CHAPTER NINE
1216 Words
Silverstone Mansion – Private Garden Lounge(Day)
The space was quiet.
Secluded.
Far from the main mansion.
Two men sat across from each other.
Mr. Silverstone.
And Ryan’s father—Mr. Vander.
A table between them.
Drinks untouched.
Mr. Silverstone broke the silence first.
“Where does the conflict between your family and the Monroes really begin… and end?”
Mr. Vander let out a low chuckle.
“The Monroes?”
He shook his head slightly.
“They’re not worth forgiveness.”
Mr. Silverstone studied him.
“What exactly did they do?”
A pause.
Mr. Vander looked at him—
But said nothing.
Then, calmly—
“Some things…”
A slight sip of his drink.
“Are better left buried.”
Mr. Silverstone didn’t push further.
He understood.
The air shifted.
Then he spoke again.
“Ravenna Blaze.”
Mr. Vander’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Ravenna… Blaze?”
Mr. Silverstone nodded.
“It seems she’s back in the city.”
Mr. Vander leaned back slightly.
“What is she doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Mr. Silverstone replied.
A pause.
His tone hardened.
“But if she lays a hand on my daughter again…”
His grip tightened on the glass.
“I’ll make sure she pays for it.”
Mr. Vander frowned slightly.
“What did she do to Elena?”
Mr. Silverstone exhaled slowly.
“Elena got caught in a crossfire last night.”
Mr. Vander’s expression sharpened.
“Is she alright?”
“She’s fine.”
A pause.
“But now…”
A faint sigh.
“She wants to take Ravenna down herself.”
Mr. Vander shook his head slightly.
“That’s dangerous.”
“I told her,” Mr. Silverstone replied.
“She won’t listen.”
A brief silence followed.
Then Mr. Silverstone shifted the topic.
“Does Ryan really intend to marry Elena?”
Mr. Vander smirked faintly.
“He hasn’t agreed.”
A pause.
“But he said he might.”
Mr. Silverstone raised a brow.
“Doesn’t that sound suspicious to you?”
Mr. Vander chuckled.
“I asked him the same thing.”
“And?”
“He avoided the question.”
A faint smile.
“Asked me why I was suddenly curious when I’m the one pushing him to marry.”
Mr. Silverstone laughed softly.
“If your son doesn’t want to marry my daughter, I understand.”
Mr. Vander leaned forward slightly.
“And you?”
A pause.
“Don’t you want an alliance with the Vanders?”
Mr. Silverstone smiled.
“We already have ties with the Monroes.”
Mr. Vander scoffed lightly.
“That’s hardly an alliance.”
Mr. Silverstone chuckled.
“Maybe not directly.”
A pause.
“But it exists.”
Mr. Vander shook his head.
“You’ve always been stubborn.”
Mr. Silverstone smirked.
“And you’ve always been old.”
Mr. Vander laughed.
“Old? Are we that old already?”
They both laughed.
For a moment—
The tension disappeared.
“I miss those days,” Mr. Vander said quietly.
Mr. Silverstone nodded.
“Me too.”
They both stood.
The conversation was over.
But the weight of it remained.
Silverstone Mansion – Golf Grounds (Moments Later,Afternoon)
The open field stretched wide.
Calm.
Peaceful.
A sharp contrast to everything they had just discussed.
They took their positions.
Clubs in hand.
Old friends.
Old rivals.
Still playing the same game—
Just on a different field
(Moments Later,Evening)
The calm didn’t last.
A disturbance rippled through the estate.
Workers rushed in—
Panic written all over their faces.
“Sir… she’s here.”
Mr. Silverstone and Mr. Vander exchanged a look.
They didn’t need to ask who.
Then—
She appeared.
Ravenna Blaze.
Walking in like she owned the entire mansion.
Five armed men followed behind her.
Silent. Lethal.
She didn’t wait to be invited.
A chair was pulled.
She sat.
Leg crossed over the other.
Relaxed.
Dominant.
Mr. Silverstone’s anger rose instantly.
“What are you doing here, Ravenna?” he demanded.
No response.
Mr. Vander stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
Ravenna laughed.
Soft at first—
Then louder.
Echoing across the field.
She finally looked at Mr. Silverstone.
Her gaze sharp.
Amused.
“You look tense.”
Mr. Silverstone turned away slightly.
“Is that why you came?”
Ravenna smiled faintly.
“Not exactly.”
A pause.
“I found something… interesting.”
Mr. Silverstone’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Ravenna leaned back in her chair.
“I was planning on leaving the city today.”
A small shrug.
“But it seems there are… reasons to stay.”
Mr. Vander’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t play games.”
Ravenna laughed again.
“Oh, Mr. Vander…”
She tilted her head.
“Relax.”
His voice hardened.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here and disrespecting us.”
Ravenna stood slowly.
She walked toward them—
Unhurried.
Then—
Casually—
She adjusted Mr. Silverstone’s collar.
Then Mr. Vander’s.
Both men stiffened.
But didn’t move.
Ravenna stepped back.
Smiling.
“When I show up…”
A pause.
“You should already know something is about to happen.”
Silence.
“I’ve never participated in the Crest Point bidding before,” she continued.
Her voice calm—
But dangerous.
“Maybe I should try this time.”
She smiled wider.
“And if I don’t win…”
A slight tilt of her head.
“Should I cut off Mr. Everett’s hands?”
A beat.
“Or kill his daughter?”
Another beat.
“Or maybe…”
Her eyes darkened.
“I should just deal with both of you instead.”
The air turned heavy.
Mr. Vander’s voice came out cold.
“The bidding has always been fair.”
A step forward.
“You’d better not interfere.”
Ravenna chuckled.
“Who’s participating this year?”
Mr. Vander replied without hesitation.
“The Vanders.”
A pause.
“And the Monroes.”
Ravenna’s eyes flickered.
“The Monroes?”
A slight frown.
“Who’s leading them now?”
Mr. Silverstone answered.
“Rosette Monroe.”
Silence.
For the first time—
Ravenna stilled.
A flicker.
Barely noticeable.
Something in her expression shifted.
Mr. Vander and Mr. Silverstone exchanged a glance.
They noticed it.
Ravenna turned away slowly.
Then—
She smiled again.
But this time—
It wasn’t the same.
“Well…”
She began, walking away.
“I guess I’ll see you at the bidding.”
She didn’t wait for a reply.
She left—
Her men following behind her.
Silence returned.
But it felt heavier than before.
Mr. Vander turned to Mr. Silverstone.
“…Was she just affected by Rosette’s name?”
Mr. Silverstone frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
A pause.
“She’s just a young woman. Smart, yes… but—”
Mr. Vander interrupted.
“Interesting.”
He looked in the direction Ravenna had left.
“I’ve never met Rosette Monroe before.”
A faint smirk.
“Maybe it’s time I do.”
Mr. Silverstone checked his watch.
“You should leave.”
Mr. Vander looked at him.
“It’s safer that way,” Mr. Silverstone added.
“You don’t know when she might return.”
A brief pause.
Then Mr. Vander nodded.
And walked away.
- Writer
