Celeste Denvair shot a sidelong glance at Eldrin Denvair, his tone dripping with mockery. "Still, why would that useless man dare to insult you, Eldrin?"
The jab landed squarely, drawing a deep scowl from Eldrin. He knew what Celeste was doing—exploiting the moment to belittle him. The Denvair family wasn't as unified as it appeared, and Eldrin, favored by their grandmother, stood as the most likely heir. Celeste wasn't above taking cheap shots to undermine him.
"What are you implying, Celeste? Are you enjoying the fact that a nobody dared to insult me?" Eldrin snapped.
"Not at all, my dear brother," Celeste replied with a faint smile. "I'm merely expressing concern."
Lyria's soft voice broke through the simmering tension. "Grandmam and Eldrin, Kael Renforth was out of line earlier. I apologize on his behalf." Her gaze lowered, a mixture of frustration and resignation etched across her features.
The family matriarch shook her head, her expression a blend of sorrow and exasperation. "Lyria, this isn't your fault. It's your father's. He insisted you marry that useless man, ruining your prospects! Listen to me, child—divorce Kael Renforth before it's too late. Perhaps then, we can save his life."
Lyria's eyes clouded with doubt as her grandmother's words took root. She had promised her father she'd stand by Kael, but his reputation and actions had made him a constant source of ridicule. Despite her dissatisfaction, she had never considered divorce—until now. Her grandmother's suggestion stirred thoughts she hadn't dared entertain.
But before she could respond, a commotion outside shattered the quiet. Through the grand windows, the family watched in stunned silence as a convoy of sleek black vehicles rolled into their courtyard, each one parking with military precision.
The doors opened, and men in dark suits poured out, moving in disciplined unison. The air grew thick with tension as the family struggled to process the sheer scale of the display. It wasn't dozens—it was hundreds, and every man bore an aura of menace.
Eldrin's face turned pale. "They're here. The Malavant family has sent their enforcers."
The matriarch's voice trembled. "So it has come to this. Eldrin, help me to the door."
Supported by her eldest grandson, the frail old woman made her way to the entrance, each step slower than the last. Her bent frame and hesitant gait made her seem even older than she was. The weight of the family's looming downfall hung heavy over her.
As they reached the door and stepped outside, the sight before them stole what little strength remained. There weren't merely hundreds of men—there were over a thousand. At the head of the group stood a towering man clad in a simple vest, his muscular frame and scar-covered skin exuding raw power. His presence was nothing short of terrifying.
Eldrin's voice cracked as recognition struck him. "That… that's Devil Deven!"
Gasps echoed through the gathered family members, and the matriarch nearly collapsed from shock. Eldrin caught her just in time, but his own hands trembled.
Deven's name was one the Denvair family knew all too well. As Enoc Malavant's most ruthless enforcer, he had led countless raids that crippled the Denvair family's businesses, clearing the way for the Malavants to rise. His brutal reputation was second to none, and his presence here could mean only one thing—retribution.
Eldrin glanced toward the house, a spiteful smirk curling his lips. "Kael Renforth is as good as dead. This is the price for his insolence."
Deven stood motionless, his cold eyes scanning the gathered family members. With a sharp gesture, a subordinate handed him a fearsome machete. Its blade gleamed in the sunlight as he brandished it with ease.
The synchronized sound of steel rang out as the men behind Deven drew their weapons, each blade glinting like a harbinger of doom. A chilling silence descended over the courtyard as the weight of the moment pressed down on the Denvair family.
Kael Renforth's actions had brought them to the brink, and it seemed that no one—not even the mighty Denvair family—could escape the reckoning now looming before them.