He slept restlessly, his thin face etched with tension and beads of sweat on his broad forehead.
“Cheyenne, no!”
The tightly closed door suddenly twisted open from the outside. A tall figure in black appeared at the doorway, startled by the man’s earlier cry.
He paused for a moment.
As he listened carefully, the room returned to calmness with only shallow breathing sounds heard.
The visitor tightened his grip on a small silver knife and slowly approached the sofa. He stood facing away from the moonlight so that his facial features were unclear. However, those dark and bright eyes were unforgettable at first glance.
After standing there for about half a minute, he seemed to have made up his mind and slashed towards the sleeping man with his small knife. The killing intent was sharp.
Just as it was about to reach Kelvin’s neck, who had been asleep but now opened his eyes wide awake in time to avoid it by leaping off of the sofa like a fish out of water.
The blade brushed against his cheek, almost disfiguring half of Kelvin’s face!
He appeared to be sleeping, but in reality, he was just resting his eyes. He had been startled awake by a terrifying nightmare moments ago. Being vigilant as he was, how could someone hold a knife to his throat without him noticing?
In fact, the instant the man opened the door, he had sensed something amiss. That was why he had pretended to be completely unaware and asleep.
The attacker was here to kill him!
Kelvin smoothly evaded the attack, causing the man’s knife to mistakenly strike the pillow instead. In an instant, the pristine white down feathers from the pillow fluttered down like snowflakes, with one feather delicately landing on Kelvin’s shoulder.
Dressed in black attire, the white feather appeared like a brooch, adding a touch of refinement to his overall aura.
“Who are you?”
Kelvin believed that he hadn’t offended anyone in Onistead, and with his mask on, no one would know that he was indeed Kelvin. So why would someone try to kill him?
In the darkness, he couldn’t make out the person’s face, but there was a familiar aura emanating from the man’s presence. As for Kelvin’s question, the man’s response was rather smug.
“I’m your father!”
Such verbal abuse-like response would make people cringe even if said during normal times let alone being said directly towards the esteemed Kelvin.
Kelvin licked his lips and elegantly bent down to pick up the mask that had fallen to the ground, wiping it off with his sleeve.
He put the mask back on and his gaze suddenly turned cold. “My father? You can try in your next life.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Kelvin grabbed the ashtray from the table and slammed it hard towards the man’s head with full force, like cracking a walnut.
However, the man was not as easy to deal with as he thought. He quickly dodged Kelvin’s attack and the ashtray missed its target, hitting him on his shoulder instead.
There was a muffled sound followed by a gasp of breath from the man. “You little brat! You actually hit me!”
Did this guy think they were close or something? Kelvin hadn’t forgotten that this same person had tried to kill him earlier. With furrowed eyebrows and disdainful eyes, he retorted. “Now you want to be my father? Who do you think you are?”
Channing choked at Kelvin’s words. He had wanted Kelvin dead but after their confrontation just now, Channing admired how strong-willed and capable he was under pressure.
If it weren’t for the wrongdoing Kelvin had committed against Cheyenne in the past, the man would have likely treated Kelvin as a talented junior and treated him well.
Of course every father has a desire deep down inside them wanting to break legs of anyone who dares seduce their daughter.
It was getting late now so Channing figured it was time for him to retreat.
He put away his knife which he had brought along earlier into a nearby trash bin before clapping his hands together confidently, then turning around, jumping out of window and saying, “Kid, remember what you said today because one day you might regret it.”
“I never go back on my word,” replied Kelvin firmly.
“Good!” The man left without a sound, just as he had arrived, disappearing as gracefully as a bird in flight.
After a couple of seconds, the room fell into silence. Kelvin quickly took a few steps forward and approached the window, leaning out to take a look.
Outside was pitch black, and there was nothing to be seen. The man had already gone far away.
His speed was truly remarkable. Could it be that he had backed down?
Kelvin decided to close the window and return to bed, continuing his sleep. He had more important and challenging tasks awaiting him the next day.
The nighttime incident didn’t affect his sleep. In the latter half of the night, Kelvin slept soundly.
The sky remained dark, akin to a bottle of deep blue ink. Yet, on the edges of this darkness, a touch of crimson emerged, as if accidentally stained.
The knocking on the door interrupted the lightly sleeping man. He quickly rose from the couch, his bare feet landing on the cold wooden floor. He walked towards the door with swift movements.
The door opened.
A familiar and resolute face appeared before him. Kelvin furrowed his brow, his gaze falling upon the delicate and slender figure hiding behind the man.
With an annoyed tone, he asked, “Why did you bring her along?”
At these words, the young girl hiding behind Chris trembled slightly. Her slender fair hand subconsciously grabbed onto his arm as she lowered her head, afraid to look at Kelvin.
Chris gently patted her hand in a comforting manner, with a gentle gesture that was full of paternal kindness.
“Krystal, don’t be afraid, my boss won’t hurt you.”
Turning around and coughing lightly, he explained to Kelvin. “Her blind adoptive mother has passed away. She is alone in this world, so I decided to take care of her as my girlfriend.”
As he finished speaking, Kelvin’s lips twitched slightly as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. He had wanted to criticize Chris for being an older man dating a younger woman but then realized that Krystal was about Cheyenne’s age. Moreover, he himself was even one year older than Chris… so instead he gave an order.
“Get ready and settle her down before we leave.”
“Yes!”
Chris was overjoyed; since his boss didn’t say anything else, it meant that he agreed!
Before bringing Krystal along with him here today, Chris had imagined many scenarios where his boss would be angry since they were not on good terms with the Parry family.
For Kelvin though, it felt like watching an elder son finally getting married which made him feel content despite not having any good feelings towards the Parry family people.
After Chris’s initial joy, he quickly regained his composure, remembering his main task. He calmly placed his hands on Krystal’s shoulders.
“You go back to your room and wait for me there; I’ll be back soon.”
Krystal bit down on her lip while looking at him with watery eyes full of timidity – like a newborn calf clinging onto its mother –
“Exactly when?”
“Soon means very soon.”
“Then I’ll wait for you when you come back.”
“Okay.”