Five years ago, her father had arranged her marriage to Kael Renforth.
Even though she had felt utterly despondent about her idle, bookish husband who spent all his time buried in medical texts, she hadn't opposed her father's decision.
It wasn't love.
But she was married now—and that was a principle she would not compromise.
"Kael Renforth, that useless fool, how could he possibly deserve you?"
Her uncles—Eldrin, Magnus, andCalen—voiced their disdain one after another.
"That idiot actually came back today," Eldrin sneered, his expression dripping with schadenfreude. "And guess what? The first thing he did was offend the Malavant family by injuring Valen Malavant!"
"At this rate, you won't even need to divorce him. Kael Renforth might just be dead by tomorrow!"
Their jeering laughter filled the room, but Lyria stood frozen, memories of her husband—barely a shadow in her mind after five long years—surfacing briefly.
Five years... she could hardly recall his face anymore.
"Lyria, I can't believe your father made you marry such a worthless man."
"And that Kael Renforth," another uncle chimed in, "if not for his shameless flattery of the fourth brother, what else would he have? The whole city mocks him. Everywhere I go, people call him the toad who married Port Avallon's fairest goddess!"
The room erupted in more scornful remarks, each cutting deeper than the last.
"Enough!" Lyria's voice rang out sharply. "He is still my husband!"
Her protest hung in the air, but before she could say more, the family matriarch, Lady Catherine, silenced her with a commanding gesture.
"Lyria," the elderly woman said as she approached, taking Lyria's hand in her own, her voice soft with a mixture of pity and regret. "You've endured so much for this family."
But her next words pierced through Lyria like a dagger:
"For the sake of the Denvair family, divorce Kael Renforth. Marry Victor Silvervein. Only then can you save us."
Meanwhile, at the Malavant family estate...
A massive black Hummer rolled to a stop in front of the mansion. A striking woman stepped out, her movements brisk and deliberate as she approached the rear door.
Opening it, she bowed low and addressed the passenger with unwavering respect.
"My lord, we have arrived at the Malavant house."
Kael Renforth opened his eyes. The air in the vehicle grew icy, and an oppressive chill emanated from him.
"If they dare to push the Denvair family to the brink, they will pay the price."
The Malavant house loomed ahead, bathed in the crimson hues of the setting sun, like a fortress soaked in blood.
At the gates, Kael spoke, his voice cold and resolute:
"From this moment forward, no dog of the Malavant family leaves here alive."
The striking woman flinched at his tone but quickly straightened, her voice steady as she replied, "Understood, my lord."
With that, she unsheathed her blade, a flash of silver that shimmered with deadly intent.
The first guard fell without a sound. The courtyard, once lively, fell eerily silent. Moments later, screams erupted.
Kael walked through the chaos with measured steps, his hands clasped behind his back, indifferent to the carnage around him.
In the rear courtyard, Valen Malavant had been rallying his men when Kael's figure appeared in the doorway. Valen's smug expression faltered.
"Have you come to beg for forgiveness?"
Kael chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"I've come to kill you."
"Kill me? You? Alone?" Valen sneered, his laughter sharp and mocking. "It seems you're as much of a fool as you are useless. Do you even realize where you are?"
Kael's voice remained steady, his tone devoid of emotion. "For you, I am enough."
Valen's smirk twisted into a sneer. " Lyria Denvair, are you blind? How did she end up with someone like you? You're a joke!"
His disdain quickly turned to fury as he barked, "Kill him! A million gold pieces to whoever brings me his head!"
The courtyard filled with the sound of steel being drawn. Over a hundred armed men closed in, their weapons gleaming under the fading light.
Kael stood his ground, his gaze cold and unyielding as death closed in around him.