The King Of War Returns (Jaden Rift) novel Chapter 84

Williams remained sitting, unfazed by the nervousness that seemed to ripple through the room. His knuckles tightened briefly around his crystal glass of whiskey, then fell back into a casual grip.

“No.” His voice was firm, icy. “Say it here.”

The servant faltered, glancing around at the congregation of powerful men — all members of the Gravesend family and its empire — then nodded reluctantly.

The butler let out a rich, scornful chuckle. “The thief must be shaken to his core by Master Williams’ power.” He turned back toward his master with a smug confidence. “He probably wants to come here in person… to kneel… to apologize in your own home.”

Williams remained composed, unfazed by the sycophantic words. He raised his glass and took a sip of whiskey — slow, deliberate — letting the rich flavor calm the rage beneath his icy exterior.

"Hmph.” An elderly advisor crossed his arms. “Now it’s much too late. Guys like him shouldn’t be shown mercy.”

The butler nodded, adding in a sinister tone, “People like him need punishment… death.”

For a moment, silence fell — a heavy, oppressive silence — as everyone turned toward Williams, waiting for the final word.

Williams exhaled, a deep breath filled with years of power, revenge, and regret. “He killed my biological son… kidnapped my adopted son… and now… now you think I’d forgive him?” His knuckles tightened against the glass, threatening to crack it.

He stood suddenly, letting his piercing gaze sweep across the room. “Bring that man here. I want to kill him myself.”

The servants nodded and fell back, clearing a path for the nervous delivery boy who remained in the center, hands shaky, face glimmering with nervous perspiration.

“M… Master… that’s… not what… not what I meant.” The delivery boy swallowed hard — a painful lump in his throat — and forced himself to continue. “He… he… didn’t come here in person.”

Williams’ eyebrows rose a fraction, a spark of suspicion creeping into his piercing gaze. “Then?”

The delivery boy raised the wooden box with shaky hands. “He… sent… this.”

“Open it.”

Jaden’s icy voice flowed through the phone, calm yet filled with lethal intent. “Williams Gravesend… Tomorrow… 12:00 noon… I'll be at your office.”

He paused briefly… letting the silence weigh heavy… then added, “I will visit you personally… and kill your last successor in front of you.”

The room fell deathly silent, every man holding his breath.

Williams pressed the phone tighter against his ear, knuckles nearly white. “Good. Tomorrow I'll be waiting.” His voice was gravelly, filled with rage. “I’d like to see who has the guts to kill my only successor in my presence… in my territory.”

He pressed “end” and hurled the phone against a nearby wall. It shattered into countless pieces — a dramatic punctuation to his vow.

Turning back toward his men — now nervous, unsure — Williams raised his voice. “This thief… this madman… is shameless… decisive… a coward who strikes from the dark… But now… now we draw him into the light.”

The butler nodded, knuckles white against his own hands. “Tomorrow we will kill him… on the road… in the face of everyone… to take revenge for you, Master.”