Chapter 3 Waiting for the Man She Loved

• "Ah!" Braxton clutched his chest in agony and fell backward, unconscious, to the floor.
• "Dad!"
• "Grandpa!"
• "Old Mr. Dempsey.."
• "Someone call an ambulance!"
• The Dempsey Family rushed to his side. As Braxton collapsed, the gift box he was holding spilled its contents—a severed head rolled out!
• The head's eyes were open wide, staring lifelessly at everyone present.
• "Oh my…"
• Panic ensued, with screams filling the room as guests fled in terror.
• "Isn't this Finley Dempsey, the son of the Dempsey Family?" Those who had met Finley recognized the head immediately!
• "What? This is the son of the Dempsey Family? Then the body in the coffin must be his!"
• "Finley!"
• "Finley!" Nelson wailed in grief at the sight of his son's head while Finley's mom fainted.
• The entire Dempsey Family was thrown into chaos!
• The celebration had transformed into a scene of mourning, joy giving way to sorrow in an instant.
• "What should we do now? Should we leave?" Whispered voices began to rise among the guests.
• "Go! Quickly! The Dempsey Family is in serious trouble. They've angered the Primordial Palace, and now their heirs are being killed. We must distance ourselves to avoid getting caught up in this!"
• "The Dempsey Family is in deep trouble; let's leave! Don't linger!"
• "Their businesses and stocks will undoubtedly plummet. We need to go and manage this situation ourselves!"
• As the saying goes, when the mighty fall, everyone scatters. During their prime, people flocked to be close to the Dempsey Family. However, with trouble brewing, they quickly weighed their risks and began to leave.
• Once someone took the lead, many followed, leaving the scene almost empty except for the grieving Dempsey Family.
• Some even took back the gifts they had brought!
• The Dempsey Family's crisis sent shockwaves throughout Aldovia, prompting an immediate investigation by the authorities. Nevertheless, families that previously had close ties with the Dempseys began to distance themselves, fearing association.
• ...
• In the office of Skies R&D Group in Soutindale, a stunning woman in professional attire stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the skyscrapers and bustling traffic below, lost in thought.
• Sunlight streamed through the glass, highlighting her striking beauty and commanding presence, as if draping her in a golden veil.
• "Repaying like for like, the cycles of cosmic justice shall not be evaded! What a phrase of retribution, what a master of the Primordial Palace!"
• The young woman murmured to herself, feeling a sense of satisfaction. As she thought of a young man, a touch of melancholy appeared on her face.
• Knock!
• A moment later, a knock on the door broke the silence, pulling her from her reverie.
• "Come in."
• The young woman exhaled slowly, her previously melancholic eyes suddenly sharpening with determination.
• "Lilian!" The young woman who entered was dressed in a sharp business suit and stopped a few feet away from Lilian, her voice urgent.
• "Noreen, do we have any updates from the Dempsey Family?"
• Noreen shook her head. "No, Lilian. This news is from Aldovia. Our contacts at the airport reported seeing someone… Someone unexpected."
• "Who?" Lilian demanded.
• "Timothy!"
• Lilian's reaction was immediate. She spun around to face Noreen, her eyes wide with shock. "Are you certain?"
• "Yes, it seems he's returning to the Lavette Family!"
• Lilian's hands pressed against the cool glass of the window as she stared out, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. "Book a flight. We're going back to Aldovia."
• The events of that year impacted not only Timothy but also his fiancée, Lilian.
• Their relationship was fraught with complexities. Timothy had initially been engaged to Lilian's cousin, Gwen Steele, who, disdainful of the Lavette Family's then-modest standing, rejected the match. To save their reputation, the family elders arranged for Lilian to take Gwen's place, thus binding her fate with Timothy's.
• When Lilian had left for an international business summit that year, she returned to a world that had been turned upside down.
• The Steele Family had tried to break off the engagement, but Lilian, undeterred, had defied them. She honored her commitment to Timothy by organizing his parents' funerals, choosing their burial plots, and wearing mourning attire as his fiancée, fulfilling her final duty with unwavering devotion.
• The incident had sparked widespread controversy, attracting both admiration and scorn.
• Afterward, Lilian distanced herself from Aldovia and the Steele Family, relocating her Skies R&D Group to Soutindale, where she waited patiently for the man she loved. Now, that wait had finally ended.
• He is back.
• ...
• Meanwhile in Aldovia, outside the Lavette Residence, Timothy stood alone. Clad in simple, casual attire and carrying an old canvas bag, he surveyed the familiar surroundings, each detail invoking a flood of childhood memories.
• As he gazed at the garden where he once played, echoes of the past filled his mind.
• 'Timothy, if Mom and Dad don't buy you those superhero toys, I'll start a big company and fill a whole room with them just for you, okay?'
• 'You little rascal, running off again. Just because your great-grandpa spoils you doesn't mean you can do whatever you please. I'll give you a good thrashing!'
• 'Son, I made your favorite fish and chips. Your cousins are here too. If you don't come back soon, your favorite dish will be gone!'
• 'Timothy, when you finish your service, I'll be waiting for you to marry me. I want an entire street filled with roses!'