Eldrin's voice trembled as he pleaded with his mother.
"Mother, you can't cast me out! I'm one of the heirs to the Denvair family!"
Desperation painted his face as he collapsed onto the floor, his composure shattered. He knew his mother's decisions were rarely reversed. If he were truly exiled from the Denvair family, there'd be nothing left for him—not power, not wealth, and certainly not pride.
"Enough, Eldrin! You brought this upon yourself by offending Kael. Serves you right," his mother snapped, her tone cold and dismissive.
Then, just as swiftly, she softened her expression, turning toward Kael with a forced smile.
"Kael, my dear grandson-in-law, you're truly a blessing to this family. The Denvair family will need your guidance and support to weather these hard times."
Kael Renforth observed the unfolding drama with a detached air, his piercing gaze cutting through the pretense. He had long anticipated this. Whether it was the matriarch or Eldrin, neither held any real power over him anymore.
He hadn't returned to the Denvair family out of loyalty to its name but to honor the dying wish of his father-in-law: to protect Lyria and her mother.
Under the matriarch's leadership, the Denvair family had spiraled into decline. Kael saw clearly that the family needed strong leadership, and Lyria was the perfect candidate. If she could be guided to reclaim their stolen assets from the Malavant family, the Denvairs could rise once again.
The matriarch wasted no time transferring the five billion to their struggling businesses, leaving the building in a rush with her entourage to plan their next steps. The room fell silent, leaving Kael, Lyria, and a few others behind.
Celine broke the silence, her voice laced with ambiguity.
"Kael, you've certainly made an impression today. But don't you think driving Eldrin out might stir up trouble?"
Kael smiled faintly but didn't reply. His confidence was unshaken.
Lyria, however, had her gaze fixed on him, her bright eyes filled with questions.
"Kael, are you hiding something from me?"
Her voice carried a mixture of curiosity and unease. Kael's actions—securing thirty billion, ousting Eldrin, and returning unscathed from the Malavant family—had upended her perception of him. When had the once aimless son-in-law become so decisive and formidable?
"When the time is right, I'll tell you," Kael replied calmly.
"Why not now?"
Kael shook his head, his smile enigmatic. It wasn't the right time. The truth about her father's death would only fracture their slowly mending relationship.
"Be wary of the Malavant family. They'll likely make a move soon," he warned, his tone firm.
This wasn't speculation; Kael had reliable intel. But his purpose in sparing the Malavants wasn't mercy—it was strategy. The family was a pawn, a means to draw out Victor Silvervein, the man lurking behind their schemes. Silvervein had targeted Lyria, and Kael intended to make him pay.
At the same time, the battle with the Malavants would be a trial by fire for Lyria, one that would sharpen her skills and prepare her for greater challenges ahead. Kael's long game required her growth—only then could he fulfill his promise to her father and leave with peace of mind.
"Don't hold back," he told her gently. "Focus on your plans; I'll handle the money."
With that, Kael turned and left her office, striding confidently toward the elevator.
At the Malavant Tower, in the towering skyscraper, a young man lounged arrogantly in a leather chair, his feet propped on the desk.
Elias Malavant stood before him, trembling visibly, his face pale. The heir to the Malavant family exuded an air of menace that filled the room.
"The Denvairs are still standing, Elias," the young man sneered. "The young master is... disappointed. You'd better have a good reason for your failure. Remember, the same hand that lifts the Malavants can just as easily crush you."
His words weren't just a warning—they were a death sentence cloaked in a thin veneer of civility.