The Illegitimate Heir Returns

Chapter 6 - Kill That Bastard Right Now

Downstairs, the entire hall fell deadly silent.

No one spoke. No move moved. No one even dared to blink. They simply stood there, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

Drax Stormhold – the man once feared throughout Ashbourne for his overwhelming strength and ruthless personality – had begged for his life right before he was killed.

Now he lay motionless on the floor, bowing, his head buried deep in the ground.

Dead.

Jake glanced at the body once before turning his attention to Nela’s trembling form. His eyes were cold and distant, like that of a man who had witnessed far worse than the carnage before him.

“Where is Cassian?” he asked slowly, his voice low and commanding, echoing through the hall.

Those three words snapped everyone out of their daze.

Gasps erupted throughout the room.

“H-he… killed Lord Drax!”

“That man is a monster!”

“Who the hell is he?!”

Fear spread through the hall as every eye remained fixed on Jake.

No one dared to move.

No one dared to challenge him.

Nela’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Drax's lifeless body.

Their relationship had always been one sided. She never once loved him or felt any genuine affection for him. But after witnessing his strength firsthand, she had agreed to be his woman. Over the years, she had used him to her advantage, sending him after anyone who crossed her or simply refused to obey her.

People throughout Ashbourne had come to fear her because of it. Some even called her the Iron Lady of Novak’s Hall. She had reveled in that reputation. She loved the power. The influence. The thrill of knowing that one word from her could bring Drax down on anyone who dared cross her.

Even Corvin Briarwood had rewarded her for bringing such a powerful man into his service.

But now all of that was gone. And her fame along with it.

Drax was dead, and no matter what she did now, she could never bring him back.

She slowly lifted her eyes toward Jake, her grief and rage boiling over. “You bastard!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “How dare you kill Lord Corvin’s men? You’ll pay dearly for this!”

She had barely finished speaking when footsteps thundered through the hall. Fast and approaching.

Every head turned.

Then, from the staircase, Cassian emerged from the darkness, a deep frown creasing his face as his eyes swept across the ruined hall.

Elder Killian followed, his steps unhurried, his expression calm. But beneath that composure was curiosity, he wanted to see the man who had defeated the Black Hand and Drax.

Several guards followed behind them, members of the Black Hand who had stayed upstairs to secure the penthouse.

The moment the guests saw them, a glimmer of hope returned to their faces.

“It's Lord Cassian!” One of them shouted.

“And he brought elder Killian with him!”

“This bastard is finished now. He will regret ever setting foot in Novak’s hall.”

Their murmurs echoed through the hall, slowly replacing the fear that had once overwhelmed the room.

The moment Nela saw Cassian, her face brightened up. She quickly rose to her feet and hurried towards him, dropping to her knees.

“M-my Lord… this bastard stormed into the hall and killed your men,” she said, breaking into tears to prove her point. “He killed Drax and insulted you.”

Cassian gritted his teeth, the veins in his neck bulging with rage.

His eyes shifted toward the stranger standing in the middle of the hall.

Jake’s head was slightly bowed, his wet hair concealing one side of his face. Blood dripped slowly from his clenched fists, landing on the marble floor.

“You bastard!” Cassian roared, his voice cold and deadly. “Are you the stray dog who did this?”

Jake said nothing. His head remained bowed, his wet hair covering one of his eyes.

Hannah and Charlie came walking down the stairs at that moment, joining the crowd.

Hannah’s eyes fell on the stranger, the way his head was bowed, his posture. She couldn’t see his face yet, but the longer she stared at him, the stronger the strange sensation in her chest became.

Something about seemed oddly familiar. Almost nostalgia. Like a distant memory she couldn’t quite grasp.

“You bastard,” Cassian’s voice hardened. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”

His voice cut through the silence. But Jake remained silent.

“Do you have a dead wish? Do you have any idea who my father is?”

Jake stood still.

Then slowly, he raised his head, his lone eye fixed on the man standing a few feet before him.

“Are you the one they call Cassian?” he asked, his voice low in the silence.

Cassian clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. “And what if I am? Do you know me?”

Jake’s jaw tightened slightly. “Fifteen years ago, your father committed a grave sin.”

His voice echoed through the hall.

“I’m here to repay that debt with blood.”

Hannah’s eyes widened slightly.

Cassian gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. He stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of Jake, then tilted his head up to meet his gaze.

“You bastard,” he said coldly. “Looks like I need to teach you some manners before I deal with you.”

Then he drew his hand back and threw his hand forward.

Jake didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. He just stood there.

SMACK!

The slap landed hard across his face, hard and fast, echoing through the hall.

For a moment, silence fell through the hall.

Then everyone smiled satisfactorily.

Nela smirked wickedly.

But behind her, Elder Killian slowly narrowed his eyes.

“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Jake said, his voice calm but carrying through the entire hall. “You should be on your knees, begging for mercy.”

Then, before anyone could react, Jake shifted his stance and threw a punch.

Fast.

Raw.

The punch landed hard on Cassian’s shoulder with a sickening crunch, breaking through the joint socket and throwing him several feet back.

The hall fell silent.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Cassian crashed into Elder Killian who caught him with one hand. His face contorted into so much pain as he clutched his arm.

He turned to Elder Killian, his voice rising into a furious roar.

“KILL HIM!” he screamed. “KILL THAT BASTARD RIGHT NOW!”