Eldrin Denvair rubbed his hands nervously, his eyes fixed on the fortune tantalizingly close yet painfully out of reach.
If he could just swallow his pride and plead with Kael Renforth, perhaps the Denvair family business could be saved.
In his mind, the plan was clear. With the company revived, Eldrin would still stand as the first heir to the family legacy, cementing his position at the top. After all, he managed the Denvair family's most vital enterprise, and this money was more than enough to rescue it.
"Lyria," Eldrin began, forcing a sheepish smile, "we're all family here. Could you maybe… talk to Kael for me? Convince him not to take things too seriously? It was all just a little misunderstanding…"
Misunderstanding?
Eldrin knew full well that approaching Kael directly would only backfire. His bruised ego wouldn't allow it, either. But Kael would listen to Lyria. This was his plan—a roundabout way to get what he wanted.
Lyria remained silent. Kael, however, wasn't about to let this slide.
"The wager," Kael said coldly, "was your idea."
He leaned forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"So leave Port Avallon."
The words struck Eldrin like a slap in the face, leaving him red with humiliation.
Rage boiled inside him, but he dared not retaliate.
The man in front of him wasn't someone to be trifled with. Anyone capable of producing thirty billion wasn't just wealthy—they were untouchable.
For now, Eldrin swallowed his fury. Let this moment pass, and he'd make sure Kael paid for it later. He's just a useless son-in-law living off his wife. Now he dares flaunt this arrogance?
In his mind, Eldrin clung to the thought: In the end, the Denvair family fortune will still be mine.
"Kael," Eldrin said, forcing an unctuous tone, "it's not that I don't want to leave, but you know how old Grandmother is. She needs her children around to take care of her. We're family—why make such a big deal out of this?"
Thick-skinned and shameless, Eldrin even dragged the elderly matriarch into his plea.
Celeste Denvair chimed in suddenly, her voice tinged with mockery. "Eldrin, you're absolutely right! Kael, you wouldn't want to make a public statement about this, would you? Imagine if the entire city found out."
Eldrin's chest tightened. This woman! Whose side is she even on? Her words weren't meant to help; they were a blatant reminder to Kael of the leverage he held.
Kael's patience thinned. He turned to Eldrin with icy precision.
"So, are you leaving or not?"
Eldrin's face twisted in defiance as he edged closer to the matriarch.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Kael merely nodded, leaning back into the sofa.
"Kael has always been so magnanimous!" the matriarch said, her tone sickeningly sweet. "Since you joined our family, I've always believed you were destined for greatness. Such a fine young man!"
The sudden shift in her demeanor was jarring. Gone were the days of derision and scorn—now replaced by honeyed flattery.
She pressed on, her tone dripping with calculated affection.
"The Denvair family is in a difficult spot right now. As part of the family, you and Lyria stand to inherit everything someday. Think of this as an investment—a lifeline for your own future. Wouldn't that be the sensible thing to do?"
Kael raised an eyebrow, his tone calm yet sharp.
"Oh? So you're saying the family assets are mine and Lyria's?"
The matriarch, sensing an opportunity, nodded eagerly.
"Exactly! Yours and Lyria's!"
She thought she had him now. No one would watch their future inheritance crumble without stepping in to save it.
Kael's response was casual, almost offhand.
"Then perhaps we should formalize it. How about some transfer documents to make it official?"
The room froze.
The matriarch's eager expression faltered, replaced by stunned silence. She hadn't expected Kael to take her words so literally.
Her chest tightened with resentment. This man is insatiable! she fumed inwardly. How dare he covet the family assets so openly?
Kael's voice broke the silence.
"I won't push you. Since Eldrin suggested the wager but refuses to honor it, why don't we settle this matter here and now—with everyone as witnesses?"
He leaned back into the sofa, exuding an air of effortless authority.
The matriarch's face darkened. Eldrin, meanwhile, was left to seethe in silent fury.
For Kael Renforth, the game was far from over. But for the Denvair family, the consequences of this gambit were only just beginning.