Chereads / The Shadow Crown / Chapter 35 - Chapter Thirty-five:The Thorne Family

Chapter 35 - Chapter Thirty-five:The Thorne Family

The Thorne family—one of Calvarion's untouchable Nine Great Houses. A lineage of power and prestige, their name alone was enough to silence any dissent. Yet, at this moment, someone dared question their authority. A grave sin indeed.

Eleanor Thorne remained unfazed, her icy expression betraying no emotion as she slipped the black card back into her pocket. The staff member, now fully grasping the gravity of the situation, glanced nervously at the young man standing behind her.

Could it be that this man commanded an even greater power than the Thorne heiress herself?

The room fell silent, all eyes watching as the tension mounted. Only Elias Malavant dared to break the stillness, clinging to his misplaced hope.

"Well? Have you confirmed it yet? Throw them out!" Elias barked, his voice cutting through the quiet.

To the staff, however, he looked like nothing more than a desperate fool. Blinded by hatred, Elias failed to recognize the significance of the card Eleanor had presented. Any astute businessman would have known better.

Then, the security team arrived.

Elias's grin widened, anticipating the humiliation of Kael Renforth. He could already picture the man being thrown out like a beggar.

"Kael Renforth, high-end places like this aren't for you. Take your hired actress and go back to washing dishes where you belong!"

Kael Renforth remained calm, his gaze fixed on Lyria.

"Mr. Malavant," the head of security said, "you have disrupted the auction proceedings with your behavior. We must ask you to leave."

"What?!" Elias's voice cracked. "Why me? I exposed this fraud—"

The staff knew their limits. Offending Elias Malavant, Port Avallon's wealthiest merchant, was risky. But crossing Eleanor Thorne? Unthinkable.

Without letting him finish, the guards dragged Elias away.

"You're making a mistake! It's Denvair Company! It's Kael Renforth! They're the ones—"

"Wait."

Kael Renforth's voice cut through the chaos as he rose from his seat.

He approached Elias, leaning close enough to speak in a low, chilling tone.

"Everything you want, I will take. Piece by piece. What belongs to the Denvair family will be reclaimed, one way or another."

Elias's eyes widened in panic.

"Kael Renforth, I swear I'll see you dead before I'm done!" he spat, consumed by rage.

The news spread like wildfire: Denvair Company had secured the Port Square property for fifty billion.

A staggering, unthinkable price.

Eleanor Thorne left quietly, her mysterious presence adding an air of intrigue. Alone now, Kael Renforth turned to leave, only to find Lyria waiting nearby.

Her expression was unreadable—neither angry nor pleased, but tinged with something... off.

"Let's go home," Kael said, his voice gentle.

"Who was that woman?" Lyria's sudden question stopped him cold.

The warmth in Kael's smile froze.

"We'll talk about it at home," he said.

Lyria lowered her gaze, falling silent.

The ride home was steeped in uneasy quiet.

Kael tried to break the tension. "What do you feel like eating? I'll cook."

"Who was she?"

Her voice was calm but unwavering.

First, there was Deven, appearing out of nowhere with thirty billion. Now, it was this enigmatic woman providing fifty billion.

Lyria's mind churned with doubts. Could it be... had Kael become someone's boy toy?

The thought was absurd but impossible to ignore. Eleanor Thorne's beauty and commanding presence were undeniable.

The idea disgusted Lyria. And yet, as she glanced at Kael—his striking features and confident demeanor—she couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility.

"How else would someone like her hand over that kind of money?" she wondered.

"She's Eleanor Thorne," Kael finally said, his voice barely audible.

The name struck Lyria like a blow. Eleanor Thorne.

The image of the woman's flawless face and striking figure flashed through her mind. Normally, Lyria wouldn't have cared. But now... now, a strange pang of jealousy gripped her chest.

Though her marriage to Kael was in name only, that acidic feeling lingered, refusing to fade.

Her voice softened but remained sharp. "Who is she to you, Kael?"

He sighed, his eyes steady but heavy with unspoken truths.

The silence stretched between them, thick with questions that neither dared fully voice.