King-In-Law, The Hidden God Of War!

014

Nearly twenty-four hours had passed since the doors to the operating room had closed. After more than ten tense hours of surgery, Anna had been moved into the intensive care unit, where she had remained for another twelve hours. Throughout that long stretch, Sophia had barely left the hallway, her eyes red from lack of sleep. Raymond had been there as well, quiet but steady, occasionally stepping out to get water or milk for Sophia, or exchanging a few brief words with the attending doctor.

When the light above the ICU door finally went out, a nurse opened the door and pushed the hospital bed out. Everyone stepped forward a few paces. Anna was transferred to a private room, her small face still a little pale, but her lips were now tinged with pink, her breathing steady.

In the afternoon, sunlight slanted through the curtains, casting a pale gold over the white blanket. Anna’s eyelids twitched, then slowly opened. Her frail hand moved slightly, as though searching for something to hold on to. Sophia immediately leaned down: “Anna, you’re awake? Do you feel tired?”

Laura, standing beside her, gave a faint smile, but the moment she saw Raymond approach, that smile vanished. Kiera folded her arms and stepped half a pace back, her gaze cold: “Now it’s over, there’s no need for any troublemakers here.” she said, making it clear she didn’t want Raymond coming closer.

Dante stood there too, with no sign of wanting to intervene. His mind was still in turmoil over Raymond’s actions toward both Lewin and himself, leaving him no mood to take jabs at Raymond.

Sophia also looked up, her voice lowering: “Anna’s awake. You should go.”

Raymond stopped beside the bed, his gaze softening as he looked at the little girl. His voice was deep yet warm: “As long as I’m here, I’ll take care of you… and Anna.”

Sophia lifted her eyes to meet his, her tone low but firm: “We haven’t needed you all these years, and we don’t need you now. She’s done just fine without you.”

Raymond didn’t look away, still meeting her gaze, his words slow but as solid as steel: “Maybe you don’t need me… but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still Anna’s father.”

The words fell heavier than the silence that followed. Kiera frowned faintly, and Laura shot Sophia a meaningful glance. Anna blinked, as if not fully grasping the meaning of his reply, but she tightened her grip on Raymond’s hand, a small smile curling at her lips.

She looked up, her wide eyes blinking, her voice hoarse yet filled with curiosity: “Uncle… do you want to be my dad?”

Sophia was momentarily stunned, while both Laura and Kiera frowned. But Raymond smiled and gave a slight nod: “It’s not that I want to… it’s that I’ve been your dad for a long time now.”

Anna’s eyes lit up as though she’d just heard something wonderful. She tried to inch closer, wincing in pain, but her small hand still clung tightly to Raymond’s: “Then from now on, stay with me, okay?” Her voice was weak but brimming with joy.

Sophia’s heart tightened as she watched her daughter smile so brightly. She wanted to cut in, to tell Anna not to trust so easily… but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. That pure smile, after so many days of fear and pain, was too precious to snuff out, so she could only go along with it.

Kiera and Laura still stood by, their displeasure plain, but at that moment they could find no reason to stop it. Raymond remained seated, his broad hand gently enveloping Anna’s small one, as if sealing a promise he could never take back.

…

Leaving the hospital, Raymond drove himself back to the Crown Class villa. The evening light sank over the city, stretching the shadows of tall buildings and casting a muted golden hue over the stone-paved road leading into the high-end estate. The security gate opened the moment his car approached, the camera scanning his license plate before closing behind him with a solid “click.”

Crown Class was as quiet as ever, with only the wind threading through the rows of maple trees lining the path. Raymond’s villa sat at the end of the row, set apart from the rest, its muted gray exterior paired with dark glass exuding both elegance and a cold aloofness.

Vera was already waiting in the living room. She stood straight, her hair tied high, the fitted black outfit accentuating her strong figure. When Raymond entered, she only gave a slight nod in greeting.

Raymond removed his coat, set it on the back of the chair, and sat down in the single armchair opposite the tea table. He didn’t waste words: “This afternoon, Victor came to the hospital to stir up trouble. Not long after he left, Lewin and Wilmer also showed up.”

Vera raised her brows slightly but didn’t interrupt. Raymond went on, his voice lower: “I need to know what connection these two families have, and since when. It’s possible they coordinated beforehand. The way they tried to use Anna’s illness to pressure Sophia…”

Vera folded her arms, her gaze sharpening: “You suspect this was planned from the start? Or that Anna’s illness itself…”

Raymond gave a slight nod: “Exactly. And if that’s the case, we need to find out who started it, who’s behind it, and what their real goal is. Victor’s obvious, he wants to use Anna’s illness to manipulate Sophia into a divorce. But Lewin and Wilmer… they’re not that simple. They want more than just a contract with the Grant family. Their interests in the Thompson clan have been affected, but not enough to rush to the hospital within hours… unless it was already arranged.”

He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly: “Investigate every connection between the two families over the past six months, from financial transactions and private meetings to messages, emails… even through intermediaries. And check whether during that time anyone suspicious approached Sophia or Anna, and for what reason.”

Vera gave a small nod, then asked: “Who do you want me to focus on first?”

“Start with Victor.” Raymond replied succinctly: “When was the last time he had direct contact with Lewin or Wilmer? Find out how many times they’ve communicated, and where. We need to know whether their appearance at the hospital today was an immediate reaction to Victor’s accusations… or part of a calculated sequence of actions.”

Vera took a small notebook from her pocket and quickly jotted down each point before looking up again: “If they planned this in advance, there could be someone inside the hospital feeding them information. Do you want me to expand the investigation to medical staff?”

Raymond thought for a moment, then nodded: “Yes. Check the list of doctors, nurses, and even administrative staff who’ve had contact with Sophia in the past week. Anyone with unusual behavior or suspicious income should be flagged.”

The room fell silent for a few seconds. The warm yellow light cast over Raymond’s face, highlighting the cold, unyielding lines of his expression. Vera tucked the notebook away and took a step toward the door, but Raymond called out: “Vera.”

She stopped and turned.

“Don’t just investigate for evidence.” he said slowly: “If necessary, apply pressure. Let them know, anyone who dares to use my daughter… will pay the price.”

Vera paused for a beat, then tilted her head at him, a glint of curiosity in her eyes: “With your current status… is it really necessary to go that far?” Her tone carried a hint of meaning: “Just showing yourself would be enough to make them scurry. No one would dare face you head-on.”

Raymond lifted his teacup, took a sip, and set it down again, his movements slow but deliberate: “I want to know who’s really pulling the strings. If I rely only on the pressure of my identity, they’ll back off immediately, and erase all traces. Then… I’ll never get the chance to track them.”

Vera’s lips curved faintly as she nodded: “You want them to think they’re still safe, so they slip up.”

“Exactly.” Raymond leaned lightly against the chair, his gaze fixed on the wide courtyard beyond the glass doors: “A fish only bites when it thinks the water is calm. Besides… back when I enlisted, I promised ‘that person’ I wouldn’t reveal my identity.”

Vera stilled for a moment, her sharp eyes flickering with curiosity: “‘That person’?”

Raymond only looked at her without explaining. His gaze seemed shrouded in a thin mist, making it impossible to read his true emotions. Even Vera, who had been with him for so long, didn’t know who “that person” was.

She stayed silent for a few seconds before nodding, asking no more.

Raymond rested his elbow on the chair’s armrest, his fingers tapping in a steady rhythm, though inside him thoughts churned like a storm. Only when he could help his master eliminate the sect’s greatest threat… otherwise, all his years of effort would be in vain.

He closed his eyes briefly, the image of the teacher who had guided him through the harshest days surfacing vividly in his mind. Once his identity was exposed… his master would be in danger as well. Not just himself, but everyone to whom he owed a debt of gratitude would be dragged into the maelstrom.

A cool breeze from the back garden drifted in through the slightly open window, carrying with it the scent of dried maple leaves and the chill of the descending night. Raymond opened his eyes, the light within them once more sharp as a blade.

“Get to work, Vera.” His voice was short, low, and decisive.

Vera nodded, turning to leave the room, her steps as even and quiet as a cat’s.

In the wide room, only Raymond remained, his shadow stretching long across the gray tiles beneath the golden light. Outside, the game of power was still in motion, each piece shifting under an unseen hand. But he knew, when the moment was right… he himself would be the final move.