I was halfway through examining a rare dicinal herb when my phone vibrated again. Seraphina Sterling's na flashed across the screen for the fifth ti in an hour. With a frustrated sigh, I finally answered.
"What part of 'no' wasn't clear the first four tis?" I snapped, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Liam, please." Her voice cracked—sothing I'd never heard before from the normally composed Seraphina. "Grandfather William... he's dying. The doctors say he has hours left."
The news hit like a physical blow. I gripped the phone tighter. "What happened?"
"His heart... it just gave out. He's been asking for you." A sob escaped her. "I know you have every reason to hate our family, but he was the only one who ever defended you."
She was right. While the rest of the Sterlings had treated like dirt beneath their shoes, old William had shown kindness in small, quiet ways—sneaking food when Simon had ordered the servants not to feed , leaving books on martial arts where I would find them, occasionally slipping a word of encouragent when no one else was looking.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes," I said, ending the call.
Eamon looked up from his research notes. "Everything alright?"
"William Sterling is dying." I grabbed my jacket. "I need to go."
"The old man?" Eamon frowned. "I thought you were done with the Sterlings."
"I am. But William was different." I headed for the door. "Don't wait up. This might take a while."
---
The Sterling mansion stood as imposing as ever, its marble columns and manicured lawns broadcasting the family's wealth and status. As I approached the front entrance, mories of my humiliating years here threatened to overwhelm . I pushed them aside. This wasn't about or my history with this family. This was about a dying man's last wish.
The door swung open before I could knock. Simon Sterling—William's son and my forr father-in-law—stood there, his face twisted with disdain.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, blocking the entrance.
"Seraphina called . William asked to see ."
"My father is surrounded by family in his final monts. He doesn't need the likes of you disturbing his peace."
I stared directly into his eyes, allowing just a hint of my power to flare. The subtle glow of golden energy reflected in his pupils, making him flinch.
"Move," I said quietly. "Or I'll move you."
Simon's face paled, but he stood his ground. "You dare threaten in my own ho?"
"It's okay, Dad," Seraphina appeared behind him, her eyes red from crying. "I called him here. Grandpa's been asking for him."
Simon's jaw clenched, but he stepped aside. As I passed him, he hissed, "Five minutes. Then you leave."
I ignored him, following Seraphina through the grand foyer where once I'd been forced to clean floors on my hands and knees. The house was filled with Sterling relatives—cousins, aunts, uncles—all gathered for the patriarch's passing. What struck imdiately was their deanor. No one was crying. Instead, small groups chatted animatedly, so even laughing. This соntеnt is prеsеntеd by
"He's in the master bedroom," Seraphina whispered, leading upstairs. "The family's been taking turns saying goodbye, but..." She hesitated. "Most of them are just waiting for the will reading."
I wasn't surprised. The Sterlings had always valued money over human connection.
William's bedroom was surprisingly empty when we entered. An elderly man lay in the massive four-poster bed, his once-robust fra now withered and frail. Machines beeped quietly beside him, monitoring his failing heart.
"Liam's here, Grandpa," Seraphina announced softly.
William's eyes fluttered open, focusing on with effort. "You ca," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I approached the bed, kneeling beside it to be level with his face. "Of course I did."
Seraphina quietly slipped out, closing the door behind her.
"They said... you've beco... powerful." William's breathing was labored, each word a struggle.
"Things have changed," I acknowledged, taking his frail hand in mine.
A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Good. The boy I knew... had potential. Just needed... to find it."
We sat in silence for a mont, the only sound the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
"I need to ask you... sothing," he finally said, squeezing my hand with what little strength he had left.
"Anything."
"The Sterling family..." he paused, gathering energy. "They treated you terribly. I know that. I should have... done more."
"You did what you could," I assured him, aning it.
"I'm dying, Liam. When I'm gone... they'll have no protection." His rheumy eyes fixed on mine. "Whatever revenge you're planning... I ask that you spare them. For my sake."
The request surprised . After everything the Sterlings had put through, William was using his final monts to protect them.
"They're not worth your concern," I said honestly.
"They're my blood." A tear slipped down his wrinkled cheek. "Flawed... selfish... but still mine."
I studied his face—the face of the only Sterling who had shown basic human decency. I owed him this much.
"I promise I'll leave them alone," I said finally. "As long as they don't provoke ."
Relief washed over his features. "Thank you." His grip on my hand weakened. "Now I can go... in peace."
His eyes drifted closed. For a mont, I thought he'd fallen asleep, but then the steady beeping of the heart monitor changed to a continuous tone. William Sterling was gone.
I bowed my head for a mont, offering a silent farewell to the one decent man in this house of vipers.
---
When I erged from the bedroom, I found the hallway buzzing with conversation. Simon stood with his brother Charles, discussing funeral arrangents in a tone more suited for planning a business eting.
"We should have the ceremony at St. Matthew's," Charles was saying. "More prestigious. Better optics for the company."
"And we can use Father's death to postpone that eting with the investors," Simon added. "Give us ti to massage the quarterly numbers."
Disgust welled up inside . William's body wasn't even cold yet.
I moved past them toward the stairs, but Simon spotted .
"I trust you've said your goodbyes," he snapped. "Now get out of my house."
"Your father just died," I said coldly. "Show so respect."
"Don't presu to lecture on family matters," he retorted. "You were never part of this family. Just a temporary embarrassnt we've thankfully put behind us."
Before I could respond, commotion downstairs caught everyone's attention. A young man in military uniform had arrived, instantly becoming the center of attention as Sterling relatives flocked around him.
"Daxon, darling!" a heavily jeweled woman cooed. "We didn't expect you until the funeral!"
The young officer—handso in a generic way, with an arrogant tilt to his chin—basked in the attention. "I requested ergency leave when I heard about Great-Uncle William. The colonel himself approved it."
"How wonderful," Simon said, hurrying down to join the welcoming committee. "Everyone, this is my nephew Daxon, who just made lieutenant in the Special Operations Division!"
Admiring gasps and congratulations followed this announcent. I watched from the top of the stairs, marveling at the family's ability to forget their patriarch's death the mont soone with status appeared.
"Did you hear the news?" Daxon announced importantly. "Deputy Chief Donovan from the Eldoria Battle Zone is coming to Havenwood City next week. Word is he's looking for soone with exceptional skills in both dicine and martial arts to join his personal staff."
The family erupted in excited chatter. I started down the stairs, intent on leaving this circus behind, when Daxon noticed .
"Who's that?" he asked Simon loudly, pointing in my direction.
Simon's face darkened. "Nobody important. Liam Knight, Seraphina's ex-husband. The useless live-in son-in-law I told you about."
Daxon's expression shifted to contempt as he appraised . He swaggered toward the base of the stairs, blocking my exit.
"So you're the infamous freeloader," he said, looking up and down. "You don't look like much."
I didn't bother responding, simply trying to step around him. He moved to block again.
"I'm speaking to you," he said sharply. "Why haven't you stood at attention? Don't you know how to greet a military officer?"
The room fell silent, everyone watching the confrontation with morbid fascination. I closed my eyes briefly, rembering my promise to William. When I opened them again, I fixed Daxon with a level gaze.
"Greet? What are you that requires to greet you?"
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