Chapter 27: "It's useless for Brook to know," Kellan sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "After all, you're just an illegitimate son. One goes down, and another steps up. You're replaceable." He no longer held any hope or respect for his father.
His gaze was as cold as a winter storm, his entire presence radiating menace. When he swung the baseball bat at Hoyt, there was no hesitation. Hoyt collapsed instantly, unable to even crawl away. The room froze in stunned silence.
Who could have imagined Kellan would so ruthlessly attack his brother in front of everyone? "Kellan, have you gone mad?" Even Nova was horrified by his unrestrained violence. She rushed forward, propriety forgotten, and cradled Hoyt's battered form. "Hoyt, my baby, what will I do if something happens to you?" Her voice broke, tears glistening in her eyes as she held him tightly.
She whirled around and snapped at Jim, the butler. "Jim, don't just stand there! Get a doctor, now. And tell Brook to come see what's been done to his son." Despite her frantic words, a shrewd gleam lingered in her eyes. If Brook saw the extent of Hoyt's injuries, he'd have no choice but to punish Kellan.
Hoyt groaned in pain. "Mom… it hurts. I think my back is broken." He struggled to focus, hatred smoldering in his eyes as he glared at Kellan. "When Father gets here, you'll pay for this." His hands clenched into trembling fists. He wanted nothing more than to strike back, but he forced himself to hold back. It wasn't the right time yet. He was waiting for his father to arrive and then humiliate Kellan.
Everyone else looked on uneasily. Even Floyd shifted uncomfortably, sensing something was wrong. Allison, too, picked up on the subtle cues. It was obvious Hoyt and Nova were only there to stir trouble.
Jim hesitated, casting a wary glance at Kellan. "Mr. Lloyd—"
"It's fine," Kellan said calmly, rolling down his sleeves with deliberate precision. "Go and fetch him. He ought to be curious about why Hoyt and Nova were caught on surveillance at the port the same day Lorna and I had our accident. And then conveniently acted as if they knew nothing." His voice was measured, yet it reverberated with a chilling pressure that sent a shiver through the room.
When he finally looked up, a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, causing Nova to sway. "You… you've misunderstood," she stammered, her mind racing. He had made sure every piece of incriminating footage was wiped clean. How had Kellan managed to get his hands on it? Even though she had no idea how Kellan had obtained the video, Nova knew one thing: she couldn't afford to show fear. Even if they were caught on video, there was no solid evidence linking them to the kidnapping.
"Kellan, it's true that Hoyt and I were at the port, but we were just there for a round of golf. We didn't notice anything unusual," she explained, forcing her voice to stay steady. "If I'd known something was wrong, I would have sent people to help."
Hoyt glanced at her in confusion but quickly nodded in agreement. "Exactly! You can't accuse us without evidence." Despite his defiant words, pain wracked his body. Kellan hadn't held back a single ounce of force. He could barely contain his rage and humiliation.
"Mom… we have to wait for Father to come and—" Before he could finish, Nova's hand shot out, slapping him across the cheek. The crack of the slap echoed loudly through the room. Hoyt, already reeling from the beating, blinked in shock, his ears ringing. He had always been sheltered and indulged, raised to believe he was destined to surpass Kellan and claim the title of heir to the Lloyd Group. He couldn't understand why his mother had slapped him.