Chapter 2

As I led the boy away, all I could think about was Abel’s deathly pale face. But I was also planning how to get information out of the boy. Showing up with such a similar face couldn’t be a coincidence. He might be a spy sent by another family. After all, they’d used similar tricks before. Or maybe even Abel didn’t know his real intentions. If this happened once, it could happen again. If I didn’t put an end to this ill intention, Abel might end up getting dragged into it too. But I didn’t expect Abel to stumble over, drunk, before we’d gone far. “Simon, where are you two going? Can I come along?” Without warning, he knocked the boy aside. That’s when I noticed large red splotches all over Abel’s skin, like an allergic reaction. “How much did you drink! You know you can’t drink!” He tilted his head back. “Simon, are you worried about me?” My fingers paused, and I softened my tone. “If something happens to you, Dad’ll kill me.” “Is that the only reason?” “What else would it be?” Knowing what he was longing for, I still said coldly: “What do you want it to be?” Abel sadly brushed my hand away. “Never mind. I won’t bother you two.” He stumbled past me, his figure looking lonely. I could only give Eric a look, signaling him to keep an eye on my brother. There were more urgent things to handle. Ten minutes later, in a corner of the villa. The place was a mess, with a dagger lying on the floor. The boy from earlier was clutching his neck, begging for mercy. I held his neck in one hand, squeezing slightly. “Tell me. Who sent you?!” “The Voss family…” The Voss had long coveted our family’s business empire, often stirring up business conflicts to profit from the chaos. Looks like we’d been too lenient. I was about to have someone take him away when my phone suddenly rang. It was Eric: “Hurry up! Your brother’s in trouble!” In my shock, the boy slipped away. When I got back to the banquet hall, I spotted Abel right away, weakly resting his head on the table. He’d never touched alcohol before, but now he was dead drunk. A pair of hands was gently patting his back. I recognized the man—Philip, a rich man in the circle who specialized in luring men into his bed. He was smiling at Abel, eyes full of intent. It looked like Abel had caught his eye. I started to step forward, but Eric pulled me back quietly. “Philip’s men are surrounding the place. Don’t start a fight!” I brushed Eric off lightly, my cold gaze fixing on Abel. “Come here.” Abel looked up, his face flushed unnaturally. Philip laughed. “Simon, I thought you and Abel hated each other. You gonna butt in on my private business with him?” He emphasized “private business,” making people around them murmur. I ignored him, just staring at Abel. “Don’t make me say it again.” Abel stood up, but didn’t move, just staring at me stubbornly, silent. He was hesitating. I grabbed him by the arm and started to drag him out. But then Philip barked, “You think you can just take someone I’ve set my sights on?” “Stop him!” At his words, a group of thugs surrounded me. I hooked my arm around Abel’s waist, reaching for the dagger at my waist. But Abel suddenly pushed me away and lunged at Philip. He swung a slap at him. “Try touching my brother and see what happens!” Philip didn’t see it coming, and his face darkened. He grabbed a wine bottle from the table and swung it at Abel! But the next second, I caught Philip’s wrist and snapped it with a crack. His men swarmed forward, and chaos broke out.