The One Above All

C5: You Have Three Seconds

Iris frowned and tried to shake Mr Rothwell off, "Let go..."

But he refused, his grip tightened around her waist, his fingers digging into her skin like claws.

A satisfied smile spread across his face and he shed his façade.

"I have always had any woman I want in this city and you are no exception. As long as you satisfy me, I will even hand over more projects to your father. Now kiss... me."

After speaking, he turned her and puckered his lips, trying to get a kiss. Iris turned her face away weakly, her body swaying unsteadily.

"Let… go…"

Seeing her struggle to get out of his grip made him more aroused.

"Tonight…" he leaned closer, his breath hot and disgusting against her face, "…no one is coming to save you."

His words sank into her like ice. Her fingers trembled. Her strength was fading fast.

The alcohol burned in her veins, clouding her thoughts, weakening her resistance.

'No…' She tried to push him away again.

But, she was already too drunk so her attempt at pushing him was quite weak. Mr Rothwell's smile disappeared and he looked extremely displeased.

"You bitch, if you try to make things difficult for me, I will make things hard for you and your family in this city. Now kiss me!"

She moved her head sideways, trying to avoid his kiss as she pushed at his hands frantically. But her arms felt too heavy and powerless.

Despair crept in. Slow and inevitable.

'Is this how it ends...?'

Her vision blurred and her body felt like it no longer belonged to her. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes.

Her eyes fluttered close subconsciously as Mr Rothwell lowered his disgusting, slimy lips on her.

But just as his lips were about to touch hers—

BANG!

The door exploded inward. Wood splintered violently. The lock shattered into pieces. Fragments scattered across the floor.

Cold air rushed into the room, sharp and sudden. Time seemed to freeze. A tall figure stood still at the doorway.

Backlit by the hallway lights, his face shadowed. But his presence was unmistakable.

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.

Mr Rothwell's body stiffened instinctively.

"The fuck… Who the hell—"

"You have three seconds."

There was a short pause, then, "Let her go."

His voice was low and flat, but it carried a terrifying sense of authority.

Iris' blurred vision shifted toward the door. She couldn't see clearly. But she saw him. An unmoving silhouette.

"Sir… Sir..." her lips parted weakly. "…please…"

She didn't know who he was. But she knew he was her only way out.

Mr Rothwell's expression twisted instantly.

"You bastard! Who the fuck are you? How dare you interfere in my affairs?!"

There was no response.

The man stepped forward.

One step.

Then another.

Each step echoed softly against the floor. But somehow, each one felt heavier than the last.

Mr Rothwell felt it. The pressure. The suffocating, invisible weight pressing down on him.

"You're courting death—"

He never got to finish his sentence.

SWOOSH!

In the blink of an eye, the man disappeared.

And reappeared right in front of him.

Before Rothwell could react, a hand shot out and gripped his throat.

His voice died instantly.

His entire body lifted off the ground.

"…!"

His eyes bulged in shock. His legs kicked wildly in the air. His fingers clawed desperately at the hand gripping his throat.

But it didn't budge.

Not even slightly.

"Your time… is up."

The cold, calm voice came again.

Iris collapsed backward into the sofa. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her vision swam, but she forced herself to look.

This man... Who is he?

Mr Rothwell struggled harder. His face turned red. Then purple.

"You have no idea who you're touching...!"

There was a pause, then—

"I don't care."

BANG!

Mr Rothwell's head slammed into the glass table.

CRASH!

The table shattered instantly. Glass splintered in all directions. Wine bottles burst open, liquid spilling across the floor like blood.

But that wasn't the worst of it. Blood followed and Mr Rothwell screamed.

"ARGH!!!!!!!!"

However, before he could even process the pain—

THUD!

A foot came down.

CRACK!

And a sickening sound echoed. His palm twisted unnaturally beneath the pressure.

"AAAAAHHH!!!" His scream tore through the room.

Outside, people stopped. Some turned toward the door. But no one dared come closer.

Mr Rothwell's body trembled violently. Then he went limp. Veyron released him, his body dropping to the ground like trash.

"Pathetic."

As soon as that was over, the suffocating pressure in the room vanished like it was never there.

Veyron turned towards Iris. Her breathing was uneven and her hands trembled. Her vision still blurred.

He walked toward her in slow, measured steps.

"Can you stand, Miss Blackwell?" His voice was calmer and gentle now.

She tried, but her legs gave out immediately. Before she could fall, he caught her and held her firmly.

It wasn't as inappropriate as Mr Rothwell did earlier.

"I'll call someone."

Within minutes, the hotel staff rushed in. They saw the shattered table, the unconscious man and the blood.

But no one asked questions.

They didn't hesitate to clean and carry Mr Rothwell out too. As if nothing unusual had happened.

The room grew quiet again. Iris sat back down slowly, holding a cup of warm tea handed to her.

Her fingers still trembled slightly.

After a few minutes, her breathing steadied and her thoughts cleared. She looked up at him.

"Sir... Who… are you? How do you know my name?"

There was a short pause before—

"Veyron Blackthorne."

His name settled in the air heavily, carrying a weight she couldn't yet understand.

Then he added,

"I knew your brother."

"…Silas?" Her fingers tightened around the cup, and her voice broke. "How is he?"

Veyron's eyes dimmed. Her question struck something deep within him. He knew just how much Silas had anticipated the day he would finally reunite with his sister.

Yet that day would never come.

"He asked me to find you."

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she mourned the brother she never had. She turned her face away, trying to hide it.

Too late.

He had already seen it.