Chapter:4
1206 Words
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Julian paced back and forth in the dusty, empty warehouse, rage radiating from every step. His chest heaved as the weight of what he’d discovered gnawed at him: someone wanted him dead.
In the middle of the room sat a man, tied to a chair, his mouth gagged. His eyes tracked Julian’s every move, wary yet defiant.
The iron door creaked open. Lucas strode in, flanked by two bodyguards. His expression was cold, yet tinged with weary annoyance.
“What the hell were you thinking, walking around without security?” Lucas snapped. “Do you have a death wish?”
Julian shot him a glare. “Don’t act like you’d care if I got killed. You’d probably throw a party.”
Lucas smirked faintly. “Even if we don’t see eye to eye, you’re still my blood. Besides, wouldn’t you rather find out who wants you dead than argue with me?”
Julian’s gaze shifted to the man bound to the chair. His anger bubbled over, and without warning, he drove his fist into the man’s face. Blood trickled from the man’s split lip, yet he managed a crooked smile.
“You really are as dumb as they say,” the man rasped once Julian ripped off the gag. “Now I see why you should’ve been taken out. Useless.”
Julian raised his fist again, but Lucas barked, “Enough!” He stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t kill him yet. We need answers.”
Lucas fixed his stare on the prisoner. “Talk. Tell us who sent you, and I’ll make you a millionaire.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “And why should I believe you?”
Lucas tilted his head, voice calm as steel. “You’re in no position to bargain. You can take my offer or end up in pieces on this floor.”
The man hesitated, then let out a humourless chuckle. “The pay wasn’t worth dying for anyway.”
Julian’s patience snapped. “Then spit it out. Who the hell sent you?”
Lucas shot Julian a warning look. “Let me handle this.”
The man’s eyes darted between the two brothers. Finally, he let the name drop. “Ethan.”
Julian froze, confusion twisting into fury. “Which Ethan?”
The man’s bloody smile widened. “Your brother. Ethan Richmond.”
Lucas stayed silent, absorbing the words, but Julian’s face contorted with rage. “Ethan? That bastard wants me dead? Why doesn’t he come at me himself?”
Lucas’s voice cut through the tension. “Why does he want Julian dead?”
The man shrugged, pain flickering in his eyes. “I don’t ask questions. I just do the job.”
Julian’s hand went for his gun, finger tightening around the trigger. But before he could fire, Lucas stepped forward, drawing a small knife. In one fluid motion, he plunged it into the man’s stomach.
The man’s eyes widened, breath catching in his throat. Lucas twisted the blade slowly, his voice a low growl.
“Did you really think you’d walk out of here alive after trying to kill my brother?”
Blood bubbled at the man’s lips. Lucas ripped the knife out and drove it into his heart.
“Go to hell,” he spat, face hard as stone.
The man’s body sagged, lifeless.
Julian was still trembling with fury. “Lucas, we need to kill Ethan. I want him dead.”
Lucas wiped the blood from his knife, eyes cold but calculating. “And we will. But Ethan isn’t reckless; he’s careful. He’ll be back from Italy tomorrow. We’ll plan it properly.”
Julian clenched his jaw. “No delays. Can you handle it?”
Lucas smirked faintly, eyes dark. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ll take care of everything.”
They exchanged a brief, silent nod. Then Julian stormed out into the night, leaving Lucas and the bodyguards to clean up the blood-soaked floor.
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The two brothers went their separate ways, each lost in their own thoughts. While driving, Lucas made a call from inside his car.
“The guy we brought to play the game managed to convince Julian,” Lucas said, a smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, I killed him, so there won’t be any traces left behind. As for Julian, he’s really dumb—he’s so eager to kill Ethan,” he added nonchalantly.
“Ethan will be arriving late in the evening, and that’s where he’s going to meet his fate,” he said with a grin. Then he hung up the phone, pressed on the gas pedal, and the sports car sped away.
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At the Richmond mansion, Catherine was sitting in the lounge area with Ava and Lily, just chatting.
“Your father was supposed to be here, but he seems to be busy—which leaves me to handle this sooner rather than later,” Catherine said.
Both Ava and Lily frowned, sensing that whatever their mother wanted to discuss was serious. Ava collected herself, forced a smile, and looked at her mother.
“Mother, what is it that you need to talk to us about? It must be something serious—your expression says it all.”
Lily stayed quiet, waiting to hear what their mother had to say.
Catherine continued, “I won’t beat around the bush. This is about the marriage proposal from the Clay family. You two should be aware that the Clay family is one of the most powerful families in town,” she said, her face serious.
Lily and Ava looked at each other, then turned back to their mother. Lily was the first to speak.
“Mother, what exactly is going on? If the Clay family wants to marry someone from our family, shouldn’t we know who they’ve chosen to be their bride?” she asked with a frown.
Ava suddenly had a thought. “Wait—are you trying to say they haven’t chosen which of us they want?” she asked.
Catherine sighed, noticing that her daughters were completely in the dark.
“Listen to me very carefully. The Clay family has already made a deal with your father. In their family, there are a few handsome young men who are single—but it’s only two who are interested in settling down. Which means you two—”
Before she could finish, her daughters stood up from the couch at the same time.
“What?” they exclaimed in unison, then looked at each other with widened eyes before turning back to their mother.
Ava, hands on her hips, demanded, “Mother, what do you mean by that?”
Lily added quickly, “Exactly! Please tell me it’s not what I’m thinking. You don’t expect both of us to marry into the same family, do you?” Her discomfort was obvious.
Catherine watched as her daughters bombarded her with questions. She looked away, then said sternly,
“How do you expect me to answer all your questions at once? And don’t expect me to explain while you two are standing. Is that how you show respect to your mother?”
The two sisters exchanged helpless looks, uncertain what to say next.
- Writer
