"Uncle James." She breathed, relief washing over her.
A tall, commanding man strode forward, his presence immediately dominating the space. Behind him, two men dressed in black flanked him like silent shadows.
Sean, however, remained tense. She seemed to know who he was. Sean thought to himself as he strained to see the man Khalia referred to as uncle James.
Something about the older man's demeanor sent an unshakable sense of authority through the air. He was dressed in a crisp, tailored black suit, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable. His jet-black hair, streaked with silver, made him look distinguished, but there was a quiet menace lurking beneath his exterior.
James Clavette.
Who is he? Sean thought. And judging by the way the other men followed him like a general leading his army, he seemed like he was someone dangerous.
"Young Miss." James said smoothly, his voice calm yet firm. "Please stop this now. We have to get you home. Your grandfather is very worried about you."
Sean's gaze flickered at Khalia.
'Grandfather?'
Khalia's face remained unreadable, but she let out a quiet sigh, clearly expecting this encounter.
James continued walking toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. The way he carried himself spoke of experience, control, and authority.
Sean, however, was still stuck on his name.
'James Clavette… Why does that name sound familiar?'
James finally stopped in front of Khalia, but his eyes weren't on her anymore. They were on him.
His sharp gaze traveled over Sean's beaten body, his brow furrowing slightly.
Miss Austin. James said, his tone clipped. "Who is this?"
He barely gestured, but it was enough. His men immediately moved, stepping forward to surround Sean.
Sean's heart pounded. His body was too weak to fight back, but his instincts screamed at him to prepare for an attack.
Before he could react, Khalia's voice rang out, strong and commanding.
"Stand down." She ordered.
The men hesitated.
"He is a friend." Khalia continued, her tone brooking no argument. "He's hurt and needs to be taken to a hospital."
James narrowed his eyes slightly. Silence stretched between them.
Then, after a moment, James inclined his head slightly.
"As you wish, young Miss." He said, though the tension in his stance remained.
Sean exhaled slowly, his body relaxing just a fraction. There seemed to be more to this girl than meets the eye. Sean thought after seeing such a powerful looking man listening to a little girl. Who truly are you, Khalia?
All three men stood over Sean, their expressions unreadable as they assessed his condition.
What the hell happened to him? The first man thought to himself. As he assessed Sean's condition. From the way he lay sprawled on the ground, he was clearly severely injured.
The second man watched as Sean struggled to breathe. He could barely breathe. The second man thought.
Sean swallowed hard, staring up at the men surrounding him. Their imposing figures cast long shadows under the dim light, making him feel even more vulnerable. His muscles ached, and a sharp pain throbbed in his back with every shallow breath he took. He could barely lift his arms, let alone defend himself if they decided to attack.
'I can't even defend myself… If something happens, I'm done for.' He thought grimly, his heartbeat quickening with anxiety.
But then, a gentle warmth pulled him from his panic.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on Khalia. She was standing tall beside him, her golden eyes filled with quiet reassurance. A soft smile curved her lips, and for some reason, that simple gesture eased his worries.
'She's not afraid…' Sean realized. 'She really means to protect me.'
James, however, was still uncertain.
His sharp eyes flicked from Sean to Khalia, studying the silent exchange between them. The way she looked at Sean, the unwavering determination in her stance, was enough to make him pause.
'Who is this man?' James wondered, his brows knitting together.
He had known Khalia since she was a child. He had watched over her, guarded her, followed her every order. But never before had he seen her act like this, so fiercely protective over a stranger.
'Does the young Miss really know him?'
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, searching for answers in her expression. But Khalia remained firm, her posture unyielding, as if daring him to challenge her decision.
James sighed inwardly. He knew better than to question her once she had made up her mind.
Without another moment of hesitation, he straightened his posture and gave a sharp nod.
"You heard the young Miss." James commanded, his deep voice carrying an air of authority. "Let's take her friend to the hospital."
The two men beside him immediately responded, stepping forward without question.
As they approached Sean, Khalia quickly spoke up, her voice urgent.
"Be careful." She warned, her golden eyes narrowing. "He's hurt really badly."
Her words carried weight, and the men hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding in acknowledgment.
Sean exhaled slowly, his body still wracked with pain.
Mr. Clavette's sharp eyes moved between Sean and Khalia, his mind racing with questions.
Does she truly know this young man? He wondered, his gaze lingering on the way she stood protectively by Sean's side. There was a softness in her expression, an unmistakable kindness that she rarely showed to strangers. It was as if she had already decided that this injured man was someone worth protecting.
And that troubled him. I know all of Miss Austin's friends. This man… I have never seen him before.
His attention flickered back to Sean. The young man was in terrible shape, his clothes torn, his body limp, and his face pale from blood loss. Every shallow breath he took was laced with pain. His injuries were severe, too severe to be the result of an accident.
Who is he? Mr. Clavette thought. And why was he hurt so badly?
A more unsettling thought crept into his mind. Could this be a trap?
Mr. Clavette's instincts had been honed through years of serving the Austin family. He knew that powerful enemies lurked in the shadows, always looking for weaknesses to exploit. What if this man was planted here to gain Khalia's trust? What if he was a pawn in a much larger scheme?
He couldn't take any chances.
Still, he had his orders. And more importantly, he saw the look in Khalia's eyes, the quiet determination, the unspoken plea for him to trust her decision.
Mr. Clavette sighed inwardly before speaking in his usual composed tone.
Be careful not to aggravate the young master's injuries. He instructed the men, his voice firm but measured.
Khalia turned to him with a grateful smile, her hazel eyes shining with warmth. It was rare for her to smile like that, and even rarer for it to be directed at him.
For a moment, Mr. Clavette was silent, then, almost unconsciously, he returned the smile, just a small one, but genuine nonetheless.
Whoever this young man is… he clearly means something to the young Miss.
His thoughts drifted toward her grandfather. The head of the Austin family would not take this news lightly. Khalia had never shown such personal concern for an outsider before.
I wonder how her grandfather will react when he hears this report…
With a final glance at Sean, Mr. Clavette made his decision.
The two men carefully lifted Sean, ensuring they didn't worsen his injuries, before carrying him toward the waiting car. Sean groaned slightly, but exhaustion and pain kept him from resisting.
Meanwhile, Mr. Clavette moved to Khalia's side, his steps steady as he escorted her.