Chapter 7
A tall, lean figure stepped in, silhouetted against the light.
He wore a sharp black suit, and his facial features were chiseled. There was an air of nobility and pride in his cold gaze.
He strode forward with a fierce presence that seemed to make the very air around him freeze.
It was Gareth Bolton–heir to the Boltons, feared by all in Jedo.
The Eight Families lit up with hope as though they had been thrown a lifeline. They shouted over one another.
“Mr. Bolton’s here! Let’s see how cocky you can get now!”
“You’re nothing in front of the Boltons! You’re finished!”
“Mr. Bolton is the real deal. You’re not even fit to shine his shoes!”
But Gareth didn’t seem to hear a word. His eyes were locked on me.
He strode forward, ignoring everyone around him as he headed straight in my direction.
The entire hall fell silent. All eyes were on him as he stopped before me.
He lowered his head and stared at my face. His gaze was deep and unfathomable, as if he was trying to be sure of something.
After a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. His voice came out hoarse, almost trembling.
“It’s really you.”
The next second, to everyone’s shock, he dropped to one knee.
He took my hand and kissed it with reverence, eyes red–rimmed with emotion.
“You’re finally back, my princess.”
I looked down at him and smiled lazily. “What? Weren’t you all my servants anyway?”
Gareth chuckled softly, his voice deep and gentle. “Yes, and I’m willing to be the one most loyal to you.”
The hall was silent.
The various members of the Eight Families had turned pale. Cold sweat dripped down their faces, and their knees nearly buckled.
“It’s really her, the legendary Ms. Erica Costello…”
The ones shouting arrogantly just moments ago were now trembling. Their foreheads were pressed to the floor, and they were too scared to even breathe loudly.
Bruce and the others were frozen in shock, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Arnold looked ashen, and he finally collapsed onto the floor.
Only now did he realize that everything he had painstakingly built over the years was nothing but a joke in front of me.