The Illegitimate Heir Returns

Chapter 5 - Hannah Wayde

High above the hall, in the renown penthouse of Novak’s hall, Cassian sat comfortably on an Egyptian marble chair, a smug smile playing across his lips as he took a sip from a glass of expensive scottish wine, completely oblivious to the chaos taking place downstairs.

He was dressed in some of the finest clothing money could buy in Ashburne city, his brown wavy hair neatly styled and combed.

Standing behind him was Elder Killian, his very own personal guard, dressed in black and white tactical gear himself–a uniform reserved only for the ten strongest martial artists in the Briarwoods.

With a deep scar running down his right eye all the way down to his jaw, he looked every bit the intimidating monster Ashburne knew him to be.

Opposite Cassian sat the charismatic Charlie Wayde, lord of the Wayde household, his face grim and solemn like that of a man who was on the verge of losing everything.

Sitting besides him, her large blue eyes staring lifelessly at the dishes spread across the table, was his daughter, Hannah Wayde.

5’3. Thicker than a snickers.

Tall, wild red curls, wearing ripped black leggings, combat boots covered in glitter, and a cropped hoodie that said bite me harder.

She looked like chaos incarnate.

Many in Ashbourne called her the most beautiful woman in the city.

She was known throughout the city for her calm personality and smiles, but tonight, her face looked pale, mirroring her father’s, the kind that said she couldn’t wait to get out of here.

Cassian’s lips curled into a smug smile as he watched her. Tonight was one of those nights he was grateful to have been born into the Briarwoods family, because at last, after ten years of chasing her, he was finally going to have the woman he’d always wanted.

He had never loved her or had any affection for her. Like many other men in Ashbourne, all he wanted was to get her into his bed. But no matter how many times he approached her or confessed his feelings, Hannah always rejected him.

Enraged by her constant refusal, he had told his father everything.

Everyone knows how much Corbin adored his children, so when the matter had been brought to him, Corvin Briarwood didn’t hesitate.

He ordered the Wayde family’s port to be seized and their business partnership dismantled, pushing the once powerful Wayde household to the brink of bankruptcy.

Desperate to save his family, Charlie Wayde had no choice but to accept the marriage arrangement.

And that was how they had ended up here tonight.

“Mr. Wayde, allow me to tell you that you’ve made the right choice by accepting my father’s proposal,” Cassian said, his voice soft and melodic as he took another sip from his glass. “I promise you, your family will benefit greatly from this marriage.”

Charlie’s face twisted into a frown, his fists clenching beneath the expensive table. But no words left his lips.

As angry as he was about being forced to give away his only daughter, even he knew there was nothing he could do to change the situation.

Not when the family standing against him was the Briarwoods.

They were ruthless.

Brutal.

Cruel.

And powerful enough to crush anyone who dared stand in their way.

They ruled northern Ashbourne with an iron fist.

They feared no one.

And like the other great families controlling the remaining territories of Ashburne, the only family they answered to was the Blackwood family—the most powerful family in the world.

Cassian’s smirk deepened as he watched Charlie, clearly enjoying the discomfort etched across the older man’s face.

“Mr. Wayde, why don’t you try smiling a little more?” he pressed, taking another leisurely sip of his wine. “Anyone looking at you would think I’m forcing your daughter into this marriage.”

He laughed, a cruel, guttural sound that echoed through the penthouse.

Then, without turning around, he raised a hand and signaled for one of his men to come forward.

Within seconds, a man carrying a sleek black box approached and carefully placed it on the table before him.

Cassian reached for the box and slowly opened it before sliding it toward Hannah, his smirk deepening.

“My love,” he said and paused deliberately, making sure each word landed. “I bought this for you as a token of our love. This is the sea’s jewel. There’s only one in the entire world. I went to great lengths to acquire it just for you.”

He smiled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before downing it in one gulp.

Honestly, he couldn’t care less about what Hannah thought of his gift. One way or another, this marriage was going to happen, and there was nothing she or anyone could do to stop it.

And soon, he would finally have his way with her, just as he’d always wanted.

Hannah glanced at the beautiful necklace resting inside the box but made no attempt to touch it.

She still couldn’t believe this was how her life was going to end.

All her life, she had loved only one man.

Jake Frost.

The little boy who had once saved her life by pulling her from a river when she was drowning fifteen years ago.

From that day on, she had fallen hopelessly in love with him.

The two quickly became close friends, spending their days together every time they returned from school.

Then, fifteen years ago, Jake suddenly vanished alongside his family without a trace.

The police searched for months, but they found nothing.

Eventually everyone had moved on. But Hannah never did. She kept believing that one day, somehow, Jake would return.

Tonight, however, that hope felt foolish.

She had waited fifteen years for him. And now she was about to marry this disgusting excuse of a man.

Seeing that neither of them seemed willing to speak, Cassian smirked and poured himself another glass of wine before slowly raising it to his lips.

“As you both know, I’m a very busy man, so I’d like to seal this marriage with a toast.” He paused, glancing at Mr. Wayde as the older man reluctantly lifted his glass. “To our love.”

He finished speaking and brought the glass toward his mouth.

However, before he could take a sip, the penthouse door swung open and a guard stumbled inside, his face pale with terror.

“M-my lord,” he stammered, his entire body trembling as he dropped to his knees.

Cassian’s face twisted into a deep frown as he rose to his feet. “How dare you lowly peasant disrupt my marriage? Are you tired of living?” he roared, his voice echoing throughout the penthouse.

“I-I’m sorry, my lord, but there’s a mad man disrupting your party downstairs. He destroyed the guards and the black hand and now he’s killed Lord Drax.” The guard blurted out in one breath, his eyes wide with fear.

Silence fell over the penthouse.

Everyone stared at him in stunned disbelief.

Even Elder Killian, a man known for his unwavering composure, shifted his gaze slightly.

The Black Hand were men he had personally handpicked and trained. They were ten times more powerful than the guards stationed outside the gates.

And Drax?

Throughout Ashburne, his strength was second to none. Yet someone had appeared at Novak’s Hall and killed all of them with terrifying ease.

Just who was this person?

Cassian’s eyes darkened instantly.

He tossed the glass aside. The glass struck the wall and shattered into countless pieces.

“What sort of bastard would dare disrupt my party and kill my men?” he snarled. “Is he looking for a death wish?”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and stormed toward the door, with Elder Killian following closely behind.

Charlie and Hannah exchanged surprised glances before rising from their seats and following after them.