Chapter 3

I stroked the still-warm brass key in my palm and slowly put it into my inner breast pocket.

Robert, that old fox, has an incredibly accurate sense of smell.

As it turned out, the hypocritical "motherly love and filial piety" scene on the lawn didn't even last forty-eight hours.

Her meticulously crafted trap came without warning, yet every move was deadly.

"Bang!"

A gossip magazine, reeking of pungent ink, was slammed onto my dining table. The cover bore the headline in bold, blood-red letters: "Shocking Scandal in a Wealthy Family: Man Who Married a Woman from a Poor Background Abused Harrington's Young Grandson!"

The accompanying picture is a close-up of Leo's arm covered in bruises—clearly an old injury he sustained two days ago on the kindergarten slide, but now it has been deliberately darkened to become irrefutable evidence of my "domestic violence"!

"Your Highness, Sophia has bribed New York's top 'Viper' divorce lawyers." The cold voice of the Shura Guard intelligence officer came through the Bluetooth headset. "She dumped smears on the entire internet and even forged a medical report overnight."

I gripped the magazine tightly, the pages crumbling into dust in my palm. I immediately dialed Robert's private line, determined to warn the old man to keep his daughter in check, or I wouldn't hesitate to snap her neck myself.

After the dial tone, it was Sofia who answered the phone.

"Father's in physical therapy, James." A smug, cold laugh came through the receiver. "Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public. I've convinced Father to leave everything to me. Guess, does he trust me, his own daughter, or you, this lowly piece of trash who's ready to go crazy at any moment?"

The phone call was unilaterally cut off. She severed my last connection with Robert. For the first time in this family, I felt truly isolated and helpless.

This anger made me jump up, but before I could even leave the house, a loud bang came from outside the window.

"Splash!"

A brick covered in red paint smashed the living room's French windows, and the pungent liquid splashed all over me.

"Go to hell! You child abuser!" Outside the window, several thugs brainwashed by the media were cursing wildly at my apartment.

Immediately afterward, my phone vibrated incessantly. It was the principal of Leo's kindergarten, her tone as cold as ice: "Mr. Chen, due to a joint protest from the parents, we must persuade Leo to leave. Please take his belongings away today!"

I took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the murderous aura surging in my eyes.

I carried Leo, whose fever had just subsided, to the supermarket to buy necessities. As soon as I reached the checkout counter, the cashier recognized me immediately. She disgustedly pushed my items to the ground: "Get out! We don't sell to beasts who beat their children!"

Customers immediately swarmed around us, pointing and whispering, their phone flashlights piercing us like daggers.

Leo shrank into my arms in fear, his little hands gripping my collar tightly.

To protect him, I abruptly turned to the side, blocking the camera. At that very moment, a sharp pain shot through my spine from the Siberian battlefield. The excruciating pain shot through my body like an electric current, and I bit my tongue, swallowing the bloody taste in my throat.

This pain is nothing compared to the raging anger I feel right now.

But I can't do it. Once the wrath of the Asura erupts, Leo will witness his father turn into a god of death.

I hugged my son tightly and strode out of the supermarket amidst dozens of hostile stares. However, this was just one part of Sofia's multi-pronged attack.

As soon as I got back to the apartment building, three police cars with glaring red and blue lights had completely blocked the entrance.

Six fully armed bailiffs, along with Sofia's chief lawyer, were blocking my doorway with cold smiles.

“James Chen, this is a temporary restraining order issued by the court.” The lawyer arrogantly shoved the document into my chest. “You are accused of having serious violent tendencies. During this period, you are deprived of all custody and visitation rights with Leo.”

Two bailiffs stepped forward without any politeness and forcibly snatched Leo from my arms.

"Let me go! I want my dad! Dad!" Leo struggled violently, his cries heart-wrenching.

"court death!"

My eyes turned bloodshot, and the pent-up pressure of my Asura, suppressed for five years, erupted with a deafening roar. The surrounding air seemed to be sucked away instantly, and the six bailiffs' faces changed drastically. Their legs trembled uncontrollably, and even the strength to draw their guns was suppressed by the fear of death!

With just a little force, the throats of these useless bastards will shatter instantly.

“James! You dare to move a muscle!” The lawyer, hiding behind the bailiff, excitedly raised his phone. “If you dare to assault a police officer, the violence charge will be firmly established! You’ll never see your son again!”

I froze abruptly. The camera flashed red; if I made a move, I would become a wanted criminal. I could take Leo with me, but he would live forever in the shadow of displacement.

The fingernails dug deep into the palm, and blood dripped from between the fingers.

"Don't be afraid, Leo." I forcibly suppressed my murderous intent, let go of his hand, and said in a terribly hoarse voice, "Dad promises to take you home soon."

The police car sped away, taking away my only weakness.

Night fell, and the empty apartment was as cold as an icebox. I sat in the darkness, a jet-black Asura bone whistle before me. With a single blow, three thousand Asura Guards would wipe out the Harrington family tonight.

Just as I was about to pick up the bone whistle, the children's monitoring watch on my wrist suddenly started flashing.

“Dad…” Leo’s suppressed sobs came from the other end of the phone.

"Leo? Where are you?" I stood up abruptly, my heart feeling like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

"I'm in the bathroom... It's so dark, that lady locked me inside, I'm so scared..." Leo's voice trembled heartbreakingly, "Daddy, I miss you..."

Boom! The string of reason snapped completely.

Sofia dared to abuse my son!

I grabbed the bone whistle and strode towards the door. To hell with the legal system, I'm going to tear a hole in New York tonight!

"bite--"

The moment my hand touched the doorknob, my phone suddenly received a text message from an unknown number.

Leo has been rescued and is under my protection. We'll meet tonight .