Madeline felt her head spin as the scene before her unfolded. The world seemed to whirl uncontrollably.
Heavens!
Dear God!
The Langford family and the Clark family were already regarded as the pinnacle of the Slatin power hierarchy. Yet, here they were, humbling themselves like servants, bowing and scraping for forgiveness from Lord Valerian Nox.
Her scalp tingled as if it were about to burst.
In Madeline’s understanding, the Langford family was untouchable-an existence beyond reach. Yet before her very eyes, they were kowtowing, step by step, just for Lord Valerian Nox’s forgiveness.
This was beyond belief!
Layla frowned deeply.
Lord Valerian Nox was formidable, no doubt, but was it really necessary for the Langford family to humble themselves this much? The earlier apologies and kneeling were more than enough. But now, they were climbing the stairs, bowing with every step, just to meet him?
At that moment, the Four Seasons Hotel manager’s voice cut through the air in a panic.
“What are you all still doing inside? Are you just going to stand there and watch the Langford family kneeling outside? Get out, now-hurry!”
With his shout, hundreds of hotel staff-security, chefs, receptionists, waiters-all rushed out of the Four Seasons Hotel in a frenzy.
The guests scattered, fleeing in panic.
No one dared to remain inside the building while the Langford family knelt outside, facing it. It was akin to elders in a clan kneeling before the ancestral hall-who would dare stand in their way?
“Cora, we should leave too. I don’t want to get involved in this,” Layla said, her expression both solemn and shaken.
Even knowing that Carter Langford was kneeling for Lord Valerian Nox, they couldn’t stay inside the building. Not even their parents would dare!
“Alright, let’s hurry downstairs, quickly!”
“Bring Talon Jett and Brody Brightmoon with us. Flynn, Lord Valerian Nox may have saved your life this time, but this isn’t over-just wait!”
Wayne and the others dragged the half-dead Brody Brightmoon, whose bones were shattered, along with the unconscious Talon Jett, whose head was bleeding profusely. The group stumbled downstairs in panic.
“Flynn, where are you taking me? Why are we going back to the private room?”
“Yeah, Flynn, we should hurry downstairs! We can’t afford to offend them!”
“Flynn must want to grab that bottle of wine before we leave…”
The Duffy family trio was bewildered but followed Flynn back to the private room.
Flynn chuckled, gently pressing Mabel back into her seat. He turned to James and his daughter.
“The meal isn’t finished yet. Why are we going downstairs?”
“If Carter Langford wants to kneel and come up to see me, let him kneel and come up.”
“Mabel, feel free to deal with him however you like when he arrives!”
What?!
The Duffy family trio froze in place, their eyes blinking rapidly as they struggled to process Flynn’s words.
A few seconds passed.
Mia was the first to react. Her voice trembled. “Flynn, are… are you… Lord Valerian Nox?”
“What?! Stop joking! That’s impossible-Lord Valerian Nox is an Earthly Sovereign! Flynn… wait… no way… kid, you’re really…”
James began to refute the idea immediately but stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Flynn’s calm smile. There was no pretense in Flynn’s expression, no hint of jest.
James’s mind roared like a thunderclap, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
A man capable of shaking the heavens with a single gesture, a peerless figure of godlike power.
And yet, just moments ago, this same man had been cheerfully going downstairs to buy wine.
The two images of Flynn couldn’t possibly overlap!
They were worlds apart-how could they be the same person?
Mabel was equally stunned.
In her imagination, Lord Valerian Nox was an awe-inspiring figure, towering like a deity, exuding an aura of unshakable majesty with every move.
Yet, Flynn seemed like an ordinary young man, albeit one with some money. How could he possibly…
As the Duffy family wrestled with doubt and disbelief, a rhythmic sound echoed from the eighth floor.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
The sound of heads striking the floor was uniform and reverent, like worshippers paying homage to a god.
The sound grew closer with every step.
The Duffy family trio’s hearts pounded wildly, their pulses racing as if about to burst from their chests.
Escape was no longer an option.
Carter Langford was in the hallway!
“Dad, I’m scared…” Mia clung tightly to her father’s hand, her eyes fixed nervously on the private room’s door.
The Duffy family was already a sworn enemy of the Slatin hierarchy. If Flynn wasn’t Lord Valerian Nox but was merely hiding here to catch a glimpse of the man’s face, their offense would be unforgivable.
Their guilt would be compounded, and their doom sealed.
“Don’t be afraid…” James’s voice trembled as he tried to reassure her, though he was clearly just as terrified.
At that moment, the footsteps came to a halt.
Mabel could hear the heavy breathing outside the door. Whoever it was, they were nervous too.
What was going on?
Could it be…
Carter Langford appeared in the doorway. With just a glance into the room, his body shuddered violently.
Thud!
Carter Langford dropped to his knees once more.
“Lord Valerian Nox, please allow me to offer my sincerest apologies!”
His palms pressed firmly to the floor, his head bowed so low that even James could see the back of his head.
He remained motionless, as if frozen in place.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Duffy family trio felt their scalps explode with shock.
The screech of chairs scraping against the floor filled the air as the three of them shot to their feet.
They backed away several steps, pressing themselves against the wall, their eyes fixed on Flynn with utter terror.
It was true.
Flynn was Lord Valerian Nox.
Boom!
It was like a bolt of thunder crashing down from the heavens.
Unbelievable!
It felt like a dream.
This young man was actually Lord Valerian Nox!
“My God! Heavens above!”
James blurted out, rubbing his eyes furiously as if trying to dispel an illusion.
But it was no illusion.
The truth was undeniable.
This young man was an Earthly Sovereign.
Lord Valerian Nox had just poured him wine and called him godfather.
He could die happy now.
Helping Adrianna and her son all those years ago hadn’t been in vain. It had been worth it. His good deeds had been repaid a thousandfold.
“Mia, I feel faint…” Mabel whispered, her vision going dark as she nearly collapsed.
Mia wasn’t much better off. She quickly steadied her mother while staring at Flynn, her gaze filled with shock upon shock.
Adrianna’s son was the one who had slain Lawson Langford, the one who had Carter Langford kneeling in apology, the Earthly Sovereign known as Lord Valerian Nox.
Her entire body felt weak, her back soaked with sweat as she gasped for air to calm the trembling caused by her overwhelming emotions.
“Did you have to yell so loudly just now? Trying to scare my Aunt Mabel?” Flynn said coldly as he poured another glass of wine.
Carter Langford froze, trembling.
“I… I…” Carter stammered, his voice shaking as if he might collapse at any moment.
Even if Lord Valerian Nox were merely an Earthly Sovereign, he was not someone Carter could afford to provoke-let alone the true King of the Underworld.
“Enough. Get up,” Flynn said with a casual wave of his hand, worried Carter might wet himself and ruin the atmosphere.
“Thank you!” Carter Langford practically wept with relief. Lord Valerian Nox had forgiven the Langford family!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed him to rise.
Seizing the opportunity, Carter barked at someone behind him.
“You wretch, get in here and apologize to Miss Duffy!”
Chase Langford stepped forward, dropping to his knees at the doorway.
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
“Miss Duffy, I’m so sorry! I was blind and offended you. I deserve to die! I’m unforgivable!”
Chase Langford slapped himself hard across the face, each strike leaving a deep, resounding echo.
Even though he’d been beaten badly by Flynn the day before and his face was still swollen, he dared not hold back now.
Mia’s emotions surged as she watched. Her eyes welled with tears.
The Langford family heir was kneeling before her, begging for forgiveness.
It was something she couldn’t have imagined even in her wildest dreams.
The man who had humiliated her so arrogantly yesterday was now reduced to a mere servant.
It was as if his life was in her hands.
And indeed, it was.
“James, Mabel, Mia-please, sit down,” Flynn said with a smile as he stood and helped each of them back into their seats. He placed the freshly poured glass of wine before James.
Looking at the two trembling Langford men and the elders kneeling outside the room, Mabel couldn’t hold back her tears.
“Adrianna, do you see this?” she whispered.
“Your son is Lord Valerian Nox. Like a god, like a demon…”