Chapter 250 Internet-Addicted Teenager
"He plays by his own rules," Kellan said, his voice low and steady. "Here in Golden Valley, personal beefs are one thing, but killing someone? That's a whole different ball game. It'd throw the whole nation into chaos."
"He’s going after Skyview because he thinks he’s an easy target," Kellan went on, his eyes getting that faraway look. "Skyview might be a billionaire on paper, but his empire’s built on sand. No powerful friends, no family backing him up. He’s a lone wolf, and those are the most dangerous prey. Even if he gets taken out, no one’s gonna step up for revenge. So, whose side are we on? Kaelen’s or Skyview’s?"
"Skyview," Hayden said, not missing a beat.
"Why?" Kellan raised an eyebrow, wanting more.
"Lily speaks highly of him," Hayden replied, his loyalty to Lily stronger than even his loyalty to the family business. "She thinks he’s a good guy. And if Lily trusts him, that’s good enough for me. Plus, she’s his assistant. If something happens to Skyview, Lily could get caught in the mess."
Lily was special to The Crimson Shadows. A lot of the high-ranking members treated her like family, their affection for her real and unwavering. Hayden, especially, doted on Lily, his protectiveness towards her even stronger than for his own blood.
Kellan turned to Maddox. "And you? What’s your call?"
"Skyview," Maddox said without a second thought.
"Why?" Kellan pressed, wanting to hear his son's reasoning.
"My reasons are the same as Hayden’s," Maddox explained. "Lily trusts Skyview. She believes in his character and his skills. And Lily wouldn’t lie to me. Plus, even if we did what Kaelen wants, there’s no guarantee he’d be grateful. That promised favor could be just empty words. But if we save Skyview, we’d earn his real appreciation and loyalty."
A knowing smile spread across Kellan’s face. "Looks like we’re all on the same page. But I’ve got another reason for picking Skyview. He’s got the money and influence, but no solid foundation. We’ve got the foundation but need a legit business like the Twin Group. I said before that The Crimson Shadows needs a leader for this transformation. Skyview could be that leader."
"What are you getting at?" Maddox asked, surprised by the boldness of his father’s vision.
"Skyview's young, charismatic, capable, and loaded," Kellan said, his voice full of intrigue. "He's the perfect candidate."
"But he's not family," Maddox shot back, a hint of worry in his voice. "And you know how I feel about using Lily's marriage as a bargaining chip."
"Do you really think Lily dislikes Skyview?" Kellan asked, a knowing glint in his eye.
Maddox paused, a realization hitting him. Lily had been talking about Skyview a lot lately. And whenever she did, her eyes lit up with a certain fondness that was hard to miss. If a young woman spoke of a man with such warmth and regularity, could it be anything other than affection?
Kellan chuckled softly. "I'm not heartless, Maddox. I’d never sacrifice Lily's happiness for profit. My point is, if they have feelings for each other, then all the better. But for now, our priority is to warn Skyview. He needs to know about Kaelen's plan and that he has allies in this fight."
"I'll contact him right away," Maddox said, standing up. "I won't let Lily be put in harm's way." His protectiveness towards Lily was absolute.
ByteBlast Lounge.
The internet café, a breeding ground for legends. Every place had its own stories, its own heroes and villains. And ByteBlast Lounge's current legend was Jaxon.
For the past three months, Jaxon had practically lived at the internet café, his days and nights consumed by online gaming. But unlike the typical broke gamer, Jaxon lived pretty comfortably, thanks to his knack for borrowing money.
He ate well, enjoyed the occasional "massage," and had even charmed his way into the good graces—and beds—of several female employees at ByteBlast Lounge. He even had access to their dormitory, a privilege that sparked envy and resentment among his fellow gamers.
Jaxon's secret? Money, or rather, the illusion of it. He wasn't conventionally attractive, but there was a certain roguish charm to his scruffy appearance. After all, he was Suzanne's brother. Even beneath the unkempt exterior, good genes shone through.
Had he not been so focused on chasing skirts, Jaxon could have easily found himself a sugar mama or two. Even the internet café employees, fully aware of his less-than-desirable qualities, couldn't resist his allure.
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