Every word from Priya Yarrow felt like a knife stabbing into Navid Byrd's heart. What had he been thinking, saying such foolish things?
What you see isn't always the truth. Her charming smiles weren't flirtatious; they were desperate attempts to save her daughter.
"Priya, I'm sorry. I spoke without knowing the full story..." Navid felt a deep sense of guilt, but words felt so inadequate to express his remorse.
Tears streamed down Priya's face as she shook her head.
"Just leave. I don't need your apology! I never want to see you again!"
"I hate you. You vanished for years, leaving us to suffer!"
"Pregnant, I had to serve an entire household, working myself to the bone just to give birth to a healthy baby girl."
"I've accepted my miserable fate, but my daughter is innocent! Since she was born, she hasn't had a single good day.
Do you think I don't know how shameful it is to be a dancer? But what choice do I have? I dance on a bad leg, risking everything to please my sister so she would give my child something to eat! Feeding her scraps meant for dogs, do you think my heart doesn't break?"
Priya's wailing poured out years of bottled-up anguish. Without her daughter, she might have chosen death over such a degrading life.
Hearing her words, Navid felt a lump in his throat, his heart aching with sorrow.
He wanted to embrace Priya, to protect and comfort her. He wanted to destroy anyone who had hurt his wife and child, and give them the best the world had to offer.
There was so much he needed to make up for, and he feared a lifetime wouldn't be enough to heal the wounds of the woman and daughter he loved.
Looking at the menacing Frank, Priya gave Navid a bitter smile of despair. "You've ruined everything. I've been waiting here for eight days to see Frank. If I could please him and beg my sister for mercy, maybe she'd spare my daughter. I'd do anything for that."
"But you? You barged in, throwing punches and trying to show off. Do you think you're some kind of hero? What now? Tell me, after hitting these people, what about our daughter?"
"His sister's son is a sadist, and he's hurt many young girls... My baby will die! What am I supposed to do..." Priya's cries were heart-wrenching, as if she had reached the end of her rope, with nowhere left to turn.
Everything was ruined. Frank had been her last hope...
"If I have to send my daughter to marry that fool, we might as well die together!" Navid Byrd stood there as if struck by lightning, his heart aching so much it felt like it no longer belonged to him.
What kind of nonsense was the Wang family? How dare they try to trap his daughter like this! No! He wasn't just good at fighting; he was good at killing too!
At that moment, Navid's anger boiled over. He was ready to kill!
Wang Fu, supporting himself on the table, shakily stood up. "So it's you, the son-in-law from back then? You dare to go against me, you fool?"
His gaze swept over the tearful Priya Yarrow. "You've been waiting for me for eight days? How touching. What are you standing there for? Take it off!"
"You want to please me, right? Do as I say..." Wang Fu sneered maliciously, his eyes filled with cruelty as he looked at Priya.
"Get lost!"
Before Wang Fu could finish, Navid's sudden slap sent him crashing to the ground again, blood spurting from his mouth as his front teeth flew out.
Half of Wang Fu's face was instantly stripped of flesh, leaving a bloody mess.
Navid's eyes darkened, filled with merciless intent and a sinister aura. Only blood and death could quell his fury. Wang Fu had to die.
"Are you crazy? How long are you going to keep this up?" Priya, having cried her heart out and vented her anger, had come to her senses. She stumbled forward and grabbed Navid. "Stop it, don't do this..."
No matter what, Navid was still the father of her daughter and her only man.
Could it be that their reunion day would push their family of three to the brink of despair?
The depth of her hatred matched the intensity of her love. For years, Priya Yarrow had never forgotten this man who exuded such a tormenting aura.
As Priya's grip on his arm trembled slightly, Navid Byrd took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "He deserves to die. Only his death can quench my burning hatred!"
"It's not like that. Think about our daughter. Can you really bear for her to see you commit murder? We've waited for you all these years, just to see you lose control today?" Priya pleaded urgently, looking into Navid's bloodshot eyes.
Hearing her words, Navid's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Waited for me... all these years...?
"Have you... been waiting for me?" he asked softly, as if afraid of startling Priya.
In her frustration, Priya bit down on his shoulder, "You jerk, I hate you!"
Despite the pain in his shoulder, Navid felt a sudden warmth in his heart.
After the bloody battles and hellish fields, he was finally home.
All his murderous intent dissipated. He picked up his daughter, kissed her, and then tightly embraced Priya, not allowing her to escape. He turned and led his wife and daughter out.
Today, with old love rekindled, he decided to spare Wang Fu's miserable life for now.
Though Navid wanted to let things go, Wang Fu was not about to back down easily.
To Wang, Navid was nothing but a complete waste of space.
Just a piece of trash toyed with by Sierra Yarrow, and today, he was as good as dead.
"Catch him! I'll skin him alive!" Wang Fu's words were slurred, but his intent was clear.
The injuries he suffered would be repaid by that trash of a man a hundredfold.
A crowd surged forward, surrounding Priya Yarrow and her companions. Navid Byrd held a mother and daughter in his arms, both pale and trembling with fear.
"Move!" Navid's eyes flashed coldly as he commanded.
The single word felt like a hammer striking the hearts of those around, instilling an inexplicable fear.
"Do you not want your life anymore?" Navid fixed Wang Fu with a piercing gaze.
That single look made the vengeful Wang Fu's hair stand on end, filling him with dread and causing him to instinctively step back.
Navid chuckled softly and continued to lead his wife and daughter toward the exit.
Once they left the Rose Bar, Priya awkwardly pulled her arm from Navid's grasp, feeling her face flush with heat.
"Mom, is Dad coming home with us too?" the little girl's voice was clear and cautious, tinged with worry.
"...Yes." After a moment's silence, Priya nodded.
"Yay! Daddy, let's hurry! Our house is right by the doghouse!" the little girl exclaimed joyfully.
By the doghouse? Navid frowned.
"Please don't cause any more trouble. I don't want my sister to kick us out. Are we all going to end up wandering the streets together?" Priya, sensing Navid's mood, spoke with a hint of weariness.
Watching Priya's slightly limping gait, Navid couldn't help but smile.
He knew it all along—the little girl who saved him back then had the kindest and softest heart!
A family of three?
Those four words sounded wonderful!
Navid Byrd knew his daughter was hungry, so he turned to his wife, Priya Yarrow, and said, "Honey, our daughter is still hungry.
Let's find a restaurant and grab something to eat."
Hearing this, Priya sighed. Over the years, she had always been frugal and never dined out. "Are you treating? You're just wasting money!"
Wasting money? Navid was taken aback. As a renowned warrior king, how could he be afraid of spending money? With his status and wealth, he could afford to eat anywhere without worry.
If anyone else had said that, they might have been met with a swift punch. But coming from Priya, it felt heartwarming instead.
"Nana, how about Mommy cooks for you at home?" Priya ignored Navid and gently coaxed their daughter.
"Okay! I love Mommy's cooking the most," Nana nodded eagerly, showing her understanding nature.