Chapter 4 I Will Kill You

"Please let me go!"

Harold's screams echoed through the hallway, sharp and unsettling.

He was genuinely terrified.

The arrogance he once carried had vanished, replaced by the desperate howls of a trapped beast.

Previously arrogant, he now seemed on the verge of passing out from the sheer disgrace.

His own actions had led to this-his continuous attempts to demean Erik had backfired, resulting in his own humiliation.

This profound embarrassment consumed him with shame.

His pride was completely shattered.

Erik seized his wrist, yanked him close for a moment, then forcefully shoved him away.

With a heavy thud, Harold crashed to the floor.

Erik advanced, pressing his foot against Harold's chest. His eyes were cold and menacing as he said, "You wanted to destroy my family?"

Harold's breathing became labored, each inhalation more strained than the last.

Confronted with Erik's icy stare, the coldness seemed to seep into his bones.

He was capable of murder!

This realization blanched Harold's face, draining it of all color.

"I... I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please... have mercy..."

Before he could continue, he broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, a pitiful sight to behold.

This spectacle left Kimberly feeling both amused and conflicted.

"Caden, let's go."

Hearing her words, Erik looked at Kimberly, then nodded. He removed his foot and calmly instructed, "Get out of here!"

Regaining his freedom, Harold sprang to his feet despite the pain and darted off without a single glance back at his sister.

Only after entering the elevator did he let out a furious, wild scream.

"Ah... I will kill you, I swear!"

...

At the same time, Erik had slipped back into his usual harmless act, flashing Kimberly a sheepish grin as if nothing had happened at all.

"Kimberly, what do you think? Was that manly enough? By the way, do you think that guy will seek revenge? If so, you wouldn't leave me to fend for myself, right?"

Hearing this, Kimberly's mouth twitched as she tried to suppress her mixed feelings. "Harold is mean, so he'll definitely seek retaliation. But don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Well, glad to hear that." Erik smiled broadly, somewhat surprised by Kimberly's calm demeanor.

Unlike other women who might panic or scream in such scenarios, she remained cool and collected.

Indeed, he admired her composure-it matched his own style well.

As they continued on their way, Kimberly's view of Erik subtly began to change, sparking a slight curiosity about him.

They soon reached a hospital room.

Kimberly gave Erik a brief look before pushing open the door.

The room was decorated like a suite in a luxury hotel, spacious and elegantly furnished, now occupied by five people.

What stood out the most was an old man resting against the pillows, settled comfortably on the bed.

He looked to be in his seventies, with wrinkles lining his face, yet he had a rosy complexion and sharp eyes that belied any notion of frailty.

Next to the bed stood two older men.

One was clearly a doctor, dressed in a white coat. The other wore a gray suit, his hair and beard snow-white.

Erik guessed this gentleman was Nigel.

His attention then shifted to a middle-aged couple standing on the opposite side of the bed.

The man had a full, rosy face and a large belly that pushed against his shirt as he cradled a cup in his hand, giving off a relaxed and cheerful air. Across from him, the woman carried features that clearly echoed Kimberly's own.

As Erik and Kimberly made their entrance, all eyes in the room turned towards them.

A moment later, except for the doctor and the elder with the white beard, the three others fixed their gazes on Erik.

Their expressions were uniform-eyes wide in pleasant surprise.

Kimberly, on the other hand, suddenly turned a deep shade of red.

Her expression was a mix of bashfulness and timidity.

The man on the bed was the first to speak up. He smiled at Kimberly and asked, "Kimberly, what brings you here today? Oh, and who's this young man with you?"

Kimberly sensed that his latter question was the one he was eager to know the answer to.

Looking at Eduardo, then at her parents, she noticed their faces lit up with anticipation, as though they were all too ready to see her married.

Well, Kimberly was not one to be easily embarrassed and had come prepared for this moment. She had brought Erik specifically to reassure them.

After a brief pause, she introduced him, saying, "This is Caden Smith. I've talked about him before. He just left the military a few days ago."

Turning to Erik, she continued, "Caden, this is my grandfather, and these are my parents."

Erik's smile widened, revealing his dimples as he confidently stated, "Hello, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm truly looking forward to my marriage with Kimberly, and I hope you will bless us."

At those words, Kimberly's father spat out the water he was drinking, taken by surprise.

Kimberly's mother showed her surprise as well.

Eduardo, reclining on the bed, paused before his eyes sparkled with amusement, and he burst out laughing robustly. "Caden, come closer, let me take a good look at you."

"No problem."

Erik approached confidently, without any sign of discomfort, while Eduardo scrutinized him closely.

"It appears Kimberly wasn't exaggerating; you really did serve in the military." Eduardo seemed quite pleased and asked further, "Caden, where were you stationed?"

Erik gave a short laugh, then leaned in to whisper in Eduardo's ear, "I'm currently bound by confidentiality not to reveal specific details."

Upon hearing this, Eduardo's expression sharpened slightly, then he looked Erik over carefully before laughing loudly again. "Excellent, very excellent, I welcome you as my future grandson-in-law."

Kimberly's parents glanced at each other, curious yet at a loss for words, and then turned to observe Kimberly.

They noticed that she seemed even more taken aback than they were.

Kimberly was completely dumbfounded.

She had encountered brazen people before, but never someone with such audacity. How had she never noticed this side of him before?

This man was... unbelievably bold!

Watching Erik and Eduardo converse warmly, as if they were old friends, left Kimberly feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

Suddenly, the white-bearded elder on the other side of the bed interjected harshly, "If you're going to talk, just talk-stop shifting about. You're in the middle of treatment."

Eduardo had been chatting with Erik in high spirits, but the moment shifted-his expression grew uneasy, and his right hand, once lifted mid-gesture, dropped back down in hesitation.

Erik caught it as well-Eduardo was in the middle of a session with electrical stimulation therapy.

He hadn't noticed it earlier, but following the elder's comment, he took a closer look at Eduardo.

Upon closer examination, Erik's eyes narrowed sharply, and he involuntarily exclaimed, "This could be dangerous!"