Sariah clung tightly to Kayden, her eyes filled with tears as she spoke, “Dr. Scott, is that really you? Truly you? I thought it was just a dream… I thought I would never wake up again, that I’d never see you again in this lifetime.”
Their embrace left everyone present in shock. Sariah had married into the Henderson family, after all. Though her husband had passed, making her technically single, it still felt inappropriate to act like this in front of the lead of the Henderson family. To many, it seemed like a blatant disregard for the Henderson family’s honor, even an outright insult.
As these thoughts crossed their minds, those around couldn’t help but glance at Lewis.
Lewis, too, looked stunned. Sariah and Kayden were overly intimate, almost like lovers. It was as if they had no regard for the dignity of the Henderson family!
However, Lewis didn’t dare express his anger openly, merely glaring at the embracing pair.
Standing nearby, Alex and Seth exchanged a look, thinking that the embrace and the way Sariah spoke to Kayden suggested something deeper between them.
No wonder the last time Kayden had come, Sariah had spoken to him incessantly-seems they’d already been involved for some time.
The two men’s gaze held not only shock but also envy. They had both come to the Henderson family often, putting on airs and occasionally trying to win Sariah’s favor. Even a brief glance from her was a thrill. After all, she was a stunning beauty.
Both men thought to themselves that Kayden, the War God of Seclela, was indeed extraordinary-even his way of winning women over was different. For him to capture the heart of someone as breathtaking as Sariah was truly enviable.
Greedy Wolf, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but frown. He quickly addressed the crowd, “Everyone, please step out for now! Defender and Wood have matters to discuss privately. Your presence will disrupt their conversation.”
Hearing this, Lewis and the others were taken aback. Lewis thought to himself, Is Greedy Wolf actually ordering us out? Sariah and Kayden are already behaving this way in my own home, and now they’re expecting to take things even further? This is outrageous.
Noticing Lewis’s incredulous expression, Greedy Wolf fixed him with a stare. “Mr. Henderson, is there a problem?”
Lewis quickly came to his senses, stammering, “N-no… no problem at all.”
If Kayden wanted to destroy the Henderson family, he could do so with just a word. What could Lewis do about it? He didn’t dare voice any objections.
Lewis felt helpless. He could only keep his thoughts to himself. He knew that fighting against Kayden would be akin to signing his own death warrant. Lewis didn’t want to die just yet, so he could only nod slightly and then silently leave the room.
Once outside, Lewis’s expression darkened considerably.
Earlier, with Greedy Wolf there, Lewis hadn’t dared to speak up, though his expression had already betrayed his displeasure.
In the room, Wood continued to cling tightly to Kayden, sobbing into his shoulder. Kayden could feel her tears soaking his shirt.
After a moment, he gently pushed her back, his hands on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes and asked, “What happened? What’s wrong?”
Kayden’s voice was cold, devoid of emotion, but to Wood, it was unmistakably familiar.
Wood lowered her head, her sobs subsiding, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable as she spoke, “I… I had a long, long dream. In the dream, I was surrounded by corpses… everywhere. I couldn’t see any faces, and I couldn’t find a way out. I was helpless, terrified, so alone. I wanted to escape, but no matter how I tried, I couldn’t. I thought I would die there, that I would never wake up. But then… I heard your voice. Your voice called me back, pulling me out of that place filled with death.”
As she finished speaking, her tears fell even harder, like a leaking faucet.
Kayden took a deep breath. There was no doubt-this was the power of the Baekui Five Needles, which could magnify a person’s fears until they perished within them. If Wood hadn’t been his subordinate, but an ordinary girl, she likely would have succumbed to it already.
“Tell me, what did the person who attacked you with the needles look like?” Kayden asked directly.
Wood frowned at his question, pausing for a moment before replying, “Last night, as I was sleeping, I felt something strange, like someone was watching me-staring with these large, intense eyes. The sensation was so strong that it made my skin crawl and my body covered in goosebumps.
“I felt the presence so vividly that I suddenly opened my eyes, and there he was, a man dressed in black, facing me. I was paralyzed on the spot, wanting to scream but unable to. I knew I was frightened out of my wits. His figure loomed over me like a beast, terrifying me completely. Just as I recovered enough to scream, he covered my mouth.
“With that single move, he shattered my attempt to escape. Then he grabbed me, his hands roaming over my body. I was barely wearing anything, so I could feel his rough hands, definitely those of a man. After a while, he stopped and leaned down, whispering in my ear, asking if I knew who he was. His voice was hoarse, magnetic, like it was coming from an old tape recording. I had no idea who he was. The next thing I remember, I was lost in that dream.”
“Wait… could that man have done something to me?” With that, Wood hastily checked her body, only to realize Kayden was standing right there.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Scott, I didn’t mean it!” Wood said, tugging at her clothes, embarrassed.
Kayden didn’t respond to her apology, instead murmuring, “Dressed all in black?”
He considered this for a moment before asking, “So you don’t recognize him?”
Wood froze for a moment, then replied, “I think I might know him… but then again, maybe I don’t. It’s all a blur. I just feel like a lot of strange things have happened to me! That dream… it didn’t feel a simple dream. Dr. Scott, I heard you’re a Defender in one of the regions. If I’m your subordinate, can you tell me what it is that I do?”
Finishing her question, Wood clutched Kayden’s hand, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.