Julian Hawthorne watched Gideon Blackwood's face closely. The man had gone completely still, his drink frozen halfway to his lips.
"You want to do what?" Gideon finally asked, setting his glass down with deliberate care.
I smiled, enjoying his discomfort. "You heard . Kidnap Isabelle Ashworth."
Gideon leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "Do you understand what you're asking? The Ashworths aren't so minor family you can antagonize without consequences. Michael Ashworth alone—"
"I know exactly who they are," I cut him off. "But I also know what we stand to lose if we don't act decisively. Liam Knight has to be stopped."
"And kidnapping the woman he cares about is your solution?" Gideon looked genuinely concerned now. "Julian, this is madness."
I watched him calculating the risks in his head. Gideon had always been ambitious but cautious—a man who preferred operating in shadows. Now I needed to give him the right push.
"The Hawthorne family won't forget who stood with us when we needed it most," I said smoothly. "When we recover—and we will recover—those who helped us will be rewarded generously."
Gideon's eyes flickered with interest. "And if you don't recover?"
"Then you'll be paid enough to disappear comfortably," I assured him. "But think bigger, Gideon. This is your opportunity to secure a permanent position within our inner circle. My father won't be in charge forever."
I could see the greed battling with fear in his expression. Greed was winning.
"What exactly would this... operation entail?" he asked carefully.
"Simple. Take Isabelle, hold her sowhere secure, and make it known to Liam Knight that her continued well-being depends on him backing off. Once he reverses the damage he's done to our business interests, we release her unhard."
Gideon laughed without humor. "Nothing about that is simple. The Ashworth estate has security that would make governnt facilities jealous."
"Then find another way," I insisted. "Follow her routine. Everyone has vulnerabilities."
Gideon drumd his fingers on the table, and I knew he was already planning despite his reservations. "If—and this is a massive if—I were to consider this insanity, I'd need guarantees. Written instructions from you detailing exactly what you want done. Funds transferred offshore before anything happens. And a legal exit strategy."
I nodded. "Of course."
"And if it all goes wrong?" he asked pointedly.
"Then you never t ," I replied coldly. "And any evidence suggesting otherwise would be extrely unfortunate for your health."
Gideon stared at for a long mont before slowly nodding. "I'll need three days to put together a team and formulate a plan. This isn't sothing we can rush."
"You have two days," I countered. "Every day we wait, the Hawthorne Group bleeds more money."
"Fine," he sighed. "Two days. But rember, Julian—if I'm caught, I won't go down alone."
I smiled thinly. "Then don't get caught."
As Gideon left, I took a long sip of my drink, savoring the burn. My father might have lost his nerve, but I understood what needed to be done. Sotis you had to be ruthless to survive.
What I didn't tell Gideon was that I had no intention of honoring our agreent if things went south. He would make the perfect scapegoat if necessary—a desperate man acting alone against the Ashworths for his own gain.
Sotis, sacrifices had to be made for the greater good of the Hawthorne legacy.
---
Back in my hotel room in Shiglance City, I carefully packed the rare herbs I'd acquired. The Eightfold Spirit Grass alone had cost a small fortune, but it would be worth every coin if it could help advance my cultivation.
Three days in Shiglance City had been productive. Beyond acquiring the herbs, I'd made valuable connections with several veteran alchemists who promised to share their knowledge with . My cultivation was progressing rapidly, but I knew I needed more than raw power to achieve my goals.
As I sealed the protective case containing the herbs, my phone buzzed with a ssage. William Vance. I frowned, opening it with so hesitation.
"Liam, join for dinner tomorrow evening at 8 PM. Fish Restaurant in Havenwood. Important matters to discuss. -William"
I stared at the ssage, turning possibilities over in my mind. William had proven himself to be relatively neutral in the conflicts I'd been involved in, but he was still connected to the Hawthornes. This could easily be a trap.
Yet if I refused, I might miss critical information. Knowledge was power in this ga I was playing.
I typed a brief response: "I'll be there."
Then I returned to my packing, ntally shifting my plans. I had intended to find a secluded location to focus on my cultivation after returning to Havenwood City, but that would have to wait.
The drive back to Havenwood the next morning gave ample ti to think. The morning sun cast long shadows across the road as I considered my next moves. With the Sterling family neutralized and my position with the Ashworths secure, I should have felt triumphant. Instead, a nagging sense of unease followed .
I still had too many unanswered questions. Who was my father? Why did Gibson recognize his ring? And what was the true extent of the power I was slowly uncovering within myself?
Most pressing of all: what was happening with Isabelle? Our last conversation had left things unresolved between us. The pull I felt toward her was undeniable, but the complications surrounding our relationship seed to multiply by the day.
As I approached the city limits of Havenwood, my phone rang. Mariana Valerius.
"Liam," her voice ca through clearly. "Welco back. Have you acquired what you needed in Shiglance?"
"Yes," I replied. "The herbs should help with my next breakthrough."
"Good. There have been... developnts in your absence." Sothing in her tone made grip the steering wheel tighter.
"What kind of developnts?"
"The Hawthorne Group is teetering on the edge of collapse. Sebastian Hawthorne has been reaching out to various interdiaries seeking a eting with you."
I frowned. "William Vance invited to dinner tonight. I assu that's related?"
"Almost certainly," Mariana confird. "Be careful, Liam. Desperate n are unpredictable."
"I always am," I assured her, ending the call as I pulled into Havenwood City.
I spent the afternoon settling back into my apartnt and securing my newly acquired herbs in my cultivation room. By evening, I was dressed in a simple but elegant dark suit, heading for the Fish Restaurant.
The restaurant was one of Havenwood's oldest establishnts, known for its discretion and private dining areas. Perfect for conversations that shouldn't reach the public ear.
As I entered, the maître d' led to a private room at the back without asking for my na—clearly, I was expected. When the door opened, I maintained a neutral expression despite my surprise.
William Vance was there, as promised, but he wasn't alone. Sebastian Hawthorne sat beside him, looking considerably more haggard than when I'd last seen him. Keep us going by reading on *.
I paused in the doorway, instantly alert for any signs of a trap. My eyes scanned the room, confirming there were only the two n present.
"Liam," William greeted warmly, standing to shake my hand. "Thank you for coming."
I nodded curtly, taking the seat across from them but remaining ready to move at the slightest provocation.
"You didn't ntion Sebastian would be joining us," I said to William, not bothering to hide my suspicion.
"Would you have co if I had?" William asked with a knowing smile.
Sebastian Hawthorne studied intently before clearing his throat. "Mr. Knight, I understand your caution. But I assure you, this eting is not what you might expect."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly should I expect from a man whose family has repeatedly tried to destroy ?"
Sebastian winced slightly at my directness. Then he did sothing that genuinely shocked —he stood up and bowed his head slightly.
"The purpose of this dinner," he said, eting my gaze directly, "is for to apologize to you."
I stared at him in disbelief, certain I had misheard. Sebastian Hawthorne—proud, arrogant Sebastian Hawthorne—was apologizing? To ?
"It was my mistake before," Sebastian continued, his voice firm despite the humility of his words. "This ti, I asked Uncle Richardson to set up this gathering specifically to apologize to you!"
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