Sophie was still basking in the warmth of the embrace, and her thoughts were drifting in a haze of blissful daydreams. But the sudden sound pierced through her reverie like a thunderclap. The shock hit her as if lightning had struck; she jerked back in alarm, scrambling free from Kayden’s arms in a flurry of motion.
She whipped her head around and froze when she saw a convoy of luxury vehicles had silently appeared on the roadside.
At the center of the group was a sleek black Benz SUV. It may look ordinary enough in appearance, but the entourage flanking it was anything but. Guarding the SUV were two magnificent Bentley luxury cars, each worth a million at least.
Two Bentleys serving as an escort for a single Benz SUV felt like something out of the question. The passers-by could hardly believe their eyes.
From the Bentleys emerged several men, each dressed in impeccably tailored suits that perfectly complemented their solid, muscular builds. Every step they took exuded professionalism and authority, and it could be clearly seen that they were trained. They moved quickly and formed two orderly rows around the SUV, three men per line. Their numbers may be few, but their presence was powerful enough to be impossible to ignore.
It was clear that their job was to protect someone important in the Benz car.
The driver of the Benz wasted no time and briskly got out to open the passenger door at the back. As the door swung open, a young man with plain clothes and a pale complexion stepped out.
The young man appeared to be 25 or 26 years old. His long hair gathered neatly into a single braid, fell down his back, giving him the air of someone who had walked straight out of history. The thin, white fabric he wore made his complexion look ashen, almost like a person stricken with illness.
But it wasn’t his sickly appearance that captured attention. It was the weapon in his hands, a long, gleaming saber. The hilt was intricately carved with elaborate patterns that seemed to tell stories of their own, while the blade gleamed with the sheen of forged steel.
He carried an aura that made one feel as though they had stepped into the Middle Ages, standing face-to-face with a knight!
In today’s world, it would be nearly impossible for someone dressed like him, wielding a knife, to walk the streets without drawing the attention of the police. But with the imposing aura this man exuded, it was hard to believe anyone would dare stop him.
The man stepped out of the car, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. Only after a moment of careful observation did he say something to the person inside the vehicle.
Then, a man in his fifties emerged from the car and was dressed in a vintage suit. His eyebrows were gray, and his gaze was cold and cutting as if his very eyes could pierce through you.
The middle-aged man moved with quiet confidence. He exuded an air of quiet authority. His eyes immediately fell on Sophie.
“Sophie! It’s been a long time,” the man called out to her.
His voice sounded deep and raspy as though every word was dragged up from the bottom of his throat.
Sophie didn’t flinch. Her eyes were fixed on the middle-aged man, though her face betrayed her unease and the tension. The young man holding the knife stayed right behind the middle-aged man, and that made their roles clear.
He’s a bodyguard, while the middle-aged man was his employer.
As they stepped forward, the pressure of their approach felt like a mountain descending upon Sophie.
Instinctively, she backed away, seeking the protection of Kayden. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest!
The middle-aged man stopped about five meters away. Then, his eyes started sizing up Kayden. After a few seconds, he sneered. “Who is he?” he asked in a sharp tone.
There was even an unmistakable disdain in his voice!
Given Kayden’s attire, he seemed nothing more than an ordinary college student. For someone of the middle-aged man’s status, someone as poor and plain as Kayden was not worth much respect.
Sophie gasped and murmured under her breath, “Uncle…”
This man was her uncle, her father’s younger brother!
Sophie’s uncle ignored her entirely. His expression remained stony as he repeated the question, “Who is he?”
This was the second time he asked, and now his words carried a faint but unmistakable sense of menace. Behind him, the young man holding the saber couldn’t hide his eagerness to act.
Sophie’s heart skipped a beat. She knew Kayden’s stubborn nature well. If he clashed with her uncle, things wouldn’t end well for him. Especially considering the man standing beside her uncle, White Wolf, the Blade Master of Western Frontier with a reputation as fierce as his name. He was a Warrior someone ordinary martial artists could not afford to confront.
“He’s my friend, Uncle.” Sophie stepped between Kayden and her uncle. A faint mix of caution and nervousness could be heard in her voice.
Sophie’s uncle narrowed his eyes as his piercing gaze swept over Kayden. After a brief moment, his eyes returned to Sophie. “What kind of friend?” he added with icy suspicion, “Don’t tell me he’s your boyfriend?”
“No, no!” Sophie immediately waved her hands in denial. “He’s not my boyfriend! Just a casual friend, that’s all.”
Her uncle snorted derisively. “Don’t forget the rules!” he warned her in a sharp tone.
“I know, Uncle! I’ve never forgotten the rules and I will not. You can trust me!”
The crease on her uncle’s forehead softened ever so slightly. It seemed like his interest in guessing their relationship already faded. With a curt hum, he raised his head and said in an almost indifferent tone, “It’s been three years, and your little game of experiencing a commoner’s life is over. Your grandfather sent me to bring you back home. It’s time. Let’s go.”
Sophie felt her throat tighten, and the words caught like a lump she couldn’t swallow. She had always known this moment would come. No matter where she went or how hard she tried to carve out her own path, they would never truly let her stay outside the family’s reach. That was why she had been lingering at the Henderson Mansion these past days, stubbornly waiting for Kayden. That was why she had resolved to finally confess the feelings she’d been carrying in her heart.
Because she knew, deep down, that this would be a final farewell. If she left today, she might never see Kayden again in this lifetime.
She loved Kayden. He was the only man she had ever truly loved. And even if she could never own him, letting him know what he meant to her alone made it all worthwhile!
As Sophie caught the cold and warning-laden look on her uncle’s face, her defiance and willfulness melted away, and she meekly nodded her head. “I got it, Uncle.”
Her uncle said nothing in reply. His only response was a silent gesture toward the waiting car as if a wordless order, “Get in.”
Standing nearby, Kayden watched everything, and his brows knitted instinctively. Sophie… she was not as simple as she seemed. No wonder she carried an air of mystery and distinction. Her powerful family background explained everything!
The people around her weren’t ordinary. It was clear at a glance that they came from a lineage far beyond a typical noble family. Perhaps they even hailed from a hidden, enigmatic clan with influence that defied imagination!
“Thank you, Kayden.” Sophie’s voice interrupted his thoughts, and it sounded low and heartfelt. Her eyes softened as she looked at him. “Having you with me today made this the happiest moment I’ve had in three years. Thank you for letting me taste what it’s like to live a real life.”
Then, she took a step forward and bowed deeply to Kayden. Her expression spoke of reluctance to leave, yet her gaze carried a certain ease. Taking a steadying breath, she raised her hand and playfully tapped Kayden on the chest. “But don’t think I’ll let you off the hook just yet. I still remember that you owe me one dollar. I… won’t forget you.”
Kayden parted his lips as if to speak, but before the words could come, Sophie had already turned and walked away, leaving him only a fragile back.
As she approached the car, Kayden caught the faint motion of her wiping the corners of her eyes. She was crying. Even Kayden, who was usually hard-hearted, felt a flicker of sorry for her. After all, this girl had actually left a good impression on him over the past few days.
He took a step forward. “Are they forcing you to go? If you don’t want to leave, just say the word. No one here has the right to take you against your will.”
She was a girl with courage and a righteous spirit. If she needed help, Kayden didn’t mind stepping in and doing her a favor.
“How dare you meddle in our affairs?!” roared Sophie’s uncle. At this moment, his face was clouded with fury. His piercing gaze bore into Kayden like a blaze threatening to consume anything in its path.
At his sharp rebuke, the young man holding the saber stepped forward. His hand rested firmly on the hilt, which meant he was poised to strike at the slightest nod from Sophie’s uncle. He would not hesitate to cut Kayden down.