Gilbert stood tall, his jaw set in defiance as he glared at Naylor. “Why the hell is Easthaven Docks up in flames?” “What?” Naylor looked genuinely clueless. “What fire?”
“You don’t know?”
Gilbert let out a mocking laugh. “Naylor, you’re telling me you’ve got nothing to do with this? You think I’m an idiot?” “Nine…”
“Naylor!”
Gilbert roared, suddenly lunging at Naylor and pinning him to the couch with such speed that Nolan barely had time to react. “Mr. Harrison! Mr. Nine!”
“Stay out of this!”
By the time Nolan realized what was happening, it was too late.
Gilbert wasn’t unarmed; in his right hand, he wielded a knife, the blade cold as it pressed against Naylor’s throat.
“Okay, okay, I’m not moving!” Nolan, terrified, immediately froze. “Mr. Nine, let’s talk about this. No need for rash actions!”
Through gritted teeth, Gilbert’s gaze bore into Naylor. “What the hell are you planning? What do you want from me? You after my life or what? Then come at me! Why the hell did you go after her?” “Her?”
Even with his life hanging by a thread, Naylor remained unnervingly calm, offering a faint smile. “Sherilyn, perhaps?”
Gilbert stiffened, taken aback. Naylor knew who he was talking about?
He hadn’t even mentioned a name!
Why?
In a sudden burst of realization and anger, it dawned on him.
Spitting out each word, Gilbert accused, “Naylor, you didn’t get the address wrong by accident, nor was it some offhand remark. You did it on purpose! Gave the wrong address deliberately?!” “Exactly.” Naylor nodded, seemingly pleased. “Figured it out, have you?”
Gilbert was momentarily speechless, then, with a sudden thrust, pushed the blade slightly further, drawing blood from Naylor’s skin.
“You’re insane! Why go after her? What has she ever done to you? It’s me you hate, this bastard right here! You got the guts, come kill me!”
“Nine.”
Feeling the sharp pain on his neck, Naylor barely winced, his gaze steady. “You’re not a bastard. You’re my son.”
As those words settled, the air turned eerily still, a heavy silence enveloping them.
Gilbert was taken aback. The results were in… he was actually Naylor’s son?
All these years, neither Naylor nor he himself believed it!
This revelation sent shockwaves through his heart!
He was actually Naylor’s son!
“Nine.”
Naylor frowned, breaking the silence. “Sherilyn isn’t good enough for you. I was merely… taking care of her for you.” Taking care of?
Gilbert, snapped out of his daze by those words, boiled with rage.
“Easthaven Docks… that fire was your doing too!”
“Correct,” Naylor admitted without hesitation.
He had been monitoring everything. Whatever happened at Easthaven Docks and Lionspire Ridge, he had been informed.
Naylor sneered. “I not only had the place torched but also made sure she knew you were off saving Caroline at Lionspire Ridge! Even if she survives, she’ll never forgive a man who left her for dead. You’re finished!”
“Ah!”
A primal roar erupted from Gilbert’s depths, his eyes fracturing with fury. So that was it!
No wonder Sherilyn had been so resistant. Naylor had orchestrated this whole scheme. Even if it didn’t kill Sherilyn, it was meant to sever any hope she had left!
His grip loosened on the knife, tossing it aside.
But then, his fist clenched, and he swung at Naylor.
“You lunatic! I’m going to kill you today!”
His punches landed with raw force, sparing no mercy.
“Ngh!” Naylor grunted, curling up on the ground.
“Mr. Nine!”
Nolan, seeing how dire the situation had become, rushed forward to
intervene. “Stop, for God’s saket Mr.
Harrison is your father! Y
crossing a line here!”