp..." Javier struggled, his legs kicking frantically.

Pure, undisguised killing intent burned in Javon's eyes. ‘How dare you touch my woman.’

"Javon, let him go! You'll kill him!" A panicked shout came from the doorway. Oliver, Owen, and the others had arrived, staring at the scene in horror.

"He's the son of the Conner family! If he's hurt, we'll all be ruined!"

Javon seemed not to hear. His grip tightened.

At that moment, Aleesha, her eyes filled with a crazed, jealous fire, saw Sherly being helped to her feet by Lina. Ignoring everything else, she lunged forward.

"YOU BITCH! YOU STOLE MY MAN!" she screamed, her hand raised, ready to claw at Sherly's face.

BAM!

Seeing the movement, Javon made a split-second decision. With an enraged growl, he threw Javier across the room. A loud thud was heard as Javier hit a wardrobe, then collapsed to the floor, unconscious. A foul-smelling yellow puddle began to spread from under his trousers.

Javon moved between Aleesha and Sherly, intercepting her. "Touch her," Javon hissed, his voice so cold it could freeze blood, "And you'll lose that hand."

Aleesha froze, terrified by the look in Javon's eyes.

Sherly, now standing unsteadily while holding onto Lina, looked at the hypocritical faces of her family. The pain from the attempted assault was nothing compared to the pain of their betrayal. Her eyes met Javon's, filled with desperation and absolute trust.

"Take me away, Javon," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Anywhere. I don't want to stay in this house of cannibals for another second."

"Alright," Javon replied.

Without hesitation, he bent down, slipped one arm under Sherly's knees and the other around her back, and lifted her gently. He carried her in his arms, princess-style, and strode toward the door.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" Oliver roared, his anger and wounded pride now exploding. "You've wrecked my house, beaten my guest, and now you think you can just walk away?!"

A dozen burly bodyguards, now holding electric stun batons, immediately blocked their path.

"Javon, I showed you mercy because of the past. But after tonight, don't expect to leave this place safely!" Oliver threatened. "Seize him! I want him on his knees, apologizing to Mr. Conner!"

Javier was beginning to come to, and along with the other Edelweiss family members, glared at Javon with burning hatred.

Javon held Sherly tighter, feeling her body tremble in his arms. He looked at the guards surrounding him, then at the arrogant patriarch standing above.

A disdainful smile touched his lips. "Stop me?" he said, his voice calm yet echoing throughout the room. "With just you?"

"Then," he continued, his eyes flashing with defiance, "Let's see if you're capable!"