Chapter 6: Who Was It, Really?

That night was doomed to be anything but peaceful. Reginald Lyson had Red Feather clean up the aftermath, but not to cover up Benjamin Wokey's death. He had other plans. So, when the model Benjamin had brought with him finally came to, the hotel learned the news almost immediately. The eldest young master of the Wokey family… dead just like that? And on the Wokey family's own turf? The manager of the Grand Fortune Hotel went cold with alarm and called Benjamin's father at once: Paxton Wokey. Benjamin was the Wokey family's most favored son. If the hotel didn't distance itself fast, no one there would escape being dragged down with him. After all, the Wokey family was one of River City's dominant powers. You could tell from the simple fact that Benjamin and even his bodyguards carried guns. The moment the emergency report reached him, Paxton Wokey flew into a rage. "Pass down my order! Investigate immediately! I want the animal who killed my son to die without a grave!" "And another thing. The woman who was with my son tonight, throw her off the hotel. I want her buried with him!" Like father, like son. Benjamin had been arrogant and lawless. His father was just as tyrannical. The Wokey family had a stranglehold on much of River City's financial lifeline and deep ties with the other major families. Their reach ran everywhere. But this time, the Wokey family was bound to swallow a hard loss. Just as Paxton finished barking out his mobilization, a special call rang through. He glanced at the number, and his expression changed violently. The caller ID read: Master Lapwood. Paxton Wokey might have ruled River City like a shark among minnows, but he didn't dare ignore that call. Because the man on the other end was the head of the Lapwood family of Vernal Capital. And the Lapwood family stood at the pinnacle of the Fire Nation's financial world, a true colossus holding up the sky. Compared to them, the Wokey family was, at best, a local warlord, forced to bow to restraints from above. If he angered the Lapwood family, the Wokey family wouldn't necessarily be wiped out, but their fortune could shrink by at least two-thirds. And every future venture would be trapped within River City's borders, never able to take a single step beyond. Paxton couldn't understand why Master Lapwood would call in the dead of night, but he still answered in a rush. "Hello? Master Lapwood? This is…" "Paxton Wokey. Is your son dead?" Paxton froze. He had only just learned of his beloved son's sudden death. How did someone in Vernal Capital already know? "Paxton Wokey, if your son is dead, then he's dead. Have another. But if you're finished too, your Wokey family will never rise again." What? Veins jumped at Paxton's temples. Fury surged up his spine. What was that supposed to mean? The Wokey family couldn't compare to the Lapwood family, but that didn't mean the Lapwood family could humiliate them at will. Still, Paxton forced himself to breathe. He swallowed the fire in his chest and asked through clenched teeth, "Master Lapwood… what do you mean?" "Release a statement. Say your son got drunk today and fell to his death. It had nothing to do with anyone else. This matter ends here." "Master Lapwood, I want to know why. My son was murdered. Why should I call it an accident?" Paxton was burning, but he hadn't lost his mind. In the middle of the night, a top-tier figure hundreds of miles from River City called just to interfere with his son's death. Something was deeply wrong. No matter how powerful Paxton was, he didn't dare clash with a giant like that. "Paxton Wokey, I'll tell you the truth. Your son brought this on himself. He provoked someone he had no right to provoke. If that person says the word, your entire Wokey family could die ten thousand times over. If you don't want to be buried alongside your son, listen to me and clean this up. Thoroughly." Paxton lifted his head in shock. Cold sweat had already soaked his back. Who was it? Who had that kind of weight, enough to make even Master Lapwood speak like this? "Oh, and one more thing," Master Lapwood added. "River City has a small company called Perfect Sky Company, right? It went to your River City Bank for a loan. Approve it tomorrow morning. That's also that person's instruction." "Master Lapwood… who did my son offend?" "Who?" Master Lapwood snorted. "With you? You're not qualified to know that lord's name." "Enough. Paxton Wokey, I've said what needed to be said. Handle yourself accordingly." … The night passed. Early the next morning, Rylie Norrell was jolted awake by shouting and curses from downstairs. She didn't need to listen closely to recognize her mother's voice. Evangeline Heyland was chewing someone out. And the target was probably Reginald Lyson. Rylie let out a quiet sigh. Ever since Reginald married into the Norrell family, as long as she was home, she heard the same kind of yelling every day. A full year. Day after day. Reginald had endured more than anyone should. Back then, she had asked him to marry in to avoid trouble. The danger still hadn't completely passed, and if Perfect Sky Company couldn't survive this crisis, their family would likely collapse with it. When the building was about to fall, she had already dragged Reginald down for a year. She couldn't keep ruining him. With that thought, Rylie pushed herself up from the bed. She braced herself to face whatever came, and she made a decision. The moment she confirmed her family couldn't weather this disaster, she would take Reginald to the civil affairs office and get a divorce. At the very least, before her family fell into irreversible ruin, she would let him escape this misery. Rylie stepped out of her bedroom and saw exactly what she expected: Evangeline standing there, cursing Reginald out at full volume. Only… something was off. Reginald was sitting on the sofa, the one he was never allowed to touch, calmly reading a newspaper as if he had all the time in the world. Evangeline stood beside him, jabbing a finger toward his face and berating him without pause. Walking down the stairs, Rylie called out, "Mom, it's early. What are you yelling about?" Seeing her eldest daughter awake, Evangeline hurried to her side. "Rylie, you tell me. This useless sack must've taken the wrong medicine today. He's forgotten who he is! Since when does a loser like him get to sit on our sofa?" Then she snapped back at Reginald. "You useless sack, are you getting up or not? Can't you see Rylie's awake? And you're still reading that stupid newspaper? Get your ass into the kitchen and make breakfast!" "Breakfast is already made," Reginald replied without looking up, his tone unhurried. "It's in the kitchen. If you want to eat, go get it yourself." Even Rylie was caught off guard. She blinked and studied him, half convinced she hadn't fully woken up. When had she ever seen Reginald speak to Evangeline like that? "Mom, he really did make it. There's a whole pot of porridge in the kitchen! Ah, it's so good!" Charlotte Norrell came out at that moment with a bowl in her hands, slurping loudly as she walked. "Sis? You're up? You probably didn't eat enough at that banquet last night. Hurry, try some." Charlotte shoved the bowl into Rylie's hands. Then, without sparing a glance for Evangeline's darkening face, she hurried back into the kitchen and poured herself another bowl.