Vivian lifted her head, tears blurred her sight as she stared at Jared. Her voice caught. “My Father… He’s gone too… To let me get away and to hold back the Celestial Palace and House of Wagner, he used the very last of his strength. In the end, a Celestial Palace elder struck him dead with one blow…”
“Before he died, he clutched my hand and begged me to find you begged me to apologize, to tell you he wronged you, that his greed was the reason, that he never should have plotted against you or hurt you… He asked me to plead with you, if you ever had the chance, please avenge him and the House of Chance.”
Finishing the words, Vivian could no longer hold back. She covered her face and burst into sobs. Her crying tore out of her, raw and ragged, as though she meant to empty every bit of pain lodged inside her chest.
Luther and Grace traded a glance, something complicated flashed in their eyes. They wanted to offer comfort, but no words felt right, so they simply watched and let her cry.
Jared kept his gaze on her, watching the tears stream down. He stayed that way for a long time. He didn’t speak until the weeping in the courtyard had finally begun to fade.
When even Luther and Grace were on the verge of stepping in, Jared asked at last, “Miss Chance, do you hate me?”
Vivian’s shoulders jerked, the sobs stopped in an instant. She lowered her hands, lifted her tear-streaked face, confusion filling her eyes.
Then she shook her head hard, tears still spilling. “No… I don’t hate you. Our family wronged you. My Father, the elders, they were greedy. It was their fault, not yours…”
“I… I only hate House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace. I hate their cruelty. They killed my Father, killed everyone in my family, ruined everything I ever had!” Her voice carried an iron finality and a towering hatred.
Jared fell quiet for a moment, then a faint smile tugged at his lips. The small smile thawed the air around him, letting a muted warmth slip through.
“To be honest, did hold a grudge against the House of Chance before,” he said, his tone level. “You collared me, stripped my freedom, planned to hand me to stripped Celestial Palace for a bounty, none of that ever left my mind…”
He paused, eyes resting on Vivian. “But now, your family is gone. Garrick is dead, the six elders are dead, the hundred guards are dead. They paid with their lives. Once a person is dead, the debt is settled. Let the past stay in the past.”
Vivian froze, eyes widening at him. She had never imagined Jared would forgive so easily.
“Jared…” The word slipped out, choked with fresh tears, this time from gratitude rather than despair. Jared waved the matter aside, voice calm yet unbending. “But the debt with the House Wagner and the Celestial Palace is another story.”
He rose, hands clasped behind his back, and looked toward Cloudhaven City. A hard glint slid through his eyes. “Dominic hunted you. House of Wagner joined the Celestial Palace to wipe out your family. Those blood debts belong to them…
“What they owe The you family, what they owe Garrick, the six elders, the hundred guards, what they owe you I will collect it all. Not one of them will escape not one will be spared!”
Vivian’s head snapped up, tears swimming in her eyes. “You… You’ll avenge me?”
Jared turned, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Miss Chance, isn’t that why you risked everything to find me?”
Pausing for a breath, he added, “I’m no saint, but I won’t stand by while my friends are hounded and slaughtered. Since the House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace dared to strike, they’ll face the consequences.”
Vivian’s lips trembled, fresh tears burst free, this time bright with relief. She had waited so long for someone willing to carry this burden. Unable to restrain herself, she dropped to her knees with a thud, forehead touching the ground before Jared.
“Jared, I’m begging you… Please help me avenge my family!” Her voice snagged in her throat, equal parts steel and humble plea. “As long as they pay till do anything I have to foil like a beast, if it costs my life, I’ll accept it willingly!”
