Chapter 35: Chapter 35

THIRD POV

When Rios Knight arrived home, he sighed because it turned all the lights in his house off. It was quiet, and none of his staff was there to greet him.

He got out of the car and felt around, but it was too quiet, and he noticed nothing out of the ordinary. He drove through the gate, but left his car outside because he was too lazy to open it.

Furthermore, he checked his CCTV and saw that it wasn’t damaged, so he knew his house was safe.

Not only that, but he also had the impression that someone was always watching his every move, both inside and outside the company, and especially when he was riding.

Except for Carter, who knew someone was watching him because he could take care of himself, his other cousins were unaware. He is not afraid of his enemies because they will never win against a knight, no matter how many there are.

He almost tripped as he entered the house because he appeared to have bumped into something.

He frowned as he looked at it, but he halted and cursed a few times when he saw how lifeless his men were.

“Oh, sh-t!” Rios yelled as he dashed to the front door, but it pointed a gun at his head.

“Don't move unless you want your blood to spill here,” the man behind him said.

He winced and walked inside with a gun to his head.

“Hurry!”

It pushed him, so he just smirked and raised his hand until they entered the house and the lights came on.

He even looked at his maid, who was shaking with fear and tied up with a towel in their mouth, on the sofa.

When he looked up the stairs, he noticed two men who appeared to be watching him. He also looked up and noticed three men guarding the pool area, as well as two men behind him and a man guarding their hostages.

He shook his head and raised his eyebrow. “They really prepared to break into my house, huh?” he smirked because he still looked like he could fight them.

Rios let out a sigh and crossed his arms. “Did Solen Madrid order you to come into my house?” he asked.

He smirked because his suspicion had proven correct.

“She’s forcing you to kill me?”

“Yes! We’ll kill you!” yelled the man, hit Rios in the face.

Rios grabbed his jaw and spit his blood.

“Can she assassinate the Knights?” asked Rios, smirking.

They were stopped.

“Shut up, if you don’t want me to put them first!”

Rios burst out laughing because of what he had heard. Solen Madrid’s men appear to be inexperienced thugs.

“TSK!” Rios shook his head, taking his time fighting them.

“I caught someone!”

When Rios saw who they were holding, his eyes widened.

“S-sorry, Sir…”

“F-ck!”

He pushed into the man next to him, grabbed his arm, and twisted and turned him upside down. He also took the gun they were carrying and shot the man behind him.

“Damn!”

Rios knew armed men were entering his home. He laughed and slowly stood from his knees, stroked his hair.

“They really prepared it, TSK!” he smirked. “Let’s go for it!”

He pulled out his two guns and shot the men who had broken into his house.

“Oh, come on!” he yelled, his clothes stained with blood.

He looked at his two captives and nodded, and they untied the rope and fought with the armed men.

“I’ll take care of it! Get them out of here!” he told the staff, who were still unsure but obeyed their boss’ orders.

He sighed and faced the enemy again after ensuring that his staff was gone from the house.

“Kill him! Get rid of him.”

They yelled at Rios, who was waiting for them with a smirk, but Rios grabbed the wrist of the first person who attacked him, breaking the man’s bone and causing it to cry out in pain.

“I’m not done.” he whispered, breaking the man’s arm even more to crying in pain. “Oh, I want to hear your scream.”

When Rios kicks him while he is holding the broken bone, someone will attack him from the side.

They have no life left in them now that they have provoked Rios.

Someone will attack him from behind as he bends, and he will shoot it in the head before standing up to meet the person who will kick him again.

The others were hesitant to attack Rios because it had already killed their companions in less than two minutes.

“Oh, is that all you’re capable of?” Rios smirked.

The men exchanged glances before attacking to Rios, able to keep up with or even outdo their movements. Worse, he’s still holding on to someone.

“Weak, TSK!”

Rios quickly drew his gun, and they came to a halt.

“You’ll learn how to vomit blood,” he said as he shot the man in the mouth. “TSK!”

He looked at the remaining boys, who were stunned and had their eyes wide open because of what had happened to their companions.

“S-Sir!”

Rios stopped and cursed before even looking at that person, and he was even more stopped because a gun it pointed at his secretary’s head.

“Damn it, Solen! I’m going to kill you!”

He looked at the people in front of him as he attacked them again, but he felt no fatigue from fighting the men.

Rios whispered, “I’ll save you,” and fought the men again, but it stopped him when the man guarding the top of the stairs collapsed.

When he noticed someone standing nearby, he looked up. Rios couldn’t see who helped him because her entire body it covered.

Rios’ secretary it pushed by her, but Rios caught him.

“Oh, I got you!” Rios whispered, hugging his secretary and falling down the stairs together. “F-ck!”

“S-Sir…!”

He turned to face his secretary. “Damn, are you all right?!?”

His secretary nodded, but he coughed because Rios was still hugging him.

Rios let go of his secretary, scratching his forehead. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said as he stood up to help his secretary.

“You idiot, there are more enemies!”

Rios came to a halt and looked at the person, smirking and shaking his head.

“Wait for me, okay? Stay here, Dane.” he said.

He was about to leave when Dane stopped him, so he looked at him.

“Be careful, sir,” said Dane as he bowed. Rios smirked and messed up Dane’s hair.

“Of course, I’m a Knight.”

Dane smiled and crawled beneath the stairwell.

“Rios Knight!” yelled someone.

Rios scratched his head, annoyed at the person who helped him.

“Yeah, I’ll be there!”

Rios dashed to where his companion was fighting them.

Rios smirked when he noticed her familiar move.

“TSK. Weak.”

Rios gasped and laughed because they were both thinking the same thing.

“The next time, make your house more secure.”

He gave her a salute. “Yes.”

The person who helped him just raised the middle finger at him.

Rios smirked and sighed as he examined the bodies scattered around his home.

“Oh, so… you’re back…” Rios whispered as he directed the rest of his staff to clean up the mess.

The woman smirked before leaving Rios’ house, as her mission here was complete.

They couldn’t even kill the Knights to death.

***

SCARLETT’S POV

“Good morning, Mommy!”

When I felt my children hug me, I stretched.

“Hello, good morning…”

Sigh, I closed my eyes again because I was still tired.

“Someone wants to talk to you, Scarlett.”

I opened my eyes and looked at them again. “Who?”

Claire shrugged. “You’ll see.”

Claire has invited my children to breakfast downstairs.

I stood up and frowned, wondering who the person wanted to speak with.

When the sun shone on me, I stood up, opened the curtains, and closed my eyes.

I looked out onto the terrace where I had left some clothes.

“Damn it!”

I took it, so they wouldn’t know I had moved the night before. They’ll know about my plans once they find out.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath before starting my routine.

After finishing my routine, I was about to come down the stairs to join my children for breakfast when I realized who Claire was referring to.

What is he doing here? Didn’t I leave the mansion?

He turned to face me, surprised to see that I was still standing.

“S-Scarlett…”

“Dad.”

That’s right, it’s my father. He is the one who wanted to speak with me.

“Can we… talk?”

I sighed as I walked down the stairs, raising my eyebrows.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” I asked. He bowed and didn’t seem to look at me.

“All I want to do is talk to you.”

I smirked. For what purpose? For everything I’ve already heard?

“For what, dad? For cheating on mom? Being Sophia’s illegitimate child? Or making me look fucking dumb? Which one do you want us to discuss, Dad?”

The tone of my voice surprised him. I don't mean to insult him because he is still my father in some ways. Aside from my grandfather, I admire my father.

“S-Scarlett…”

He tried to approach me, but I stopped him.

“Dad, I don’t have time to talk to you,” I said, but he didn’t give up because I think his sincerely wanted to speak with me.

“P-please?”

As I looked at him, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “What else are we going to talk about, dad? I mean, I know everything, so what else are you going to say?” I asked. He sighed and shook his head.

“Allow me to explain. I-I didn’t want to cheat your mom,” said dad as he bowed.

I burst out laughing at what he said. The words I kept hearing over and over.

“You didn’t like it, dad? Why is mom hurt if you didn’t like what happened?” I clenched my fists and bit my lip, trying not to get angry at him. “Because you lost hope of having Scarlett Venice?!? Because you didn’t wait?!? I’ve heard those words over and over, dad!”

I combed my hair because even my father is turning against me. Not only that, but I don’t want to get to where our entire family is destroyed.

“P-please, listen to daddy…”

I shook my head, but tears welled up in my eyes, which I wiped away.

“No, dad, I can’t listen yet,” I said, turning away from him.

“Scarlett—”

“Do you know how much I regret moving away or hiding for five years…” I smiled, my eyes softening. “I didn’t realize mom was hurting more than I was? That she hid it for so long! That my mom was hurting for so long because of you!” I glared at him, but he remained silent.

“Because I felt the same way, dad; I know how you can’t do anything but accept everything.”

My hands were shaking as I tried to keep myself from hurting my father.

“I know the feel having to be strong for the people you care about! I know that because that’s what I’m feeling right now.” I rubbed my face because of the pressure I’m carrying right now.

“My ex-husband also cheated on me, and worse, with my half-sister! You don’t know how devastated I was back then! You don’t know how we feel about your cheating!”

I turned my back and covered my mouth because it was still haunting me, no matter what I did.

I’m still hurt because of the state our family is. The family that mom built for us. The family that is being destroyed because of their sins.

“I know I made a mistake, but I regret it; I regret why I cheated on your mother, and I also almost hurt myself because of what I did.”

I just turned away and didn’t look at him. Daddy is one of my weaknesses. I would rather not see our family destroyed.

“It’s just difficult that there is a gap in my relationship with your mother; I know she cries every time she is alone.”

I closed my eyes and cried because I knew it hurt dad, but what he did was against the law.

“I couldn’t get close to her because I know she’s still hurt about what I did, and I’m not sure my daughter feels the same way.”

I turned to face him. “Because you don’t know how I feel!” I yelled. Dad bowed and burst into tears in front of me.

“Because I am the one who should take Grandpa’s place for all of you!” I clenched my fist and bit my lower lip while shaking.

“That’s what you all wanted for me, so I broke one of our family laws!” I wiped my tears away and backed away. “You didn’t even ask what I wanted! You didn’t even ask how I truly felt!”

“S-Scarlett…” I shook my head as he was about to approach me.

“P-please… I-I can’t forgive r-right now, dad,” I said, hoping you’d understand. He smiled, but I averted my gaze.

“I’ll wait, and we’ll wait for you to come back to the mansion.”

He walked away, and I stood there until he left. I took a deep breath and prepared to go to the kitchen when I noticed Claire in front of me.

“You’re not really mad at him,” she pointed out.

I came to a halt and smirked bitterly.

“There’s no point if I'm still angry with dad; he's still my father, so I respect him,” I said, turning to face the door. “They also can’t interfere what I’m doing.”

Claire nodded and turned to face me.

“What are you going to do? When are you going to leave? I also heard there will be an event, but it seems to be a trap.”

I sighed as I returned her gaze.

“The Madrid Enterprise?”

Claire gave a nod. “It appears she is about to appear in front of everyone and introduce herself because her clone had already died.”

It made me wonder if I would still take part in the event… If I interrupt my cousins’ plans, it will take me a long time to leave.

“Scarlett!”

I gulped and turned to face her. “Maybe I won’t come.”

Claire’s eyes widened in response to what I said. “W-what?! No way! Solen Madrid will be wondering why you’re not there, and your plans may it ruined!”

I took a deep breath, thinking that possibly she's right, that Solen might know my plans.

“Let me think; I’m still struggling right now, and I don’t know what to prioritize! What a damn life!” I laughed. “As time passes, our lives become more dangerous; the mastermind of the chaos, Ferdinand Smith, we know little about him yet,” I said, walking to the dining area where my children were.

My priority right now is my children because I won’t be able to care for them when I leave for my mission.

“How is Rios doing?”

Her question caused me to gulp. What makes her so nosy?

“I knew it!” she yelled, laughing.

I winced.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Scarlett, you’re an idiot! You are not careful in your actions.

“LOL! I know you, Knight!”

I just sighed and shook my head.

“Maybe you’re just dreaming because you’re drunk, Perkins.”

I smirked at her as she rolled her eyes.

I can’t keep anything from her. How come the inside of her mansion it covered in CCTV? He just needs to install it in the bathroom as well, TSK.

“So, you’re back, huh?”

I shrugged, and we went on with our breakfast.

That is something I can’t do right now.

***

THIRD POV

“Damn it, the Knight was testing my patience!”

“What happened?”

She looked at the newcomer.

“I don’t know! It’s annoying!” She grumbled. “By the way, how was Rios Knight’s house?”

Solen sat down on the swivel chair, fist clenched.

“Everyone is dead! Rios is cruel even when he’s alone!”

They were both enraged because the Knights outmatched them.

“I knew it! Rios isn’t an easy opponent! I thought he’d be easy to beat!”

“Yeah, but… Don’t worry, he’s not alone among the Knights; there are a lot of them; we can separate them or put them away all together.” said Solen.

They both smirked as they discussed their plan.

“How is the Knights’ chairman?”

The woman giggled and sipped her wine.

“He is still carrying out my orders,”

They both burst out laughing.

“I can’t believe we’re still holding him.”

“He’s not especially powerful; he just has a lot of staff.”

They tossed and laughed because, to obey their orders, they're holding the chairman.

“Don’t be too certain.”

It took aback, them and knelt in front of the visitor.

“M-master…”

“You don’t know Verno; you’re still holding, but you don’t know if he’s holding you.”

They came to a halt when their master said something.

“The Knights are all the same. From Verno’s father to him and his eldest son, Vernon, and the eldest of the new generation,”

“Carter Knight,” they said as they knelt before their master.

The old man nodded because he knew how Knights moved.

“When he acts like his father, Verno is quiet,” he smirked. “Vernon acts more loudly, but you never know when he’ll attack, and Carter Knight is quieter than his grandfathers and wiser than previous generations; They taught Carter how to be a knight at a young age.”

They nodded, their master knowing more than the two of them.

“What about Scarlett Knight?”

“Shouldn’t she take over her grandfather’s throne?”

Their boss laughed. “The former lady of the Knights chose a Scarlett Knight because she had the hidden courage to face her enemies alone,” the old man said, looking at his two pawns. “Be more careful around her; you don’t even know how to enrage her.”

The elderly man examined his computer monitor. “For now, don’t take your gaze away from the chairperson of the Knights; he’s our ace against all the knights; Verno can outdo you as well, and prepare for your upcoming confrontation with the Knights.”

They both nodded. “That will be taken care of.”

Their boss smirked and sat down on the chair, as if he, too, was awaiting his and Verno’s reunion.

He will remind to the chairman of how he killed Josephine, which the Knights will never forget.

This is the worst-case scenario.