The courtroom slowly emptied as the proceedings came to an end. Lian Chen gathered the case files, closed them, and held them in one hand.
The sound of his shoes rang softly against the floor as he made his way toward the exit.
His driver stood waiting near the entrance. Lian Chen got into the car, placed the file beside him, watching the courthouse disappear behind them as they drove into the city.
He loosened his tie and rested his head against the seat.
Less than an hour later, he spotted a familiar face on a wanted notice. The notice stated that the man was being sought in connection with an accident.
The face seemed oddly known to him. He reduced the car's speed slightly, and glanced back at the notice.
Lian Chen knew that man. That man wasn't simply a reckless driver, he was one of his father's men.
"Interesting," he muttered.
He swerved onto another road, abandoning his route home, heading straight for his father's house.
As he drove through the streets he had grown up in, he recalled his childhood. He had been back here before, but returning to his father's world always brought a sense of unease. This was where Jianyu had built his empire, surrounding himself with loyal men while making the family name one feared throughout the district.
His father had always claimed that family came first. Yet he could order another man's death without remorse or guilt, tear families apart to protect his syndicate while believing he was doing it for his own family.
Lian had never understood how these two sides of his father could coexist in the same man. His mother's death made it even more difficult to accept that a man who valued family could cause so much pain.
The conflict between the Fàn Syndicate and a rival mafia group had eventually turned deadly. His mother had been abducted and killed as a result, leaving Lian with an even deeper hatred for his father.
Not long afterward, Jianyu had flown him to London to study law, keeping him away from the danger surrounding the family. Lian had always believed that was the reason his father had sent him away.
At least, that was what he chose to believe.
He refused to believe that Jianyu cared absolutely nothing about him. Neither could he bring himself to think that his father could choose the syndicate over his own son without feeling any guilt for it. It was easier to believe that Jianyu had sent him away because he wanted to protect him from the same fate that had taken his mother.
Lian honked once. The guard at the gate peered through the security window, recognized his car and immediately jumped up to open the gates.
Lian drove into the compound and stopped near the house. He switched off the engine, climbed out, shut the door behind him, then headed toward the large entrance.
Two more guards stood by the doors, opening them as he drew closer.
A low laugh escaped Lian.
His father was always prepared for an attack that might never come. Guards were stationed throughout the compound, watching every entryway keeping constant surveillance over the property, as though an enemy could appear from thin air.
For a man who held such influence in the mafia world, Jianyu's paranoia was hardly surprising. Still, Lian found it amusing. His father had enough enemies to warrant such caution, yet there were times when it seemed Jianyu was running from danger even when no one was chasing him.
Lian spotted Jianyu in one of the sitting rooms, seated across from one of his men in deep discussion.
At the sound of Lian's footsteps, Jianyu broke off the conversation and looked up.
"Lian," he said.
Lian slipped his hands into his pockets, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
"I heard your people are becoming careless."
Jianyu crossed his arms. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.
"The driver," Lian replied.
Lian moved farther into the room and tilted his head.
"His face is being circulated."
"He was involved in an accident," Jianyu said.
"An accident?" Lian echoed.
A low chuckle escaped Lian.
"Is that what we're calling it?" he taunted.
Jianyu clenched his fists.
Lian caught the reaction, and his smile widened.
"You couldn't even make sure your man disappeared properly," Lian scoffed.
"Watch your mouth," Jianyu warned.
"Why? You are my father," Lian retorted.
Lian turned to face him.
"I should be able to tell you when you make a mistake."
"And what do you intend to do?" Jianyu asked.
"Nothing."
Lian shrugged. "Unless he somehow appears before me as a defendant."
"If that happens, I might go a little easy on him," he said as he toyed with the edge of his sleeve.
Jianyu glared at him, barely controlling his anger.
"Leave!" he barked.
Lian turned away.
"Gladly," he replied.
Lian was almost at the door when Jianyu's voice stopped him.
"Xu Ren!" Jianyu growled.
A man appeared shortly after.
"Yes, sir," Xu Ren answered.
"Bring him here," Jianyu ordered.
"Yes, sir," Xu Ren said as he left the room.
Xu Ren returned with the driver.
He shoved the man forward, sending him sprawling onto the floor.
"Please," the driver begged.
Jianyu rose from his seat.
"You made a mistake."
"I can fix it," the driver pleaded.
"You have already made things worse," Jianyu hissed.
"I will do anything."
Jianyu moved forward and pressed his foot against the man's back.
The driver cried out.
"Please," the driver whimpered.
"You were told what to do," Jianyu pointed out.
"I know."
"And now the police have your face."
"I didn't know they would find me," the driver protested.
"You should have thought about that before."
The man struggled to breathe.
"I can still make it disappear," he insisted.
Jianyu kicked the man's legs, forcing him onto his knees before grabbing his chin.
"You have one chance," Jianyu threatened.
"Your wife and your daughter..."
The man stiffened.
Jianyu's lips curled into a cold smile.
"I know where your wife works as a chef, and the school your daughter attends. I could have either of them killed whenever I wanted."
The man's breathing grew heavier.
"Please don't touch them," he pleaded quietly.
"Then do what you were asked to do," Jianyu instructed.
"I will."
"You will make this problem disappear."
"Yes."
"You will make sure that woman stops looking."
The man nodded rapidly.
"Yes. Anything."
Jianyu released the man's chin.
The man lowered his head. "Thank you," he whispered.
Jianyu faced Xu Ren.
"Xu Ren."
"Yes, sir."
"Call the police chief. Tell him we have a problem that needs to be handled." Jianyu directed.
Xu Ren acknowledged him with a nod.
"Yes, sir."
"Can I go?" the driver asked, his voice trembling.
Jianyu regarded the terrified driver for a moment, giving a dismissive wave.
"Go sort him out," he said to Xu Ren.
The driver scrambled to his feet and scurried out of the room.
For a moment, Lian said nothing. The mockery in his demeanor disappeared. He watched the driver hurry past him, his steps quickening as he disappeared from sight.
He had seen enough.
His father's world had always existed around him, but seeing his father handle violence so casually made it harder to separate the man from the syndicate he ran.
"I can't keep pretending my father's actions have nothing to do with me," Lian muttered as he walked out.