Javon still stood on the penthouse balcony, staring at the faded point of fire in the distance. The chill of that ruthless victory still clung to his skin when his old phone vibrated again. This time it wasn't a call, but a text message from an unknown number.
His heart pounded for no clear reason. He opened it.
The message was typed in a panic, full of errors, as if sent by fingers trembling with fear.
[Mr Forger, help. Miss Sherly in danger.]
The coldness surrounding Javon instantly transformed. It was no longer the chill of emptiness, but the frozen rage of the arctic north. All thoughts of business strategy and gang wars vanished, replaced by a single image: Sherly's pale yet resolute face, and his promise to heal her.
His promise to make her a queen.
He immediately pressed the number, trying to call back. There was no answer. Only a long, silent dial tone, which felt more menacing than any scream.
The Edelweiss family.
They dared to break their promise, and now they dared to touch the woman under his protection?
Javon stopped thinking. He moved. With swift, purposeful strides, he left the silent penthouse.
His car's engine roared to life in the empty garage, shattering the night's silence. The car shot out, tearing through the deserted city streets like a black projectile. The streetlights blurred into streaks of light.
Inside the car, Javon's world became sharp and focused. Sherly's terrified face flashed in his mind. The sound of the maid's sobs from the frantic message echoed in his ears.
Screeeech—
The deafening squeal of brakes tore through the tranquility of the Edelweiss Villa district.
The car's blinding headlights shone directly on the magnificent wrought-iron gate. Several security guards on duty rushed out, surprised to see the same car return.
Seeing Javon step out, their attitude was now far more respectful. After all, this man was the new fiancé of one of their young misses. "Mr. Forger, why have you returned?" the head of security asked. "Please wait a moment, we will report your arrival."
Javon contained his anger, giving him a short nod. While waiting, he kept trying to call Sherly. Still no answer. His belief that Sherly was in danger now hardened into certainty.
Before long, the head of security returned with an awkward expression. "My apologies, sir. The master and the others have said they are asleep and cannot be disturbed. Please return tomorrow."
Their tune had changed that quickly. Javon knew this was an order. A lie designed to buy time.
Time that Sherly might not have.
"Open the gate," Javon said, his voice calm but laced with a threat.
"Sir, we are only following orders, please don't make things difficult—"
The guards hadn't finished speaking when they witnessed something that defied belief. Javon took a few steps back, then ran towards the gate. With one leap, he used the carved lion on the gate's pillar as a foothold, and with a second push, his body sailed over the three-meter-high peak of the gate, landing on the other side without a sound, as light as a panther.
"Stop him!"
Several guards rushed forward. Javon didn't look back. As he continued walking toward the villa's main door, his hand shot backward in a flash, striking the pressure points on the necks and shoulders of the approaching guards. They collapsed one by one, temporarily paralyzed, without ever touching him.
Javon had just reached the marble terrace when the lights on the second floor flickered on. A balcony door opened.
"JAVON! ARE YOU COURTING DEATH?!"
Aleesha appeared there, clad only in a thin silk nightgown, her face red with rage. "You're breaking into a private residence in the middle of the night! Believe it or not, I can call the police and have you locked up for another ten years!"
Other family members began to emerge from their rooms, drawn by the commotion. In the doorway of the master bedroom, Oliver Edelweis stood, his face hidden in shadow, looking down on Javon.
"Son of the Forger family," the patriarch said, his voice piercingly cold. "Do not be insolent. Causing trouble in the middle of the night, what is it you truly want?"
Several pairs of eyes, filled with hatred and scorn, were now fixed on him.
Javon stood tall under their gazes, his back straight, his aura calm yet unshakeable. He lifted his head, staring directly into the shadows where Oliver stood.
His voice wasn't a shout, but it resonated across the silent front yard. "I've come to take Sherly away from here."