Chapter 2: Taking Him Lightly?
976 Words
Adelaide Seraphine's revelation left Theodore Triumph in a state of profound disbelief.
The truth was, the angelic little girl who had saved him all those years ago was Adelaide, not her sister Eleanor.
He had been ensnared in a misplaced affection for seven long years!
Theodore found himself locked in a gaze with Adelaide, his eyes brimming with a cocktail of gratitude and regret.
Sensing the intensity of Theodore's stare, Adelaide bashfully cast her eyes downward.
Then, in a moment that seemed to suspend time itself, Theodore dropped to one knee before Adelaide. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he produced a dazzling sapphire diamond ring, and asked with an earnest gravity, "Adelaide, will you be my wife?"
His sudden proposal struck Adelaide like a bolt from the blue.
"I wish to bestow upon you a lifetime of splendor and eternal happiness," he declared, his eyes burning with sincerity and emotion.
Eleanor, once radiant with pride, watched this scene unfold with seething rage. "Theodore Triumph, you absolute scoundrel!" she spat.
In her mind, Theodore was nothing more than her safety net, her ever-faithful lapdog.
Even if she didn't hold him in high regard, he was supposed to only fawn over her!
Adelaide, her head slightly bowed, found herself caught in a whirlwind of thoughts.
She felt a stirring in her heart. She didn't want to be coerced into marrying a man thrice her age, a man who had walked down the aisle five times already!
With this thought, she extended her right hand, allowing Theodore to slide the ring onto her middle finger. Her voice steady and resolute, she declared, "I do!"
At her words, Theodore's face lit up with a radiant smile, his hand clasping Adelaide's tightly.
"Adelaide, can't you be a bit more discerning? Are you really settling for this ex-convict, this societal dreg?" Eleanor sneered.
"You may not care about your reputation, but we Seraphines still value ours!"
Smack!
As Eleanor's venomous words hung in the air, a sharp sound echoed through the room.
Without a moment's hesitation, Theodore delivered a resounding slap across her face.
Eleanor clutched her cheek, her eyes blazing with fury at Theodore.
She could hardly believe that Theodore, who had always been so docile and adoring towards her, would dare to raise his hand against her!
"You spineless wretch, how dare you strike me!"
"My woman is beyond reproach!" Theodore declared, each word punctuated with an unwavering resolve.
Eleanor Seraphine, her face a mask of fury, spun towards Marcus Valeriano. "Darling, strike him down! Show this contemptible duo the consequences of their actions!"
The assault on Eleanor was a direct affront to Marcus's pride.
Marcus, rolling up his sleeves, advanced towards Theodore Triumph, his face stern and aura menacing. "Touch my beloved, and you invite your own demise!" he bellowed, hand poised to strike Theodore.
Theodore, however, didn't flinch or evade. Instead, he delivered a swift kick to Marcus's midsection, sending him sprawling.
"You?" Theodore looked down at Marcus, his face an impassive mask.
Humiliated, Marcus charged at Theodore in a fit of rage. "Dare to strike me? You will rue this day!" Thud! Just as before, Theodore lifted his foot and landed another powerful blow to Marcus's abdomen.
This time, it was even more forceful. Marcus tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth and spat out a mouthful.
"Have you lost your will to live?" Theodore asked, his voice cold.
Adelaide Seraphine, standing behind them, was utterly taken aback.
She had never anticipated that Theodore would dare to strike Marcus, the scion of the Valeriano family.
This was bound to stir up a hornet's nest!
Marcus, blood still staining his lips, glared at Theodore, his body trembling with suppressed rage.
"Adelaide, let's go!" Theodore took Adelaide's hand and began to stride away as if nothing had transpired.
"Stop!" Ava Seraphine shouted, "Theodore Triumph, you brute! Seven years in prison and all you've learned is violence?" "Come here and beg Young Master Valeriano's forgiveness."
Theodore ignored her and continued his departure.
Adelaide, however, looked at him with a hint of worry. "Perhaps we should apologize to Young Master Valeriano. The Valeriano family wields significant influence in Timberwood City."
"I don't worryhing," Theodore replied resolutely.
To him, the Valeriano family was inconsequential.
They hadn't gotten far when Marcus staggered to his feet, his eyes burning with murderous intent as they locked onto Theodore.
"Come here, kneel!" He gestured at the cake strewn on the ground. "Clean it up with your tongue."
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Theodore with malicious delight.
"And if I refuse?" Theodore retorted.
At this response, Marcus laughed instead of growing angry. "You think just because you can brawl, you're above the law?"
"Have you lost your mind in prison? In today's world, it's all about who you know!"
"If you don't want to clean up the cake, then consider whether you can endure the wrath of this man!"
With that, Marcus arrogantly brandished an invitation. "The War Deity Aether is gracing Timberwood City with his presence the day after tomorrow. This is an invitation to his banquet!"
"I believe you understand the significance of this invitation!"
War Deity Aether! Hearing this name, everyone was struck dumb. A top brass in military, undefeated on the battlefield, his combat prowess equivalent to an entire battalion! No one had ever thought such a high-ranking figure would visit Timberwood City.
Most importantly, he had extended an invitation to Marcus! This clearly indicated the extraordinary relationship between the Valeriano family and War Deity Aether. Who would dare to provoke a friend of the War Deity?
Upon hearing the name War Deity Aether, a complex emotion flickered in Theodore's eyes. But soon, he regained his composure, acting as if he hadn't heard anything, and continued walking forward.
"What? You don't take War Deity Aether seriously?"
"Yes!"
- Writer
