Chapter 2: A Man's Wrath

Words : 1719 Updated : Aug 14th, 2025

"Northville Marshal, the target is gone…" Elijah Quinny stood in the dark, his face set like stone. He didn't raise his voice, yet it carried a suffocating weight. "Search. Turn Riveria inside out and bring them to me." Raven stood at his shoulder, barely daring to breathe. His expression was iron-hard, his gaze razor-sharp. She swallowed and mustered her nerve. "Northville Marshal, I have an update on Leanna Yare." Elijah glanced over, one brow lifting. "She burned through the money you left for her and her daughter. Six months, and it was gone." Raven lowered her voice as if afraid someone might hear. His frown tightened further. That sum had been more than enough to keep Leanna and the girl comfortable, yet it had vanished in half a year. Anger simmered hot in his chest. "What else did she do?" His voice was low and tight, ground out from deep within. "…A year ago, she remarried. Jolie was sent to a boarding school. She barely looked in on her." Raven added it carefully. His expression turned storm-dark. Ice crackled in his words. "Where is she now?" "Phoenix City." Elijah gave a cold snort, his voice flat and low. "I'll ask her myself how she can live with herself." Elijah's return swept over Riveria like a thundercloud. Ordinary folk didn't notice, but the city's elite felt their hearts jump into their throats. They knew the man no one dared cross had come home. Phoenix City, the most exclusive gated community in Riveria. Security here was always airtight. The people who came and went were power-brokers and celebrities. Elijah halted at the gate, steady as a rock. He shot Raven a look. "You stand out. Stay out of sight." Raven nodded and slipped into the shadows. Night thickened. His anger swelled beneath his ribs like a volcano on the verge of eruption. He'd fought on the border and racked up commendations-a legend whose name made enemy armies tremble. Yet now he couldn't even protect his own child. The helplessness pricked at him like needles. He moved to enter the gated community. A guard stepped in his way. "Stop. Got an appointment? No appointment, no entry." The guard tilted his chin so high it could've pointed at the sky, wearing his insolence like a badge. Elijah's voice was even and heavy. "Call Leanna Yare. Tell her Elijah Quinny is here." The guard gave him a once-over and snorted. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can just stroll in here?" Elijah's eyes cooled another degree. "Didn't you hear me?" "Hey, watch it. No need to get hotheaded. This isn't your playground. Beat it." The guard lifted his hand, pulled the nightstick from his belt, and moved to shoo him away. Elijah had had enough. His foot snapped out. Thump. The guard flew like a kite with its string cut and crashed to the ground. Thud. Without sparing a glance at the man's groans, Elijah strode straight into the gated community. With the address Raven had given him, he soon reached Leanna Yare's door. He raised his hand and knocked. Knock, knock, knock. The door opened quickly. A woman in a sheer robe stood there, all dolled up. She peered at him in puzzlement, then froze, whispering, "E-Elijah Quinny?" Elijah smiled coldly. "Looks like you haven't forgotten." "Where is Jolie?" He cut straight to the point. Panic flickered across Leanna's face. She stammered, "Jolie… she should still be at the boarding school…" "Should?" Contempt edged his tone. "You don't even know where your own daughter is?" "What right do you have to judge me? Do you know how hard it is to raise her alone? I have a career now. What's wrong with sending her to boarding school?" Leanna's words sped up, her voice climbing without her noticing. Their voices carried into the apartment. Soon, a man came out with a little boy in tow. "Leanna, what's wrong?" Leanna flinched, then pulled herself together. She told Elijah, "If you want Jolie, go to the school. I have my own life now. You and I have nothing left to say." Elijah's gaze slid to Felix Looske. He already knew the man's details as if they were printed on his palm. Felix Looske, eldest son of the Looske family, born to privilege. To latch onto him and climb the social ladder, Leanna had hardened her heart and left her own daughter behind. He looked at the boy beside Felix. The child had Leanna's eyes and brow. Their son, most likely. A colder chill moved through Elijah's chest. Felix frowned and stepped in front of Leanna, looking Elijah over with a trace of disdain. "So you're the ex. I heard you've been mooching off whoever would feed you these past years, then went overseas to work as a mercenary. Tsk." Elijah didn't look at him. He fixed on Leanna and enunciated each word. "Jolie was kidnapped." Leanna's face drained of color at once. She forced herself to hold the line. "Impossible. Jolie is at school. The school is strict. We visit every week…" "You think I'd joke about this?" Elijah's voice rumbled low. "If Jolie hadn't called me herself, I wouldn't have known it was this bad. Who did you cross that you'd leave your own daughter twisting in the wind?" Leanna's lips trembled. She still tried to distance herself from the situation. Felix's expression soured. He snapped, "Watch your mouth. Even if something happened to your girl, it has nothing to do with Leanna." He lifted his chin, all high and mighty. "If you want your daughter found, beg me. Maybe I'll help. But with that attitude? Why should I?" Elijah looked at him, ice cutting through the night. "Who the hell do you think you are? Did I ask you?" Felix flared, jabbing a finger at him. "Don't push your luck. Do you even know who I am? How dare you make a scene at my door?" Elijah had no patience left. His fist flashed. Wham. Felix didn't even have time to blink. He snapped backward and crashed to the floor, blood running down the bridge of his nose. The room froze. Leanna screamed. The little boy clung to his mother. Elijah drew his fist back, his expression winter-hard. His gaze rested on Leanna for a beat. "Don't think hiding here keeps you out of this. Jolie is in danger. You won't wriggle free of this." The night wind pushed into the doorway, thin with cold. Pressure, fury, and chill coiled in the room and refused to loosen. The storm was about to break.

Chapter 2: A Man's Wrath

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