“How do I not have the right to say this? Huh? Ask everyone here-haven’t I treated you well?” Gavin’s face twisted in indignation, resembling an old father wrongly accused by an ungrateful child.
“Exactly! My father has treated you better than anyone else could. He regarded you as his own and even married you into the Alfredson family! The Alfredson family-do you know how many women dream of such a fate? And yet, you remain ungrateful and even dare to call my father a beast. Shameful!” Ryder’s voice was sharp, his arrogance swelling as he pointed at Sophie.
“In my opinion, you should have been sold to a brothel back then-to be ridden by thousands, trampled by tens of thousands!” Ryder’s fury boiled over, his taunts growing more vicious with every word.
Sophie let out a cold, mirthless laugh. “I have never seen anyone as shameless as all of you. You sold me off like a commodity to gain profit, and now you speak as if you did me a favor. It’s truly laughable. If marrying me into a wealthy family was such an act of kindness, then why didn’t you marry your own daughter into the Alfredson family?”
“How dare you!” Ivy shouted, her voice venomous. “My daughter? Marry that fool? Are you insulting her? Don’t forget-you’re an orphan. The fact that we let you live is already the greatest mercy you could hope for!”
Gavin had been trying to keep the conversation civil, but Ivy’s words completely undermined him. The pretense of concern vanished in an instant.
Before Gavin could retort, Kayden interrupted him, speaking in a calm, measured tone. “Enough! Stop wasting time. Let’s get to the point. I came here for two reasons. First, to slaughter everyone at Azure Cloud Resort and turn this place into a living hell. Second, for you to kneel and confess how you killed your father and brother. Once that’s done, I’ll kill you and make Sophie the head of the family. That way, only one person needs to die for the safety of the entire Azure Cloud Resort.”
Kayden’s words were like a decree from the grim reaper-absolute, unyielding, and devoid of negotiation.
The Walsh family froze in stunned silence. His arrogance went beyond mere youthful recklessness; it was a domineering, unrestrained madness that defied description. If arrogance had levels, Ryder’s was at the lowest-and Kayden’s was something otherworldly.
Sophie stole a glance at Kayden, her heart pounding. She hadn’t expected him to say such bold words in front of so many people.
This man… he was truly good to her. Even knowing the odds were against him, he refused to back down. His unwavering determination to stand by her side touched Sophie deeply.
No matter what happened today, even if it meant dying here, she was willing to face it with him.
Having made up her mind, Sophie’s anxiety faded. She no longer worried about Kayden or herself.
After a long pause, Gavin suddenly burst into laughter. His voice boomed across the room as he mockingly raised a thumb. “Arrogance! Truly the arrogance of youth! I have to admit, I never thought I’d meet someone so audacious.”
“Boy, do you think you’re still the invincible war god who could command armies with a single word? Do you think you’re still that legendary figure? No! You’re just a disgraced loner now. Everything you had is firmly in the hands of Azure Cloud Resort.”
“You think having the Rocco family behind you will protect you? Maybe if you stayed within their walls, I’d hesitate to act out of respect for them. But stepping into Azure Cloud Resort? You’ve signed your own death warrant.”
Rocco family.
It was obvious Ryder had informed Gavin about Grant helping Kayden. Yet they still didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation, nor did they realize Kayden had no need for the Rocco family’s protection.
But Kayden didn’t bother explaining. He simply nodded slightly and said, “Alright, since you’ve chosen the first option, I’ll destroy the entire Azure Cloud Resort and rebuild a new one for Sophie.”
Those words were like a dagger to Gavin’s chest.
“Such arrogance!” Gavin bellowed, his face flushed with rage.
“Master, allow me to kill him and eliminate this threat for you,” Oliver Prescott, standing behind Gavin, said coldly.
But Gavin raised his hand, stopping him. “No need, Mr. Prescott. Just stand back and watch. He’s not even worthy of dying by your hand. Save your strength for dealing with the Rocco family.”
To Gavin, Kayden was a minor nuisance, easily dealt with by the family guards. The real challenge would come if the Rocco family sought revenge.
Taking no chances, Gavin decided to keep Oliver Prescott in reserve.
Then, with a commanding voice, Gavin raised his hand and shouted, “Where are my Iron Guards?”
Iron Guards?
Hearing the name, Kayden’s heart skipped a beat. Did Azure Cloud Resort have skilled warriors?
The name sounded impressive, akin to the legendary Scott family’s Asad or the Rocco family’s elder.
But Sophie quickly shattered that notion. Gripping Kayden’s arm tightly, she whispered, “The Azure Cloud Resort’s Iron Guards-they’re an elite guard my grandfather personally trained. I had no idea they’d betray him and serve Gavin. When my grandfather was in trouble, they didn’t lift a finger.”
Sophie bit her lip, her frustration and bitterness evident. “I’m sorry, Kayden. This is all my fault. You shouldn’t have come here today. Gavin is ruthless. Calling on the Iron Guards right away means he has no intention of giving you a chance to fight back.”
“It’s fine,” Kayden replied, his voice cold and detached, his expression indifferent. He didn’t seem to regard any of this as a threat.
On his face, danger simply didn’t exist.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound erupted from all directions. The ground trembled as a deafening roar filled the air. Dust rose in waves, disturbed by the vibrations.
Then, from every corner, countless armored men began marching in unison, their heavy footfalls echoing rhythmically.
The precision of their movements-the synchronized, resounding steps-was a sound Kayden and Wood Faulkner knew all too well. This was the march of seasoned warriors, advancing as one.