500.Chapter 500
Eliza shot him a glance, her lips twitching slightly. ‘Is he seriously addicted to this game? Fine, if that’s how he wants to play, I won’t hold back, she thought.
Eliza’s lips curved into a sly smile as she said brightly, “Perfect timing. I’ve got someone else to deal with
The man’s smile deepened. “Your Grace, just a moment.” As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped away from Elita and began walking down toward the crowd.
For some reason, as soon as he descended, an invisible tension gripped everyone, making their hearts tighten Matthew, who had been standing in front of Eliza, Dale nearby, the guards of the Duke’s estate, and even Sophie Stonor beside Anthony, all instinctively stepped back. Their retreat opened up a clear path.
At the end of that path sat Anthony in his wheelchair, unable to move after his earlier fall. The man stopped right in front of
him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Anthony clenched his teeth, glaring up at the so–called guard with a mix of fear and defiance.
“I’m the fourth heir of the Duke’s estate, I–ah.” Before Anthony could finish, the guard grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out of his wheelchair without a shred of mercy, dragging him across the floor.
“Let go of me. Father, save me. Benedict, Matthew, help me.” Dragged along the rough ground, Anthony was both humiliated and in agony. He struggled desperately, but his crippled body betrayed him, leaving him utterly powerless.
“Stop. I command you to stop this instant.” Gabriel was stunned. Despite his status and authority, someone dared to act so brazenly within the Duke’s estate.
Time and again, the man laid hands on his sons. Even if, in his eyes, these two sons were far from ideal, he had to protect them.
His eldest, Benedict, was hanging by a thread. The Snow Lotus Eliza had provided had eased his condition, but it was just a temporary fix. Without the true antidote, Benedict wouldn’t survive beyond two months.
Gabriel had to plan for contingencies. The Duke’s estate had never lacked heirs. But now, his eldest was poisoned, and his second son had vanished without a trace.
That left only two sons: one healthy but incompetent, and the other crippled but possessing some degree of intelligence If the worst came to pass, these two would have to work together to uphold the legacy of the Duke’s estate.
No matter how useless or troublesome they were, they were still his sons, and Gabriel’s only hope to keep the family legacy alive.
“You insolent brat. Guards, kill him.” The guard had gone so far. Gabriel’s patience snapped, his voice cold and commanding as fury burned in his eyes.
“Yes, Lord Mowbay,” came the firm reply. The guards charged forward in unison, their movements swift and coordinated. But to everyone’s shock, the lone figure easily overpowered all eight of them. With a single move for each opponent, and without even drawing his blade, he left the Duke’s estate guards sprawled on the ground, defeated without spilling a single drop of blood.
Gabriel’s face darkened as he watched the humiliating scene unfold, his anger surging like a storm. It felt as though he’d been slapped in front of everyone. “Hey-”
Just as he was about to call for the shadow guards, Eliza’s voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Wait, Lord Mowbay.”
Eliza called out to Gabriel, then met his cold, menacing gaze. With a faint, almost mocking smile, she whispered a threat. “A few slaps won’t kill them, but if you dare to make a move today, you can guess whether it will be your two sons who get into trouble, or your precious daughter.”
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