Chapter 507
Bronx’s face contorted with grief as he lunged forward, claws extended. “You killed my son! I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!” But two assassins held him back, rendering him completely helpless.
His only son had endured such torment before his soul departed for the heavens. The devastating loss of his child proved too much—overwhelmed by rage and sorrow, he coughed up blood and collapsed unconscious.
Damien stepped forward. “Boss, we’ve rounded up the rest of the Moreno family members, along with the former city lord’s confidants. What are your orders?”
Joshua was silent for a moment, weighing his options. “Exile,” he finally decided.
Just like what had happened to Jasmine’s branch family—banished to some impoverished corner where they’d never have the strength to fight back unless they got incredibly lucky and found someone like Shermaine to help them. But the chances of that were practically nonexistent.
Besides, there weren’t many people in this world who could compare to Shermaine.
Speaking of Shermaine, Joshua wondered how his precious girl was doing.
As if summoned by his thoughts, he spotted a red mecha streaking through the sky toward him. It touched down just outside his window, and the cockpit hissed open.
Shermaine stepped onto the boarding platform and walked toward him, with Shirley and the others following close behind.
Joshua raised an eyebrow and gestured with his hand. One of his assassins immediately understood, pulling out a bottle of aura water and offering it to him.
Joshua twisted off the cap and held it out to her. “Where’s Judy?”
“She got away.” Shermaine accepted the water gratefully.
This was exactly what he had anticipated. A woman like Judy could never be a match for Shermaine.
Joshua ruffled her hair affectionately. “Sheary’s amazing.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes.
“Am I not telling the truth?” His voice carried that familiar teasing lilt.
Shermaine’s lips curved into a noncommittal smile, neither confirming nor denying his praise.
After drinking about a third of the aura water, her gaze fell on Simon’s motionless form sprawled across the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
His eyes had been gouged out—he must have suffered considerably before Joshua finally put him out of his misery with a single shot.
Shermaine felt no pity for scum like that. But as she watched, a question formed in her mind. ‘If we’re going to kill Simon anyway, why did Joshua have to blind him first?’
She glanced over, but before she could fully process what she was seeing, a pair of hands covered her eyes.
“Sheary, don’t look,” Joshua said.
“Why not?”
Joshua said in a matter-of-fact tone, “It’ll ruin your appetite.”
Someone stepped forward with a black bag and dragged Simon’s body away. He had a point, actually. After all this time, she was starving.
Chapter 507
Barrett approached Shirley and dropped to one knee. “Your Highness.”
“Get up, there’s no need for formalities.”
Shirley exchanged greetings with Joshua as well.
Unlike Shermaine, Joshua was harder to read—he could be having a conversation with Shirley, yet she couldn’t see through him. There was always that subtle distance, as if everything had to remain strictly business.
Shirley was not eager to discuss their next move against Judy. A war had just ended, and they needed time to rest and regroup. Besides, Shermaine had just taken office as city lord, and tradition demanded certain ceremonies.
Every new city lord gave a city-wide address the day after their appointment, followed by a fireworks celebration that night—a city-wide festival.
Baykeep had already restored its order and prosperity, showing no trace of the recent conflict.
Now, the streets buzzed with gossip about the new city lord and her man.
That evening, Shermaine, Joshua, and Shirley shared a lavish seafood dinner together.
After spending the entire day holed up in the secret base, Jasmine emerged with Gracie in her arms. She froze for a moment, taking in the sight before her, then burst into wild laughter. Spinning around with Gracie, she planted several kisses on the baby’s chubby cheeks.
“Gracie, your parents are absolutely incredible! Baykeep is ours again—our royal family has finally reclaimed it. Our ancestors‘ dying wish has been fulfilled at last.”
Gracie only ever smiled for Shermaine. With everyone else, she remained perfectly indifferent, content to eat when hungry and sleep when tired. As Jasmine spun her around, she simply let out a lazy little yawn.
When Jasmine stopped spinning and turned around, she found herself face-to-face with Damien’s ice-cold stare. Her throat went dry—the man could be genuinely terrifying.
Despite knowing Damien for quite some time now, even in the open-minded Kingdom of Xyperia, she could count their conversations on one hand.
“Is there something you need?” Jasmine’s usually sharp tongue stumbled over the words.
Damien’s brow furrowed slightly. “Mrs. York wants to see Ms. York!”
“Where’s Shermaine?”
“Follow me.”
Jasmine trailed behind him meekly. Since he was an assassin, he probably had a pretty decent build.
As a formerly dirt-poor twenty-four-year-old who was still, embarrassingly, a virgin, her mind began wandering to places it shouldn’t go.
But one look at Damien’s face snapped her back to reality with a jolt. ‘What the hell am I thinking?’
She was being ridiculous. She had money now—she could have any man she wanted.
Damien abruptly stopped, and Jasmine collided directly with his back. Pain shot through her nose—it felt like she’d broken it. She inhaled sharply through clenched teeth. Thank God she’d just settled Gracie back into the stroller.
“Why did you just stop like that?” she demanded, rubbing her nose.
Damien’s expression remained perfectly blank. “We’re here.”
Chapter 507
“Oh.” Jasmine glanced around and realized they’d arrived at an opulent restaurant. An oval dining table dominated the space, where Shermaine and Joshua were already seated, along with Shirley and several others.
Chapter 508