CH.54

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet as Knox’s eyes bored into the incriminating image.

The air grew thick and difficult to breathe due to the icy chill that seeped from his very pores.

His fists clenched tight around the photograph until it abruptly disintegrated into a fine ash that slipped through his fingers to scatter across the floor in a gray haze.

Seven watched the display with undisguised amusement dancing in his pale eyes, his lips quirking ever so slightly at the corners. "That picture is misleading. It was taken from a precise angle to make it appear as though Donna was being...intimate with that stranger." He spoke up in his usual mild tones, seemingly unbothered by the tension crackling through the air.

“Ouch… that stung like a bee!” Killian's grunt drew their attention.

Seven’s head instantly whipped toward direction to see the latter roll himself off the blade that held him stuck to the wall.

Killian’s gaze scanned the room, landing on the seething Knox glaring at the images on his desk.

‘Oh, it seems I recovered just in time for the show to begin. Haha.’ Killian muttered internally.

His grin was decidedly wicked as he moved to lounge indolently in the other chair, his long legs stretched out before him in a studied display of nonchalance that did little to conceal the mischievous glint in his eyes.

He had retrieved those photos the previous day and left them out for Knox intentionally. He wanted to see if the great Knox Delgaard would act possessive over his new bride.

Killian chuckled lowly, clearly taking immense satisfaction in having provoked such a reaction in Knox.

Seven shot Killian a warning look and shook his head. "That photograph was taken the same night you and Donna first became...acquainted, if you catch my meaning." He arched an eyebrow meaningfully. "It seems Donna’s stepsister had arranged for her to be set up with that stranger in an attempt to gather evidence to aid her lover, Alex Montgomery, in the ongoing divorce proceedings." Seven explained in a tone of forced lightness.

Knox remained silent. However, the muscle ticking in his chiseled jaw spoke volumes about the barely restrained fury simmering in the depths of his amber eyes.

"Donna’s stepsister had even reserved a room at that hotel, under Donna’s name," Seven went on, his tone taking on a harder edge. "With the intent of getting pictures of a drunken Donna in a compromising position with the stranger for that jerk to use against her in court and secure a favourable settlement."

"I've already interrogated the receptionist myself about who might have paid her off to pull such a stunt. She was quite...cooperative, once I applied the proper leverage." Killian chimed in.

Pinning Knox with an intense stare, Killian continued in a tone laced with undisguised relish. "Imagine our surprise when we discovered the hotel reception had been paid by someone else a tidy sum to give my idol the wrong room key that night. The key to your suite, to be precise."

Knox simply stared at them with an unreadable expression save for the banked flames of fury that was still flickering in the depths of his gaze.

"So you see, that picture is nothing but a ruse, a carefully orchestrated attempt to sabotage Donna’s case and paint her as a woman of ill repute. All of which was her wicked stepsister’s machinations to take everything away from her once and for all… to leave her with nothing." Seven conclude.

Silence fell over the room like a suffocating blanket.

Knox could put two and two together - someone had clearly been orchestrating this entire sordid affair.

And he had a very shrewd idea of who that orchestrator might be.

As Killian and Seven continued bickering between themselves, Knox's frigid gaze drifted to the remaining photographs still strewn haphazardly across the polished surface of his desk.

“Was this posted online?” He asked.

“Yes, Don. By that jackass! I got the post deleted, but…” Killian trailed off.

“Is my wife aware of this?”

Killian shook his head. “She fell asleep quietly after speaking on the phone with her lawyer buddy for more than 30 minutes. By the way, should I turn him or let him go?”

Knox hummed. “Someone will pay!” Then, without preamble or warning, he abruptly rose from behind the immense oak desk, the sudden movement causing his chair to skid backwards with a harsh screech against the hardwood floors.

Killian and Seven immediately fell silent, their eyes tracking Knox's every move with interest.

Swirling tendrils of pale blue mist began coalescing around Knox's imposing form. His frame began to blur as the hazy vortex intensified then he vanished completely into the ether - leaving not a single trace behind in the study to indicate he had ever been there at all.

Seven exhaled a low breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as if warding off an impending migraine at the prospect of dealing with the fallout from Knox's foul mood. "Well, that's our cue to make ourselves scarce for a while. The boss clearly has a few matters to attend to in private before we go on a killing spree. It’s been almost too long since I last tasted my enemies’ fear."

Shooting Killian a sidelong glance, he couldn't resist adding dryly, "Though you might want to attend to that gaping chest wound first before you bleed out all over the place."

Killian simply grinned, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he was still leaking red liquid at an alarming rate from the brutal injury Knox had dealt him in his fury. If anything, the gleam in his eyes spoke of a dark sort of glee at having managed to provoke such an extreme reaction in the Ice Mountain.

"Just a flesh wound," he rasped with a dismissive wave of his hand, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt of effort.

A thin trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he remained unbothered. "I've had far worse, or have you forgotten?”

He shot Seven a sly look. "Though I must admit, the prospect of having you play nursemaid does hold a certain appeal, gorgeous."

Seven simply rolled his eyes, questioning whatever cosmic forces had paired him with this particular partner. "Just get cleaned up. Those two beauties have been waiting long enough as it is, and you know how I detest tardiness. And you better get your gore out of Knox's study before he returns."

With that, the two men exited the study, leaving the room cloaked in an expectant hush now that it was vacant once more. No sign remained of the confrontation that had occurred just moments before - save for the few scattered ashes dusting the floor like grim tombstone etchings and the faint, cloying tang of copper hanging thick in the air.

Halfway across the city, the very air itself seemed to shiver and distort as Knox's imposing figure materialized from the ether in a swirling vortex of pale blue mists.

His features slowly took shape as the foggy tendrils withdrew, forming into tangible being once more with an almost slick elegance.

He'd entered the grounds of a lavish mansion, with every immaculately trimmed hedge and glistening window proclaiming wealth and unmatched power.

The massive estate, designed in the Tuscany style, was positioned on top of one of Madav's highest hills, offering a stunning view of the flashing city lights and the deep, dark ocean beyond.

The guards on standby immediately placed their right hands over their chests in a gesture of fealty and respect, their backs straightening almost subconsciously as they bowed in respect. "Imperial," they chorused in recognition of Knox's status and authority.

That was his title in the underworld and supernatural realm. Only those in the circle knew him by this identity.

Knox was far from a fairy tale hero. He was a villain… the worst nightmare for those who dared to cross him.

A brutal past and a life filled with harsh experiences had molded him into the man he now was - the ruthless Don of the underworld and the Tyrant of Veil—an occultic counsel within the supernatural domain.

Knox didn't even spare the guards a glance as he began ascending the broad marble stairs, his footfalls ringing out like death knells in the silence.

He knew exactly where he was going - straight to the master bedroom suite where he would undoubtedly find the person he was looking for.

He eased open the massive oak doors and entered a vast, pitch-black room with just the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a sweeping view of the glittering city below. However, his glowing amber eyes immediately locked on another pair of glowing amber orbs piercing through the inky blackness, regarding him with an equal intensity.

The air in the bedroom seemed to thicken and churn with an invisible, static charge, the weight of two immense forces colliding in a battle of wills that had spanned decades.

Knox didn't flinch or falter beneath the piercing gaze, meeting it head-on with an icy stare of his own as he moved further into the room with the same lethal grace he always carried.

"Grandpa!" he said at last, his deep voice a low rumble that seemed to reverberate through the space. "We need to talk."