When They Beg, I Rise!

Orion stormed in with a face as grim as a thunderstorm, making a beeline for Lemira.

The sudden entrance startled Lemira, her eyes wide as saucers. Noticing the dark cloud hanging over Orion's face, she reached for his hand, trying to reassure him, "I'm fine." "Don't get into a brawl here," she whispered urgently. "We'd be handing them the perfect ammunition."

She knew Asher could play dirty if pushed.

But she couldn't let Orion fall victim to their schemes.

Seeing Lemira's calm demeanor seemed to soothe Orion's fury somewhat.

His gaze then shifted to Asher, pondering if he had been too lenient with the Langstons, allowing them to walk all over Lemira for too long.

Asher, meeting Orion's intense gaze, felt a tinge of complexity in his emotions. "He reminds me of someone from the Everharts".

""Who are you?"

"Who he is is none of your concern right now," Thaddeus made his entrance, exuding a prideful air, a stark contrast to his usual approachable demeanor.

Asher's face lost color at the sight of Thadessus. "Mr. Draven," he acknowledged, remembering the few times he had crossed paths with the magnate at elite gatherings. Lucian, standing by Asher, expressed his surprise, "Asher, are you saying he's the Mr. Draven from the Draven dynasty?"

"Yes, that's him."

Lucian's expression shifted

dramatically. He had encountered Mr. Draven several times in Lyria, always in contexts involving Lemira, unaware then of Mr. Draven's

significance.

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It dawned on him that the man Lemira had been associated with wasn't some school doctor, but Mr. Draven himself.

Asher, picking up on Lucian's surprise, asked, "You know him?"

Thaddeus broke the silence, "Oh, Mr. Lucian Langston and I have met a few times, though our encounters were far from pleasant." Asher frowned, unaware of these interactions.

Lucian quickly clarified, "I didn't know Mr. Draven's status back then. Any offense was unintentional. I just wanted to protect my sister." "Protect? With your family's version of protection, Lemmy wouldn't see another day," Thaddeus remarked sarcastically.

Asher bristled at the comment, but

Thaddeus status made direct confrontation risky. Offending.

Thaddeus could jeopardize the

Langston Group's standing in Orvin.

Lucian turned to Thaddeus, admitting their past faults, "Lemmy is our only sister. She's been pampered with wealth since birth, not someone to be trifled with." Orion interjected coldly, "Isn't your only sister named Evelina?"

Thaddeus continued, "Exactly,

wasn't it always the other 'sister' younoveldrama

favored? Your actions towards

Lemmy speak louder than words. How dare you claim to protect her now?"

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Lucian felt as if each word was a dagger to his conscience. He had tried to calm his turmoil, to forget and make amends to Lemira for past wrongs. Seeing Lucian falter, Asher supported him, reproaching, "I told you not to come."

"How could I not?" Lucian protested. "Mr. Draven, please, if you'll spare Lemmy, name your price."