Chapter 50: Chapter 50

THIRD POV

Erin couldn’t believe who was standing right in front of him. He shook his head several times, as the beating had shaken his brain.

“You’ve grown so well,”

“Shut up! We thought you were dead!” Erin yelled as he struggled in Anderson’s grip, but it wouldn’t let him go.

“Oh, Knight, I can’t die yet.”

Erin was just struggling when Anderson dragged him in front of the old man.

“You’re free to go, son,”

“M-Master…”

“He’s not going anywhere.”

Anderson hesitated before leaving the old man’s office. The older man turned to face Erin.

“You entered my territory mistakenly, Eric Knight,” the old man smirked as he took his cane and hit Erin on the back.

“F-ck!” Erin screamed, glaring at the old man. “You even changed your name,” Erin stated. He was angered and couldn’t bear the pain in his body. “You are their master, and you cause everything; why have you returned? To bring us all down?”

The old man grinned and punched Erin in the face. Erin licked his lips and spat the blood out.

“Hmm… This is the punishment for those who enter my territory,” the old man said as he tapped Erin on the back with his cane.

Erin grinned as he spat the blood. “Why? Are you afraid of us, Ferdinand?” he asked, leaning back and stretching his body. “You’re still a coward.”

The old man burst out laughing and almost cried because Eric Knight was entertaining him. “Do you think you can beat me? Not even the chairman can kill me,”

Erin came to a halt. But he shouldn’t be afraid of what he was about to face. He’s already entered. He shouldn’t stay here any longer because time is running out, or something bad will happen to Scarlett.

Furthermore, he looked up at the old man because fighting was no longer an option. “He left the problems to the fourth generation, which is why you’re still alive today because we didn’t rush,” he said as he remembered their grandmother.

“You killed her, didn’t you? You killed our grandmother.”

He bit his lower lip as he realized why they chose Scarlett to forget everything that night, because they knew Ferdinand was a dangerous person. He also understands why the perpetrator of their grandmother’s death cannot be found because Ferdinand is the mastermind behind everything.

They’ve known Ferdinand, also known as Fernando, for a long time because he used to come to their mansion and play with them. But when their Lady Josephine was killed in a family tragedy, Ferdinand was also gone at the same time.

He never visited their grandmother’s grave or even saw him when she’s buried. Because he was responsible for everything.

“I see why Scarlett is your target now,” said Erin, looking at him. “Because she was the only witness that night.” he clenched his fists.

“She saw your face and tattoo, so you know she might be the only one who can tell everyone that you killed grandma,” He shook his head because the old man’s move to do all of this against them was so pathetic.

Ferdinand couldn’t say anything for a moment because his fists were shaking.

“You killed our lady, you killed—” Erin didn’t finish what he's saying when the cane struck him again.

“You know nothing! Vern should have died! It’s not her!” yelled the old man as he hit Erin, who was bleeding all over his face.

“She’s your sister, idiot!” exclaimed Erin.

When Ferdinand heard Erin’s words, he came to a halt and his eyes widened. He was noticed of his hands shaking and tightened his grip on his cane.

“She’s not my sister!”

Erin laughed and shook his head. “Yes, she’s your adopted sister, and yet you killed her!” Erin struggles again with the rope. “She cares about you! She loves you!”

It took a back, Ferdinand and shook his head. “No!” he yelled, punching Erin in the stomach as he coughed up blood. “She betrayed me; I trusted her, but she chose the demon!”

Ferdinand shook his head as he recalled what had happened that night.

“She knew I came that night! She knew I was going to take her back from Vern! And yet, she still chose him!” Ferdinand exclaimed, turning to Erin. “So, I killed her, no… She protected Scarlett.”

Ferdinand appeared to be insane, so Erin frowned and grimaced.

“As a result, I ended up killing her and letting Scarlett live.”

*** FLASHBACK

“I can’t be with you, Vern,” said Josephine as she smiled at the Knights’ chairman.

The chairman frowned because he had an odd feeling about his wife.

“Why? This is an important event for us,”

Josephine smiled and kissed the chairman on the lips. “I know, okay? I’m not feeling well right now,” she said as she smiled at Vern and stroked his cheek before returning to stitching for her youngest granddaughter.

“It seems something is bothering you, Josephine.”

Josephine came to a halt and abruptly pricked her finger with a needle, after which she sucked her finger.

“No, I just… don’t feel good right now,” she said to her husband as she resumed stitching.

“Are you certain? I can cancel the event; Josephine, you’re the most important to us.”

Josephine bit her lip because it scared her she wouldn’t be able to handle the situation any longer, and she burst into tears in front of her husband. She would rather not involve her current family. It is not her intention to hurt those she cares about, so she will complete what needs to be completed.

“No.” exclaimed Josephine, making the chairperson frown even more because of the tone of his wife’s voice.

Josephine bowed and exhaled deeply. “I’m sorry; it’s a waste of your event preparation, so keep going,” she said as she placed her embroidery tools on the bed and approached her husband.

“I know it’s important to you as well, and I’ll be fine,” she said as she hugged Vern, who it confused by her actions.

“Josephine.”

Josephine did nothing but shake her head. She moved away from her husband and only touched his cheek before returning to her work.

“Are you certain?”

Josephine just smiled and nodded, so the chairman sighed before kissing his wife on the head.

“Grandfather! Grandmother!”

When their youngest granddaughter entered, they smiled.

“Venice!” exclaimed Josephine, hugging her lovely granddaughter in a dress.

“You’re suffocating me, Grandma!”

Josephine let go of her granddaughter and laughed with her husband.

“Grandma, what are you doing?”

Josephine smiled as she looked at what she was sewing.

“Is this it?” she asked, and Scarlett nodded. “Grandma does the sewing for you.”

Scarlett smiled widely as her eyes widened. “Really? That’s mine?”

Josephine nodded and kissed Scarlett on the cheek. “Grandma will just finish it,” she smiled as she stroked Scarlett’s hair.

“Let’s go, Venice,” the chairman said to their granddaughter, extending his hand, but Scarlett just shook her head.

“I can’t come because I want to be with Grandma; I’m sorry, Grandpa,” Scarlett pouted.

They exchanged glances, and Josephine bit her lip before turning to face Scarlett and saying, “Venice, go with them. Your cousins are there, so come with them. Grandma will be fine here.”

Scarlett raised her head. “No, I want to be with you here because you’re all alone here,” she said, pouting.

“Venice…”

Scarlett smiled as she stood from the bed and walked to the door, saying, “I’ll tell mom and dad.”

Josephine was about to chase Scarlett out the door of their room when she was stopped by Vernon.

“Let’s give it to Venice; I know she’d rather accompany you than go to an event that will bore her; you know who she is, right?”

“But…”

Vernon caressed her shoulder.

“We’re just quick. I just need to meet with our investors, so we’ll just take a while,” Vern said to Josephine, who was worried.

They exited their room together, and when they returned downstairs, the entire Knight was waiting for them in the living room.

“Did Scarlett say she won’t come?” asked Sharlene. The chairman gave a nod.

“She stated she prefers to be with your mother.”

They were all staring at Josephine, who was becoming worried.

“Mom?”

“H-huh? Y-yeah… Venice said she wasn’t coming with you all.”

The Knights all looked at each other, and wondering what their lady was up to.

“Are you okay, mom?” asked Fermina, her youngest daughter.

She smiled and took a deep breath before kissing her youngest daughter on the cheek. “I’m fine. Go ahead, I’ll take care of Venice,” she said with a smile while looking at her family.

“I don’t want to go,” Carter Knight, the cold eldest grandson, surprised them.

“No, Carter,” his mother replied, but Carter grumbled.

He turned to face his mother. “I want to be with Venice and Grandma as well!” he exclaimed.

“Carter!”

He just sighed and looked around. “Whatever!” he exclaimed as he exited the mansion while, his hand in his pocket.

Carter’s parents shook their heads and winced.

Carter’s mother asked, shaking her head, “Where did that boy inherit?”

Everyone laughed. Before following her son, she approached Josephine and kissed her cheek.

“I don’t want to go either! It’ll be boring!” Rios exclaimed.

His parents turned to look at him. “Rios!”

He chuckled. “Whatever,” said Rios as he is trying to imitate their eldest cousin Carter.

Josephine burst out laughing because of her grandchildren.

They said their goodbyes to Josephine and Scarlett, who were relieved not to be attending the event.

Josephine escorted her husband outside to hug the chairperson.

“Be careful!” Josephine yelled at them as she turned to face her husband.

“I love you so much, Vern, and thank you for loving me,” she said as she kissed him on the lips and adjusted his clothes.

“Take care,” was all Vern said, despite his surprise at what his wife was doing.

As their cars drove away from their mansion, Josephine waved to them all. She looked at the time and shut their big door.

“Get ready!” she exclaimed. Because of what she said, she surprised the entire staff.

“Milady Josephine…”

She clenched her fist. “Everyone gets ready. We have a visitor coming tonight,” she said as she led Scarlett to the room.

“Venice, please stay here,” Josephine said, stroking her grandchild's hair. “Please don’t go out, okay?”

Scarlett just glanced at her grandmother, and wondering, “Why? What’s going on, grandma?”

They sat on the bed, Josephine smiling. “Grandma has a visitor, so the child can’t join in; you’ll listen to Grandma, right?”

Scarlett nodded, and Josephine took the toy. It intended her to gift her granddaughter for her upcoming birthday.

“Grandma will be back,” she assured Scarlett. Scarlett nodded as she played with the toy her grandmother had given her.

“Okay,”

Before leaving Scarlett’s room, she smiled and kissed her on the cheek. She took a deep breath before entering the living room. She is restless and concerned about what will happen next.

“Lady! Lady! Someone outside is screaming!”

She came to a halt and clenched her fists. “He’s here,” she whispered.

She was on her way to the door when bullets rained down on the palace.

She sat down and covered her ear, and whispered, “This is not what I was expecting for!”

Their men drew her in to protect her.

“We’ll take care of them, lady Josephine; just stay here!”

She interrupts them and shook her head before trying to stand up.

“I’ll take care of them,” she said as she walked towards the door, calling out the name of her guest for the evening, “Fernando!”