?Chapter 485:
Samuel arrived, forcefully dragging a man behind him—Austen, Elora’s bodyguard. He pushed him forward until they stood before Vincent. “Mr. Adams, he’s here now.”
Though Austen’s leg had been treated, his limp was still noticeable, and the gunshot wound remained far from healed. He struggled against them, shouting, “What do you want? If you’re going to kill me, then hurry up and do it!”
Katelyn immediately understood what Vincent was nning. During the standoff with the fake Kenny, Earl Poulos had not given a direct answer, but it was clear to anyone watching that he recognized the man before him—Austen, his son.
Earl Poulos’ eyes brightened as if he had summoned hisst bit of strength. He tried to sit up, but his weak body copsed back onto the bed. Gasping for air, he whispered, “Come closer, my boy. Let me see you properly.”
Austen’s expression tightened with frustration at first, but it softened as he saw the frailty in Earl Poulos’ condition. Pausing, he slowly moved toward him, and with a hint of surprise, he asked, “What happened to you?”
Earl Poulos shook his head slowly, his eyes lingering on Austen’s face, as if he were trying to memorize every detail.
“After all these years apart, with you trained as an assassin, you must have suffered so much. It’s all because of me. I should have done more to protect you back then.”
Katelyn silently rose and stepped aside, giving the father and son the space they needed.
More than three decades had passed since they werest together. Reuniting now, under these circumstances, felt like a cruel twist of fate. It was as though fate reveled in its ironies, offering a fleeting moment of relief before plunging them deeper into darkness.
Austen shifted uneasily, responding, “You’re mistaken. I’m not your son.”
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Earl Poulos, his voice warm with affection, replied, “Oh, don’t be foolish. What father wouldn’t recognize his child? I’ve searched for you all these years. I never imagined I’d find you just as my life is nearing its end. Bittersweet as it is, it grants me my deepest wish.”<fn5929> The source of th?s content is FιndNovel</fn5929>
Austen remained impassive, his expression unwavering as he repeated, “I am not your son.”
His words came without hesitation, pushing aside the turbulent feelings of sorrow that rose within him. He had grown up an orphan, raised and trained by his mentor within the organization. He had no family, no ties to anyone.
Why should he feel any kind of loss just because Earl Poulos was nearing the end of his life?
It had to be a delusion. That was the only exnation. Austen kept repeating it in his mind, almost as if trying to convince himself, forcing the thought to drown out the confusion inside him.
Earl Poulos offered a bittersweet smile, his hand slowly lifting as if to reach for Austen. But the gesture stopped mid-air before his hand withdrew. His gaze shifted toward the ceiling, his expression distant and unfocused.
“On the right side of your foot, there’s a small ck mark. I created it using a special ink, one that only our family has ever used. It’s a symbol of our heritage, one that no outsider could possess.”
Austen froze, momentarily taken aback by Earl Poulos’ statement.
Families with such ancient histories often bore distinctive marks or symbols.
With a sharp intake of breath, Austen reluctantly removed his shoes and socks. Sure enough, there it was—the small ck mark.
It wasn’t a mole, nor a natural blemish as he had always believed.
At that moment, everything Austen had built to shield himself shattered. His carefully constructed emotional barriers crumbled.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he forcefully denied it. “No way! This is just a coincidence! You’re lying to me! I have no family—my parents died years ago!”
Nearby, Jaxen, barely containing his fury, stormed over to Austen’s side, fists clenched. “You idiot!” he spat.
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