Chapter 9
Once I had fully recovered, Grandpa–Victor Austin–grinned as he gently patted my cheek.
“Sweetheart, Grandpa’s throwing a little welcome party for you. Just show your face for a bit, that’s
all. Afterward, I’ll have Knox take you out for some fun.”
My eyes drifted past him–to the row of men in black suits standing behind.
Each one armed.
“Wait… are those guns?”
A chill ran down my spine.
Who exactly was this grandfather of mine?
But Victor just chuckled and brushed it off. “Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. Grandpa will
protect you this time, no matter what.”
He leaned in closer, voice gentler now.
“From now on, wherever you go, take Knox with you.”
I froze.
Blurted out without thinking, “Even to the bathroom?”
Knox was standing silently in the corner, stone–faced as always.
When he heard my comment, he gave me the barest glance–then went right back to his statue–like
posture.
My face turned red.
I had first met him when I was just twelve.
He had seen me at my lowest.
And for some reason, having him so close all the time made me feel… awkward.
Grandpa looked at me, then at Knox, and suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
Knox glanced at his watch. “Time.”
Chapter 9
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I never imagined I’d reappear like this, half a year later, in front of the same crowd.
Almost everyone from Vivian’s birthday party was there.
This time, I walked in on Victor Austin’s arm.
And the moment they saw me, the room fell silent.
Victor looked around the banquet hall and declared with a proud smile, “This is my granddaughter,
Jasmine Sinclair.”
“I hope you’ll all do me the courtesy of looking after my precious girl from now on.”
The shock on everyone’s faces melted instantly into polite smiles and hasty applause.
But my gaze had already landed on Damien and Vivian, standing not far away.
Old Mr. Lancaster approached cautiously, nearly stumbling over his own feet.
“M–Mr. Austin… I didn’t know Jasmine was your biological granddaughter…”
Damien, who’d been scrolling through his phone with an indifferent expression, suddenly froze.
Then he shot forward and grabbed my wrist.
“Jasmine! What the hell?! Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”
“Why did you disappear like that?! Say something!”
Before I could reply, a thunderous voice exploded behind him.
“You ungrateful bastard!” Old Mr. Lancaster roared. “She’s Mr. Austin’s granddaughter. Watch your damn tone!”
At that moment, Knox stepped forward, positioning himself between Damien and me.
He was a full head taller than Damien–and his silent, stone–like presence radiated threat.
Damien stumbled back a step, stunned.
“What…?”
“You’re part of the Austin family?”
The moment he said it, something clicked in my mind.
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Austin.
The name he had dropped so many times.
Victor Austin–the man who ruled the entire underground and business world of Brookhaven.
Both the shadows and the light bent to him.
He was the reason the Lancaster family had once operated so fearlessly–because they believed they had the Austin name backing them.
I turned to look at the old man beside me.
He still wore the same warm expression, his eyes filled with nothing but love.
All these months, he’d never once said who he was.
I could’ve never imagined that my mother’s father was that Victor Austin.
And suddenly, my chest tightened.
Mom had been so close. So close to meeting him.
So close to no longer being called a powerless outcast by Richard Monroe.
I looked at Damien and Vivian with nothing but pure, seething hatred.
Damien was still frozen in disbelief.
But Vivian…
Vivian sneered, jealousy twisting her features.
“Tch. So you’re one of them now? I thought your mom was some pathetic orphan–guess you must’ve slept your way into being a Austin”
That was it.
I couldn’t hold it back anymore.
Smack.
I landed slap after slap on her face until it turned bright red.
Victor watched me with pride twinkling in his
s eyes.
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Chapter 9
“My girl,” he said warmly.
“Anyone else you’d like to hit?”
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