The One Above All

C3: You're Nothing Now

"You bastard! You think you're something?" Robert spat, forcing his head up. "You're nothing now! Even the army didn't want you! In the end, you lost everything and even got imprisoned—"

He stopped talking.

Because Veyron was already in front of him. He hadn't even seen him move until his shadow fell over him.

"You're right," Veyron's voice was low and steady. "I'm nothing."

There was a short pause before his foot suddenly came down—

CRACK!

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

A sickening crack rang out as Robert's hand bent unnaturally beneath his boot.

"You see…" he continued calmly, "…people like me fight and bleed for this country."

His gaze darkened. "And people like you…"

His foot pressed down harder.

"…hide behind it."

"ARGHHHHHHH!"

Robert screamed in pain, struggling like a wild man to break free, but Veyron's boot pinned his palm to the ground firmly, like a nail.

"P-Please—!" He cried, all arrogance finally gone. "Forgive me! I was wrong! I shouldn't have hit her. Please, forgive me!"

"Listen to me," Veyron's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Henceforth, if you lay your hands on my aunt or anyone else again, I will make sure that you don't have hands left!"

"I won't touch them again! I swear!" Robert nodded vigorously, his heart in his throat.

Veyron stared at him, long, cold and hard. Then, he lifted his foot.

Robert gasped painfully, clutching his broken hand.

"Get lost."

His voice was quiet, but it carried absolute authority.

"Yes! Yes! I'll leave now!"

Robert didn't hesitate. He scrambled up, stumbling, crawling— even running.

Outside, the crowd parted instantly. No one dared stop him or speak. But their eyes judged him as he ran past.

Facing their condemning glares, Robert gritted his teeth and swore hatefully, 'Veyron, you bastard! Just you wait. I'll be back!'

Silence returned inside the house. Veyron turned, his gaze softening—just slightly.

"Aunt…" He crouched beside Jasmine. "…I'm back."

---

The hospital corridor smelled of antiseptic and silence. Jack was rushed into the emergency room first. Veyron stood outside, unmoving.

Through the glass, he watched as doctors surrounded the boy. Their voices overlapped as they moved urgently.

"Malnutrition." 

"Internal bleeding."

"Shock."

Each word was like a nail. His fingers slowly curled… then tightened.

Jasmine was treated shortly after. Compared to Jack, her injuries were 'minor.'

A bandage wrapped around her head. Bruises spread across her arms and her old scars… far too many.

Veyron's gaze lingered on them, longer than it should. For a brief second, he regretted stopping earlier. 

If he had known Jasmine's injuries were this severe, Robert wouldn't have walked out of that house!

"Aunt… what happened?" He asked calmly, as soon as the doctor attending to her left.

Jasmine forced a weak smile. "It's nothing… just bad luck."

But under his gaze, she couldn't continue the lie. Her shoulders slumped.

"It started with gambling…" she said quietly. "He became addicted to it because of bad friends."

Her voice trembled, but she continued.

"He lost everything. The house. The savings. Even the money for Jack's future…"

"And when there was nothing left…" She lowered her head.

"He started taking it from us."

Silence filled the room. Veyron didn't speak, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Every coin she earned was stolen. Every one of her efforts was destroyed. And every scar was proof.

---

His aunt had raised him all those years when he lost his parents even though she was only a teen herself.

He owed his entire life to her. But all because of that scum, she had suffered so much during his absence and was reduced to this.

---

His jaw tightened and he uttered just two heavy words. "I see."

He reached into his pocket and brought out a black card. He placed it in her hand.

"Aunt, take this. I set the password to your birth date. You can spend as much money as you need."

His eyes darkened as he added, "But don't let Robert ever find out about this card."

Jasmine immediately shook her head, refusing to accept the card.

"No, I can't. You have already paid our hospital bills. How can I take your money too? No, I won't accept it."

"You can. I will feel guilty if you don't accept it," His tone didn't rise, but it didn't allow refusal either.  "I wasn't here before. But this won't happen again."

Jasmine knew his mind was already made up and there was no point in arguing. She could only compromise,

"Okay, fine. I'll take it. But just think of it as me keeping your card for you. I'll return it to you."

"Hmm," Veyron nodded in relief.

With the card, his aunt would never have to worry about money and that scum Robert won't be able to torment her again.

A brief silence followed, before she held his palm with a worried expression.

"Veyron, now that you have finally returned. What are your plans for the future? Time is no longer on your side."

Veyron's gaze shifted slightly.

"I must find someone first, then I'll make other arrangements."

"Who?" Jasmine tilted her head curiously.

"The sister of a comrade. He took care of me when I first joined the army. But... he's late now," his gaze turned gloomy.

However, when he lowered his head, his face was expressionless.

"Her name is Iris, and her last known location is this city."

Jasmine's brows furrowed.

"Iris…?"

Then suddenly, her eyes widened. "There is someone. Iris Blackwell."

Veyron looked at her. "Iris Blackwell?"

"Yes," She nodded. "The Blackwell family recently introduced their long-lost daughter. It was a very splendid celebration."

Veyron didn't react immediately. Could it be a coincidence maybe? 

Silas had searched for years, but it was quite difficult to find someone when all you have is an old picture and her name.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to find her before his tragic death. But even at his dying moment, she was all he could think of. 

Veyron's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If it's really her…" he murmured, his gaze glowering with a bright glint. "...then, you can finally rest well, Silas."