I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching Violet Miller with her gaggle of friends. They huddled together like exotic birds, all designer clothes and practiced laughter. Even here, surrounded by strangers awaiting a martial arts duel, Violet managed to create her own exclusive social bubble.
She caught my eye and smirked, whispering sothing that made her friends turn and stare. I could practically read their thoughts—there stood Seraphina Sterling's pathetic ex-husband, the man who'd endured three years of humiliation before being tossed aside.
"Poor thing," one of her friends stage-whispered loud enough for to hear. "Still hanging around like a stray dog."
I ignored them, focusing instead on the qi-rich environnt of Water Dragon Cave. The natural energy here was fascinating, collecting in swirling pools above the hot springs. I was ntally mapping these energy currents when Violet broke away from her group and approached .
"Liam," she said with false sweetness, "I've been thinking about your... situation."
"Have you?" I replied disinterestedly.
She nodded, her expression a perfect mask of concern. "It must be difficult for you. Living without the Sterling family's support, I an. Seraphina told she kicked you out again last month."
I almost laughed. Seraphina was still spinning tales, it seed.
"I know a shelter that might take you in," Violet continued, her voice dripping with fake compassion. "They help n in... unfortunate circumstances."
A few nearby spectators glanced our way, so with pity in their eyes. This was exactly what Violet wanted—to humiliate publicly one more ti.
"I don't need charity, Violet," I said calmly. "Especially not yours."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Still proud, even with nothing to your na? How typically foolish."
Before I could respond, a commotion at the edge of the gathering caught everyone's attention. A young man in an expensive suit pushed his way through the crowd, trailing four friends who looked equally wealthy and equally entitled.
"Make way! Coming through!" he announced loudly.
Violet's eyes lit up. "Darwin! Over here!"
The young man—Darwin—spotted us and headed in our direction, his entourage following closely. He was perhaps twenty-five, with carefully styled hair and a confident swagger that spoke of family money rather than earned success.
"Violet Miller," he said with exaggerated charm, taking her hand and kissing it. "You look ravishing as always."
She giggled, clearly flattered. "Everyone, this is Darwin Hebert. His family owns half the shipping industry in South City."
Darwin bead at the introduction. "Only a third, actually, but we're expanding." He glanced at briefly but dismissed just as quickly, turning back to Violet. "Are you here for the duel? Everyone's talking about it."
"Of course," Violet replied. "Though I didn't expect it to draw such a crowd. Is Asher Lane really that famous?"
Darwin puffed up like a peacock. "Asher and I go way back. We attended the sa private academy. He actually invited to watch from the VIP section."
One of Violet's friends gasped. "You know Asher Lane personally? The Younger Lord of the Lane Family?"
"We're not close friends," Darwin admitted, though his tone suggested otherwise. "But we move in the sa circles. He'll acknowledge , certainly."
Violet suddenly grabbed his arm. "Darwin, that's perfect! Could you get us into the VIP section too? It would be so much better than watching with the common crowd."
Darwin's smile faltered slightly. "Well... I don't know if I can bring a whole group..."
"Please," Violet pleaded, batting her eyelashes. "We'd be so grateful."
I watched the exchange with quiet amusent. It was obvious that Darwin's connection to Asher Lane was tenuous at best, a relationship he'd exaggerated to impress Violet and her friends.
After a few more monts of theatrical hesitation, Darwin relented. "I suppose I could try. For you, Violet."
She bead triumphantly, then seed to rember I was still standing there. "Oh, Darwin, this is Liam Knight. He was married to my sister."
Darwin barely glanced at . "Knight, you say? Like that challenger everyone's talking about?"
"The sa na," Violet replied with a laugh. "Though obviously not the sa person."
Darwin nodded knowingly. "Of course not. I actually know the real Liam Knight who's challenging Asher."
My eyebrows rose slightly. This was getting interesting.
"You do?" one of Violet's friends asked.
"Certainly," Darwin said, warming to his audience. "The Liam Knight challenging Asher cos from an influential family in Veridia City. Distant relatives of the Ashworths, from what I understand."
Violet's eyes widened. "Really? Then why haven't I heard of them?"
Darwin waved dismissively. "They keep a low profile here in South City, but they're quite powerful in Veridia. I t him at a business dinner last month. Confident fellow, though perhaps overestimating himself in challenging Asher."
I crossed my arms, watching as Darwin's fabrication grew more elaborate with each passing mont. It was remarkable how easily he lied, and how readily everyone believed him.
"What's he like?" Violet pressed. "This Liam Knight from Veridia?"
Darwin smiled as if sharing a secret. "Typical new money—flashy, trying too hard to impress. We shared a bottle of fifty-year-old whiskey while discussing investnt opportunities. He ntioned challenging Asher then, though I advised against it."
One of his friends—clearly knowing better—shifted uncomfortably. "Darwin, are you sure about this? I haven't heard of any Knight family connected to the Ashworths."
"That's because you don't move in the right circles," Darwin replied smoothly. "Liam Knight and I have dined together on several occasions. In fact, he specifically asked for my advice before issuing this challenge to Asher."
Sothing in snapped. The audacity of this man, fabricating stories about to impress people who had once delighted in my humiliation—it was too much to let pass.
I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the conversation like a blade.
"If you and I have dined together so many tis," I said quietly, "then how co I don't know you?"
The group fell silent. Darwin blinked, confusion crossing his features before realization dawned. His face paled visibly as he connected the dots.
"You're..." he stamred. "You can't be..."
"Liam Knight," I supplied, offering my hand with mock politeness. "The one challenging Asher Lane today. Though I don't recall sharing any fifty-year-old whiskey with you, nor asking for your advice."
Violet's jaw dropped. "Wait, you're actually the challenger?"
I turned to her, enjoying the shock on her face. "Surprised? I thought the Sterling family kept better track of their castoffs."
Darwin took an instinctive step back. "There must be so misunderstanding. I ant a different Liam Knight—"
"A different Liam Knight," I cut in, "who's also challenging Asher Lane today at Water Dragon Cave? What remarkable coincidence."
The group around us had grown larger as nearby spectators sensed the brewing confrontation. Darwin's friends were backing away, clearly wanting no part in his humiliation.
"I—I may have exaggerated sowhat," Darwin admitted, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Sowhat?" I repeated, my voice dangerously soft. "You invented an entire relationship out of thin air to impress these people."
Violet had recovered enough to attempt damage control. "Surely this is just a misunderstanding. Darwin probably heard about you from soone else."
"Even now, you can't help but lie," I said, looking at her directly. "Old habits die hard in the Sterling circle, it seems." Readaheadandgetupdatesat*.
Darwin's face had shifted from embarrassnt to anger. "Do you know who I am? Who my family is?"
I stepped closer to him, close enough that only he could hear my next words. "I know exactly what you are—a man who builds himself up with lies because the truth isn't impressive enough."
His eyes widened, and for a mont I thought he might try to strike . Instead, he straightened his jacket with trembling hands.
"This is absurd," he announced to anyone listening. "I'm going to find Asher. He'll sort this out."
As Darwin pushed his way through the crowd, his friends hurrying after him, Violet stared at with new eyes. Gone was the contemptuous sister-in-law who had delighted in my humiliation. In her place stood soone witnessing the ergence of a man she didn't recognize—and couldn't dismiss.
"You're really fighting Asher Lane?" she asked, her voice smaller than before.
I nodded. "In about twenty minutes."
"But why? He's dangerous, Liam. People say he's crippled opponents."
"Perhaps he's never faced the right opponent," I replied calmly.
Whispers rippled through the gathering crowd. I could feel their eyes on , reassessing, wondering. The man they'd pitied monts ago now stood at the center of an unfolding drama, challenging not just Asher Lane but their entire understanding of who Liam Knight was.
Violet stepped closer, lowering her voice. "What happened to you? You're... different."
I smiled slightly. "People change, Violet. So evolve. Others," I glanced in the direction Darwin had fled, "just pretend to."
The crowd parted suddenly as officials from the Lane Family began cordoning off the duel area. Through the shifting mass of spectators, I caught sight of a familiar face—Asher Lane himself, surrounded by his entourage, moving toward the prepared platform.
Our eyes t across the distance. His narrowed slightly, assessing with cold calculation. I held his gaze steadily, allowing no emotion to show on my face.
Violet followed my line of sight and paled. "Liam, it's not too late to withdraw. No one would bla you."
"I'm not here for anyone's approval," I said, my eyes still locked with Asher's. "I'm here to settle a debt."
As officials began calling for spectators to take their places, I turned to Violet one last ti. "You should find a good spot to watch. After all, how often do you get to see soone rise from the ashes of the life your family tried to burn down?"
Without waiting for her response, I moved toward the platform where Asher Lane waited, leaving behind the whispers, the doubts, and the ghosts of my forr self.
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