"You still have the nerve to come back here!" Eldrin Denvair's voice boomed as he pointed an accusatory finger at Kael Renforth.
Lyria stepped forward, her voice firm. "Why shouldn't he come back? No matter what, Kael Renforth is my husband."
Her defense surprised the room, particularly Eldrin, who froze for a moment. Lyria had never seemed pleased with her marriage to Kael—why was she standing up for him now? He quickly dismissed it as a ploy.
Eldrin slammed his pudgy hands onto the table, his face reddening as he rose to his feet. "You're nothing but a useless fool! Five years and you still haven't learned a thing. The moment you come back, you provoke Valen Malavant!"
He jabbed a finger in Kael's direction. "Do you even have the brains to realize what you've done? The Malavant Marquisate isn't something you can afford to cross! If you have any sense, you'd divorce Lyria and cut ties with the Denvair family before you drag us all down with you!"
Eldrin crossed his arms, his disdain plain as day, making no effort to hide it. His scornful gaze bore down on Kael, as though addressing a stain on the family name.
Kael remained unmoved, his expression devoid of emotion, yet his eyes betrayed a glint of icy contempt. Years of enduring Eldrin's derision and venomous words had long since eroded any sense of familial connection. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low growl. "Are you a dog of the Malavant family now? Have you forgotten what it means to stand for the Denvair family's honor?"
Taking a deliberate step forward, Kael towered over Eldrin, his tone frigid. "Remember this: life is precious. Don't waste yours groveling."
A suffocating aura enveloped Eldrin, who instinctively stumbled back. Kael's sharp, piercing gaze rooted him to the spot, sending a shiver down his spine. In that moment, Eldrin felt as though he stood on the brink of death.
Lyria furrowed her brow, her gaze lingering on Kael. He wasn't the same man she had married. Five years ago, he endured the Denvair family's cruelty in silence, but now, his chilling demeanor and commanding presence filled the room with an oppressive weight. The very air seemed colder.
"Kael Renforth…" Lyria sighed, her voice a mixture of unease and frustration.
Kael's harsh words toward Eldrin were troubling. After all, Eldrin was family, and their strained relationship could cost them dearly. Moreover, with the Malavant Marquisate now provoked, Kael's life—and by extension, theirs—was in greater peril. In Port Avallon, insulting someone of Valen Malavant's status was akin to stepping on a lion's tail. The retaliation would be swift and brutal.
Lyria's voice broke through the tense silence, softer but firm. "You've just returned. There's plenty of work to do around the house. Go and clean it up."
Her words were hurried, not scolding but protective, an attempt to diffuse the tension before Eldrin's temper erupted entirely.
Kael smiled faintly, as if the insult didn't sting. "Alright, I'll take care of it."
As Kael turned and ascended the stairs, the room collectively exhaled. Eldrin, still recovering from his earlier fright, sneered at Kael's retreating figure. "That useless fool… All he's good for is doing menial labor. Every time he shows up, it's nothing but trouble for the Denvair family. What a curse to be stuck with him."
The family matriarch sighed deeply, her weathered face lined with weariness. It was clear she understood Lyria's intentions. Her granddaughter had sacrificed her own future, and even now, she chose to defend a man the rest of the family deemed irredeemable.
Eldrin gestured toward the staircase, his voice rising again. "Did you see how that madman spoke to me just now? Is he some rabid dog that bites anyone who crosses him?"
"Eldrin don't waste your breath on him," Celeste Denvair interjected, his tone dripping with disdain. "He's worthless. Now that he's back, we'll just throw him out again. Every time he shows up, he turns this household into a circus. Poor Lyria deserves so much better."
The room echoed with murmurs of agreement, but upstairs, Kael Renforth moved with a quiet determination, unshaken by their words.