A gunshot echoed through the air, sharp and deafening. The bullet tore through the bald man’s skull, leaving a gaping, bloody hole dead center in his forehead. A crimson spray burst outward.
From start to finish, Kayden’s actions were executed with perfect fluidity, without a hint of delay. To him, taking a life was as easy as breathing in and out. More importantly, killing scums like them was hardly something he should hesitate over.
He presented his brutal side in its rawest way! The crowd around him collectively sucked in a breath at the sight of this scene!
The passengers on the bus fell into stunned silence, and their eyes were all wide with terror when they stared at Kayden.
So many thoughts whirled around in their mind. “Who is this man? Is he some kind of killer? Will he crazily kill us all?” Fear sent them stumbling backward. In a single instant, Kayden had shifted from a rescuer to a devil who was far more terrifying than those thugs.
Kayden looked over his shoulder at the crowd, then turned to the bus driver and asked calmly, “Sir, can we get moving now?”
The driver was caught off guard. “Y-yes… we can go now!” he stammered.
Kayden gave a slight nod. Wearing an expressionless look, he started back to the bus.
“Wait!” a voice called out behind him. It was Ivy. She approached Kayden, clutching her child in her arms. With a look of gratitude, she said, “Thank you!”
Kayden’s gaze swept over Ivy. Her stockings were torn, and her face was streaked with tears. She looked utterly vulnerable. He glanced at the little girl in her arms. Little Vivian was clinging tightly to her mom and buried her face in her mom’s shoulder.
“I’m not doing this for you,” he said in a flat tone.
A flash of awkwardness crossed Ivy’s face. She hesitated a moment and racked her brain, wondering why he was acting so indifferent. “What I just said wasn’t really what I meant!”
She believed Kayden must have misinterpreted her earlier words, so she hurriedly explained, “I only said that to make you leave. I didn’t want you getting hurt because of me. If something happened to you, I’d feel guilty forever. If I’d known you were this strong, I never would’ve said that.”
Her words made Kayden furrow his brow even more. “I’ve already told you-I’m not doing this for you. These thugs are a menace, robbing and kidnapping brazenly like they own the place. I’m just serving justice, that’s all.”
Ivy eyed Kayden and thought to herself, “What a stubborn man! He insisted on putting on an aloof look, even though he’d clearly stepped in to help. Wait, was it because he was… annoyed? Maybe he’d seen her in Kyler’s car, and that had bothered him?”
No, no, no! Ivy instantly dismissed the thought and scolded herself.
They’d only met three times, and here she was, wondering if he might actually have feelings for her. That was just her vanity at play. Sure, she knew she was attractive, but Kayden didn’t seem interested in her. At least his expression hadn’t shown even the slightest hint of interest.
“By the way!” Ivy grabbed Kayden’s arm and asked, “Can I ride with you guys? I was actually heading to Vernon, the East, too.”
Kayden glanced at the driver and replied, “You should check with him.”
“Of course you can! Absolutely!” the driver chimed in.
Before long, the bus jolted and rattled over the rough road. Ivy and little Vivian were seated right beside Kayden.
Everyone on the bus nervously stole a glance at Kayden, afraid that one wrong move would provoke him to act violently. To them, he was now entirely a figure of terror!
Little Vivian stared at Kayden for a long time. After realizing he wasn’t looking back, she said in a sweet, childish voice, “Daddy, are you mad at Mommy? I was also in the car just now, and that guy didn’t do anything to her!”
Her innocent words hung in the air, and everyone immediately guessed the whole story. This guy killed those thugs out of anger. After all, they bullied his wife and child badly, and how could he not be furious? But still, what stung the most was that his wife had run off with that rich man!
There was a subtle shift in the way everyone looked at Ivy. In their eyes, Ivy had become a loose woman who still flirted around even thought she had a husband like this.
“Vivian!” Ivy hugged her daughter tightly and tried to hush her, “Stop talking nonsense!”
The little girl looked up at Ivy with wide, innocent eyes and asked, “Mommy, didn’t you say we came here to find Daddy? Why aren’t you two talking now that we’ve found him? I want Daddy to hold me.”
Vivian’s words caught Ivy off guard. She cast a quick, flustered glance at Kayden beside her, and her face flushed crimson down to her neck. “I’m sorry if she’s caused you any trouble,” she murmured, clearly embarrassed.
Kayden still remained composed. “It’s fine-she’s just a child.” There was no need to get upset over something a child said. Though he did wonder why this little girl seemed so convinced he was her father.
Then, without warning, Vivian flung herself at Kayden. “Daddy, hold me!”
When Kayden snapped back to reality, little Vivian had already nestled herself into his arms.
She was so adorable, and it was only a simple request, so he had no reason to turn her down. He gently embraced her.
Ivy watched this scene quietly. Her heart ached as she saw Vivian snuggle close to Kayden with a blissful smile. For the first time, she saw such a smile on Vivian’s face.
As for Kayden, she saw how carefully he held Vivian. His whole body stiffened up as if he were afraid that even the slightest move would hurt Vivian.
This warm scene soothed Ivy’s anxiety. Her heart finally calmed down from the scare, and for a moment, she felt a faint sweetness creeping in.
After a while, Vivian drifted off to sleep in Kayden’s arms. “Thank you,” Ivy whispered to him.
Kayden threw her a side glance. “It was nothing.”
Ivy looked down at Vivian. There was evidently a pang of sorrow in her gaze. “Vivian has never seen her father-not once since the day she was born. I’m not sure why, but somehow, she believes you’re her dad. Maybe a father’s hug has always felt like something she could only dream of. Thank you… for making her dream come true, even if only for a little while.”
Her eyes grew misty, and a faint redness framed them as she fought back the tears threatening to spill. She had so many words to say, yet at that moment, she didn’t know where to begin.
Kayden stayed silent, simply holding the little girl close. He held her like that through the night. This was perhaps the warmest moment Kayden had ever experienced. His life had been filled with bloodshed and violence for so long that he’d forgotten he had a gentle side!
But now, as he held this little girl, a new thought took root. He suddenly had an urge to live in seclusion and walk away from war entirely. Years of wandering through battlefields had hardened his heart, yet now, he sensed a change occurring within himself.
In the past, he had thought he would either die in battle or grow old defending these lands. But Georgia had changed everything. She opened his eyes to a different life, a life he’d never allowed himself to consider.
Once he fulfilled his destiny and avenged Flood, he would leave it all behind! He would take Georgia somewhere secluded, where they could savor peace and delight in the rest of their days.
Ivy’s words caught in her throat as she stared at the silent Kayden. A thousand words welled up inside her, but all that came out was, “Can I rest my head on your shoulder?”
Kayden didn’t respond, but his silence was answer enough.
Ivy gently laid her head on his shoulder. Instantly a soft smile played on her lips!