<b>Chapter </b><b>646 </b>
In <b>the </b>quaint town <b>of </b>Elmsworth<b>, </b><b>autumn </b>had <b>painted </b>the leaves <b>with </b>fiery hues and the crisp wind <b>had </b>begun to whisper of theing <b>winter</b>.
Cassius <b>had </b><b>been </b>absent from <b>his </b><b>home for </b><b>three </b>days straight, cloistered within the <b>sanctity </b><b>of </b>the local church, <b>praying </b>and confessing before <b>the </b>Lord.
<b>What </b>sins weighed <b>so </b><b>heavily </b><b>on </b><b>his </b>soul?
<b>Was </b>it <b>his </b>past, darkened <b>by </b>the time <b>when he had </b>been the voice of <b>a </b><b>notorious </b>underground syndicate<b>? </b>
Or was <b>he </b>confessing <b>a </b><b>heart that had </b>dared <b>to </b><b>love </b>where it should not, his affections falling upon someone <b>forbidden</b><b>? </b>
<b>On </b>the <b>fourth </b><b>day</b><b>, </b><b>Cassius </b><b>found </b><b>himself </b><b>drawn </b><b>as </b><b>if </b><b>by </b><b>a </b>spectral force, wandering as though <b>in </b><b>a </b>trance <b>to </b>the decaying Bright <b>family </b><b>manor</b>.
<b>He </b>knew <b>that </b><b>young </b><b>Chasel </b>had no <b>other refuge</b><b>, </b><b>no </b>other home, but this decaying symbol of a once great <b>dynasty</b>.
His <b>concern </b><b>had </b>overwhelmed <b>his </b>resolve to stay away<b>, </b>and <b>so </b>he <b>had </be.
Cassius <b>understood </b><b>that </b><b>with </b>his past, he could only stand watch<b>, </b><b>a </b>silent guardian to the legacy of <b>the </b>Brights.
He could now empathize with the tormented soul of Thaddeus, who had once braved the tempest outside the gates of Silveke Harbor<b>, </b><b>all </b><b>for </b>a mere glimpse of his beloved Evadne.
<b>It </b>was <b>a </b><b>feeling </b>akin to one’s own bile churning within<b>, </b>rising up to choke the throat with a bitterness that could not be <b>expelled</b>.
It was in this moment <b>of </b>somber reflection that a procession of luxury cars glided up to the manor, stopping with a sense of entitlement <b>that </b><b>only </b>the wealthy couldmand.
Servants and secretaries nked a tall, imposing middle–aged man as he stepped out, impably dressed in a suit. Cassius recognized him immediately as the current head of Bright Biopharmacy, Suri’s older brother, Zachary.
“Dad! Wee home. You must be weary from your journey,” Warner greeted, bowing with an air of formal respect.
“Indeed,” Zachary replied curtly<b>, </b>his expression stoic, <b>“</b>Where is Chasel?<b>” </b>
“Locked up as per your instructions. He’s been quiet in his room,” Warner–replied<b>, </b>seizing the chance to belittle his brother, “Dad, Chasel has truly crossed the line this time. Not only did he disregard our family’s code, but he’s been fraternizing with the Ashbournes. If word got out, our family’s reputation would be aughingstock. <b>People </b>would say we’re all talk–acting righteous <b>in </b>public while cozying up to our rivals in private!”
Zachary’s l*ps curled into a frosty smirk. “We shall see who panders to whom in the end,” he said ominously.
Warner continued<b>, </b>fueled by spite, “Word has it that Emeric’s health has taken a turn for the worse, barely <b>clinging </b>to life. That’s why Aunt Suri was so desperate to seek our family’s aid. I doubt Emeric has much time left. Once he’s gone, the Ashbourne fortune will crumble, and we’ll see how high and mighty they can act then!”
Zachary eyed Warner with suspicion, “You never seemed this bitter about the Ashbournes before. Did they slight you when you went to fetch Chasel?”
Warner’s <b>heart </b>skipped, beads of sweat forming on his brow, “Of course not! They wouldn’t dare touch a member of the Bright family!”
As they were about to enter the house, Warner felt <b>a </b>shiver down his spine and nced back.
“What <b>is </b><b>it</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Zachary inquired.
Warner shook off the chill, “Dad, there’s a man dressed like a priest or minister, staring this way. It’s quite unsettling in the dead
of night.”
<b>In </b>the darkness, Warner <b>hadn’t </b>recognized Cassius‘ face.
<b>Zachary </b>nced back, but the street was deserted.
<b>Warner</b>, bewildered, muttered, “Huh<b>? </b>Where did he go? He was just there.”
“<b>Warner</b><b>, </b>you’ve <b>been </b>working hard. Make sure to rest,” Zachary advised before stepping inside.
<b>Warner </b>was <b>left </b><b>to </b>his thoughts.
<b>Chasel </b>was <b>released </b><b>from </b><b>his </b><b>“</b>cage<b>” </b>and brought <b>into </b>the grand courtyard.
The entire household <b>of </b>the Bright estate had gathered<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>sea </b><b>of </b><b>expectant </b><b>faces</b>.
<b><i>1/2 </i></b>
<b>10:57 </b>
Standing tall and proud at the center, Chasel faced his father, leisurely sipping tea on <b>a </b><b>fine </b>chair, his elder brother standing at attention, and the audience” summoned to witness <b>the </b><b>night’s </b>drama.
The difort churned in his stomach.
Beyond these wallsy the modern world, <b>yet </b><b>within </b>the confines of <b>this </b><b>grand </b>estate, archaic <b>traditions </b><b>lingered</b>.
As a child, he had pitied his aunt for abandoning her luxurious life in <b>the </b>Bright <b>household</b>. But now<b>, </b>his <b>heart </b><b>yearned </b>to <b>follow </b>in her footsteps
“Kneel,manded Zachary <b>with </b>icy detachment.
Chasal, however, stood defiant<b>, </b>the hint of a smile at his l*ps, <b>“</b><b>Father</b><b>, </b><b>it’s </b>been years since <b>the </b><b>fall </b>of <b>empires</b>. Even <b>presidents </b>aren’t greeted with kneeling anymore. <b>Perhaps </b><b>it’s time </b>our <b>family </b>shed these <b>outdated </b>customs<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Zachary’s face tightened with displeasure<b>. </b>
Warner spat angrily, <b>“</b>Chasel! It was you who erred<b>, </b>you who shamed our family<b>! </b><b>Is </b><b>this </b>your idea <b>of </b><b>repentance</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“I’ve apologized<b>, </b>said all there <b>is </b>to <b>say</b>. From now <b>on</b><b>, </b><b>it </b>ends.”
It ends.
The words were a knife <b>to </b>Chasel’s <b>heart</b><b>, </b>severing the tenderest part of him <b>with </b>ruthless precision.
“I’ll have no more dealings with the Ashbournes. Their affairs are no longer my concern. I’ve <b>done </b><b>as </b>you asked. Why must <b>you </b>humiliate me further<b>, </b>pressuring me <b>so</b><b>?</b>”
His rebuttal silenced the crowd.
In the Bright family, a hierarchy as rigid as steel, no one but York dared defy Zachary.
“Chasel, your dealings with the Ashbournes broke our family’s cardinal rule; that was your gravest mistake!<b>” </b>
Warner immediately stepped forward, putting on the act of the good cop. “If Dad doesn’ty down thew now, how will you ever learn? Huh? Will you? If we let this slide, the rules of the Bright family will be a joke. Who’ll follow them then, who will respect us?”
“Oh, so it’s a scare tactic, huh?”
Chasel snorted with a dismissive chuckle, thoroughly infuriating Zachary!
At that moment, the butler, under the watchful eyes of the family, presented the instruments of punishment to Zachary. “Mr. Bright, the family discipline awaits.<b>” </b>
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, and Chasel felt his heart squeeze tight!
In the butler’s hands were a whip and a thick wooden rod.
“The rules of the Bright family are clear,” Warner said with an icy stare. “Either you’re whipped until you bleed, or we break your legs. Take your pick.”
It was hard to believe that they were brothers born of the same mother.
This was the way of the Bright family: power, ability<b>, </b>and money above all else. Family ties were always an optional extra. Chasel’s eyes widened in shock, then he burst intoughter again.
“Isn’t this something utterly fascinating! Today, I’m going to see just what kind of justice is served Bright family–style.”
Stillughing, Chasel shook his head, his eyes–a striking fox–like red–gleaming with mischief. “But we are a family with a medical background, aren’t we? Why <b>resort </b>to such crude tools as whips and rods? I brought back a set of surgical knives from my travels abroad. Why don’t you use those instead? They’re much more efficient!”