Chapter 5 The Man Who Came Back
“Renowned lawyer Victor Carter has officially become the Blackthorne Group’s legal representative.”
“No…”
The remote slipped from my hand.
Dad…
You said you would never defend people whose hands weren’t clean.
So why?
The answer came sooner than I expected.
That afternoon, Xavier drove me to my parents’ house.
The moment I saw my father, I wanted to run into his arms and tell him everything.
Instead, Xavier’s hand tightened around mine.
A warning.
Smile.
I forced one.
“Dad.”
Victor Carter smiled warmly and hugged me.
“How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m… fine.”
It was the biggest lie I had ever told.
He looked at me for a few seconds.
Maybe he noticed my forced smile.
Maybe he noticed the sadness in my eyes.
But before he could ask another question, Xavier spoke.
“Mr. Carter, thank you for accepting our offer.”
My father looked at him calmly.
“I did it for my daughter.”
My heart skipped.
Xavier smiled.
“I know.”
The two men looked at each other.
Neither of them said another word.
But I felt like they were having a conversation I wasn’t part of.When we left my parents’ house, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“You threatened him.”
Xavier kept his eyes on the road.
“I gave him a choice.”
“You blackmailed him!”
“He made the right decision.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“My father would never have accepted your offer willingly.”
Xavier finally looked at me.
“And yet…”
“He did.”
I turned away and cried silently.
He had broken two people with one marriage.
Me…
And my father.
That evening, the Blackthorne mansion was unusually busy.
Luxury cars filled the compound.
Servants rushed around preparing for a welcome banquet.
I frowned.
“What’s going on?”
Xavier adjusted his cufflinks.
“My brother is coming home.”
“I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“You don’t.”
His answer confused me.
After a few seconds, he added,
“My half brother.”
The way he said it told me everything.
They weren’t close.
In fact…
He sounded irritated.
“Is he staying here?”
Xavier’s expression darkened.
“For a while.”
Before I could ask another question, his mother entered the room.
“Laurel, go and get ready.”
She looked happier than I had ever seen her.
“The whole family is excited.”
Except Xavier.
He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.An hour later, the banquet hall was filled with powerful people.
Businessmen.
Politicians.
Judges.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for one person.
I leaned toward Xavier.
“Who exactly is your brother?”
He took a sip of wine.
“You’ll meet him soon.”
Something about his voice made me nervous.
Suddenly…
The hall became quiet.
Every conversation stopped.
Even Xavier slowly put down his glass.
The large doors opened.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the room.
A tall man dressed in a black suit walked in.
His face was calm.
His presence…
Terrifying.
Without saying a word, he walked past everyone.
People moved aside for him.
Even the older members of the Blackthorne family lowered their heads, maybe in a respectful or scared way.
I frowned.
Who was this man?
Then he stopped.
His eyes found mine across the room.
Everything around me disappeared.
Those eyes…
I knew them.
No…
It couldn’t be.
My heart began pounding.
The man stared at me for several long seconds.
Shock flashed across his face.
Then it disappeared.
A slow smile spread across his lips.
“Laurel Carter.”
My breath caught.
Only one person had ever called my full name like that.
“Magnus…”
The wine glass slipped from
my hand and shattered on the floor.
“This can’t be”.
I whispered.
The man I had loved before Alexander.
The man who disappeared without a goodbye.
Alexander’s ruthless half brother.
Was standing right in front of me.
