"Grandmother has awakened. She's stable now and only needs a few days of observation before being discharged," Lyria said calmly.
Her tone was indifferent, giving nothing away.
Kael Renforth forced a bitter smile. Unsure of how to navigate the silence, he thought of Dr. Chou's earlier invitation.
"Dr. Chou invited us to attend a charity auction ," Kael began. "Now that Denvair Enterprises is slowly recovering, such events could help us build connections beneficial to the company's future. That's why I agreed."
Charity auctions were less about philanthropy and more about networking—a gathering of influential figures from all walks of life.
Lyria's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
"I understand," she said at last, giving him a slight nod.
After five years of marriage, their interactions remained distant, almost mechanical—lacking passion, intimacy, or even genuine companionship.
Had it not been for her father's insistence, Lyria would never have crossed paths with Kael Renforth, let alone married him. But fate had its own designs, binding them together.
Back then, the entire city of Port Avallon gossiped about how the Denvair family's jewel—a brilliant, accomplished noblewoman—had been wed to an unremarkable commoner.
No one believed Kael Renforth deserved her.
Not even Lyria herself.
Yet despite her reservations, Lyria held firm to her principles. Whenever others demeaned or slandered Kael, she was the first to defend him.
But since his return, Kael had changed.
The man who stood before her now was a far cry from the unassuming figure she married. He exuded an enigmatic aura that confounded even her.
It was clear to everyone: without Kael Renforth, the Denvair family might not have survived their darkest days.
And yet…
Why does he keep so much from me?
Her gaze bore into him, searching for answers he refused to give. But as the silence stretched, Kael offered no explanation.
Sighing inwardly, Lyria rose and left the room.
The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air, a bittersweet reminder of her presence. Watching her retreating figure, Kael Renforth felt a wave of emotion he couldn't suppress.
Lyria, he thought, one day, I'll tell you everything. Just wait for me.
A heavy sense of guilt pressed down on him. He didn't crave wealth or power, nor did he long for an easy life. All he wanted was for Lyria to be truly happy.
As the lights went out and darkness engulfed the room, a pair of deep, black eyes stared into the night, lost in thought.
When the house fell completely silent, Kael Renforth moved.
Soundlessly, he slipped out of bed, vaulted through the window, and disappeared into the shadows of the night.
In the darkness, a figure emerged—a woman with an elegant yet commanding presence. Eleanor Thorne bowed deeply before Kael.
"Master! The Soaring Dragon Initiative has been fully set in motion."
"Good," Kael replied. "And the Silvervein family? What's their status?"
"They've sent someone to Port Avallon. I've been monitoring their movements closely. If anything changes, I'll inform you immediately."
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. Moments later, the night swallowed them both, leaving no trace of their presence.
The next day, at Malavant Tower, inside the chairman's office…
"Is this how you serve Mr. Silvervein? Do you even realize what you've done?"
Victor Silvervein's secretary's voice was thunderous, his sharp tone cutting through Elias Malavant like a knife.
"Mr. Silvervein is furious, and now you've dragged me into your mess!"
Elias Malavant, the head of Port Avallon's wealthiest family, stood trembling, bowing his head like a scolded servant.
Who could have imagined that the illustrious Marquis Malavant would grovel so pathetically, like a dog, before someone else's lackey?
"It… it was an accident!" Elias stammered, his voice shaking with fear.
Fear had consumed him.
His repeated failures had enraged Victor Silvervein, and he knew there was no escaping the consequences. Offending the Silvervein family could spell his doom.
But what terrified him even more was Kael Renforth.
Elias had thought Kael was just a brutish nobody—skilled in combat but lacking the means to wield real influence. He never imagined the man had powerful allies backing him.
The memory of Eleanor Thorne's dignified, commanding presence sent a shiver down his spine.
How could I have underestimated him so completely?
Clenching his fists, Elias Malavant resolved to find a way out of this nightmare.
"An accident?"
The secretary sneered, his expression twisting into something almost grotesque.
"That's your excuse? Do you think Mr. Silvervein invested so heavily in you for this kind of incompetence? You'd better pray your next move doesn't make things worse."