Melanie and Ophelia were completely dumbfounded. Their minds churned like a storm-tossed sea, struggling to process the shock that left them utterly speechless.
It was unbelievable, almost absurd! Scarlett’s son-in-law, that bumbling fool they’d always dismissed, had just revealed a side so commanding, so unrelentingly powerful. It sent shivers down their spines. He even reduced bigwigs like Jerome Stevens and Roland Hadley to groveling at his feet. It felt so surreal.
If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes and only heard it on the streets, they would never have believed it.
And the worst thing was, they had just been ridiculing Scarlett not long ago. Regret consumed them for their reckless behavior in offending Scarlett. What should they do if she decides to settle the score? There was no way they could afford to provoke her family. The thought made their hearts pound, their nerves stretched taut with fear.
As Kayden and his family vanished from sight, Roland struggled to his feet. His pride was already in tatters, so ignoring any concerns about saving face, he hurried over to Jerome and asked anxiously, “Stevens, who on earth is that man?”
Jerome shot him a glance and replied gravely, “Someone whose power and position were strong enough to crush a man like you thousands of times over with a single order. Be more mindful of your actions next time!”
With nothing more to say, he ignored Roland entirely and strode away!
When Scarlett returned home, she hadn’t yet recovered, her mind still replaying the scene from just moments ago.
Unable to contain herself any longer, she finally voiced her doubts. “Kayden, was that diamond ring really sent to me by Old Mr. Stevens, at your request?”
Kayden nodded casually without a second thought. “Of course. Didn’t you see me make the call right in front of you? Have you forgotten?”
Scarlett dared not admit she had thought it was gifted by Tony Scott. Her face was full of astonishment as she stammered, “I never would’ve guessed… you actually know someone like Old Mr. Stevens! What’s your relationship with him? Why is he so terrified of you?”
Although Scarlett should have displayed the composure befitting her age, her insatiable curiosity wouldn’t allow her to stay quiet. Once she recovered from the earlier shock, the questions she had been holding back spilled out. For the first time, a flicker of intrigue toward Kayden lit up in her mind.
Georgia stood silently by, observing Scarlett’s reaction.
Scarlett had always been the only one in their family who treated Kayden with coldness. But now, her frosty attitude seemed to be melting away.
“I saved his life,” Kayden replied, his tone neither warm nor distant.
Scarlett’s elegant eyes widened slightly as she pressed further. “So, this diamond ring worth 20 million… is actually a gift from you?”
“Who else?” Kayden said with a faint shrug, his expression completely nonchalant.
A soft gasp escaped Scarlett’s lips. At that moment, she began to see Kayden in a new light. Her supposedly clueless, foolish son-in-law was anything but ordinary. No wonder her daughter had been treating him so well lately-she must have caught a glimpse of his hidden side.
Scarlett’s questions came fast and relentless after that, but Kayden’s answers remained elusive as if he were playing a game of hide-and-seek with his words.
That evening, in an unexpected gesture, Scarlett personally cooked an elaborate spread and invited Georgia, Kayden, and Harvey to join her for dinner. Leah was away at school, so she missed the meal entirely.
At the table, Scarlett was practically a different person. Gone was her usual aloofness as she bombarded Kayden with question after question.
Harvey was thoroughly bewildered by her transformation, and he blurted out, “What’s gotten into you? Why are you acting so strange all of a sudden?”
By “strange,” he was, of course, referring to Scarlett’s newfound warmth toward Kayden. Annoyed, Scarlett snapped, “Don’t cut in! I’m having a conversation with my son-in-law. What does that have to do with you?”
Son-in-law. For the first time, she had openly called Kayden her son-in-law.
“By the way, Georgia, you and Kayden have been married for quite a while now. Don’t you think it’s time to consider starting a family? I really think Kayden is a great man, steady and responsible.” Anyone who could make Jerome willingly hand over something worth twenty million was no ordinary person, and Scarlett was well aware of that.
She might not fully understand the specifics of Kayden’s life, but she wasn’t blind. Every action he had taken, every gesture, had been quietly observed by her.
“What!” Harvey nearly choked, barely managing to avoid spraying his food across the table. He gawked at Scarlett as if he had just seen a ghost. He was utterly flummoxed by her sudden change in attitude.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s face flushed a deep crimson. The embarrassment and shyness crept down her neck like a spreading fire. Her mother’s transformation was astonishing, to say the least.
This was, without a doubt, the most joyful meal Georgia had shared with her family in three years. In the past, every dinner had been a battlefield, with Scarlett endlessly urging her to divorce Kayden.
For Kayden, this simple evening carried a profound weight. It was the first time he felt the warmth of family. A sweet feeling wrapped around him like a comforting embrace.
Yet, on this ordinary night, something extraordinary was brewing somewhere.
—
Three days had passed.
Massimo sat in silence, alone before five battered, outdated computers. The room was a chaotic mess, and the desks were buried under layers of dust as if time itself had abandoned the place. Three years had gone by since Massimo had last been here. That was when the devastating news of the Defender’s death shook his world. After that, Massimo refused to step into this room. He believed that no one else in this world was worthy of his help.
Ashes and cigarette butts littered the ground, and the stale, acrid scent of smoke hung heavy in the air. Massimo’s face was deathly pale, his hair disheveled and wild. Yet his eyes blazed with the excitement. The Defender was the only person he had ever truly respected, the one figure who inspired his unwavering loyalty. Following the Defender wasn’t just a choice but a calling, a purpose that gave his life value.
Three years ago, the news of the Defender’s death spread. His death left Massimo depressed as though the very purpose of his existence had vanished. From that day on, he couldn’t bring himself to return to this place. He sealed it off, and for three long years, he hadn’t set foot inside. During those years, many influential figures sought him out, begging for his help. Yet he ignored them all, not out of disdain but because, in his eyes, they were utterly undeserving of his talent.
His pride was built on his unmatched skill. With just five computers, Massimo could access nearly anything he desired. If he wanted to paralyze a city’s entire infrastructure, three minutes was all he needed to plunge it into chaos. For him, there were no locked doors, no hidden truths-only puzzles waiting to be solved.
Last time on the call, the Defender gave him the command to uncover the truth behind Ambrose’s death fifteen years ago. Massimo couldn’t refuse, not just out of loyalty but also out of reverence for the Defender. No matter how deeply the truth was buried, he was certain he could find the secrets of what happened to the Scott family fifteen years ago.
His fingers danced over the keyboard, pressing the final key. It was done!
What appeared on the screen was an inconspicuous article about the Scott family, one that most would overlook. But Massimo wasn’t like most people. As the saying goes: there are no impenetrable walls, and no flawless secrets. Somewhere, somehow, every story left a trace. And here it was-the faint echo of a truth from fifteen years ago. Soon, Ambrose’s hidden past would be brought to light.
Staring at the article, Massimo’s eyes burned with exhilaration! The satisfaction of discovery was obvious on his face. So, this was what had happened in the East all those years ago. Even though the truth had been suppressed, faint clues remained!
After finishing reading the article, he turned off the computers. There was still one last piece to confirm. Tomorrow morning, he will verify it. Then, he could finally bring the Defender the news. And along with it, he could deliver another piece of news to the Defender, something deeply personal: his marriage. He had wanted to share it before, but fear held him back. He had worried that if he spoke up, the Defender might insist he step away from missions altogether. And Massimo couldn’t bear that. He had been feeling indebted so he wanna do something for the Defender.
After all, it was thanks to the Defender’s guidance and trust that his name shook the world and turned him into a nightmare for countless nations. But after the Defender’s death, Massimo’s depression and decision to retreat into silence felt like a betrayal. But now, things were different. The mission was complete. Even if the Defender told him to move on and live his life, Massimo would feel at peace because he had fulfilled his duty.