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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 67
67 Dylan, still unbothered by the chaos he’d just caused, simply sighed. “Dr. Caldwell,” he said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “It seems you still don’t understand the situation here.” He took a slow step forward, towering over Caldwell as if to remind him of the power he once wielded, the weight of his name now clear to everyone. “You can insult me all you want. Call me a pauper, a nobody—anything you like. But it won’t change the fact that I’m not someone you can afford to antagonize.” Caldwell scoffed, but there was less confidence in the sound this time. “You’re bluffing,” he said, but the words lacked conviction. Dr. Everett’s eyes stayed on Dylan, his gaze still wide with shock. He shook his head as if to clear away the disbelief, his voice cracking again. “You don’t understand, Dylan—no, Lord Grenville. I—” He stopped, the words caught in his throat. His hands were trembling now, the professional composure he had so carefully crafted slipping away. “I di
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 68
68 Zara watched as Dr. Caldwell’s words hung in the air, but neither man moved. Dr. Everett remained on his knees, his face pale, tears still staining his cheeks, while Dylan stood tall, unmoved by Caldwell’s outburst.Dr. Caldwell’s frustration boiled over, his lips curling into a sneer as he pointed an accusatory finger at Dylan. “This is absurd,” he spat, his voice thick with disdain. “You’re all being played! Don’t you see it?” His eyes flicked to Dr. Everett, who remained on his knees. “Especially you, Dr. Everett. You of all people should know better. You’re the person with the big mind I know.”Dr. Everett exhaled sharply, his hands clenching at his sides. “You don’t understand,” he murmured, shaking his head.“No, you don’t understand,” Caldwell shot back, his voice rising. “This man is a fraud! An imposter! He’s spinning some elaborate tale, and you’re swallowing every word like a fool.” His gaze swept across the room, his expression a mixture of incredulity and disgust. “A
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69 “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Caldwell,” he seethed. “You have no idea what this man has done. What he’s endured. What we have endured.” His fingers twitched at his sides, as though resisting the urge to strike Caldwell a third time. “And you dare to mock him? To question his name?” Caldwell swallowed, hard. The sheer intensity in Everett’s eyes was unnerving. “You—” He shook his head, as if trying to shake off his own confusion. “You’re actually serious. You actually believe all this.” He scoffed, but there was no real strength behind it.The room fell silent.Dr. Everett’s voice shattered the silence with a question that was both cutting and resolute. “Do you have any idea who he is?” His eyes drilled into Dr. Caldwell, his tone laden with a weight that seemed to carry years of unspoken words. The room, already thick with tension, seemed to tighten further with the intensity of his question.Caldwell blinked, momentarily taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 70
70 Olivia shifted in her seat, her mind still spinning. “I—I never imagined…” She trailed off, the weight of the moment too heavy for her to complete the thought. She glanced at Lucas, whose jaw was still slack with disbelief. “I never thought he could be—” She cut herself off, shaking her head as if trying to wake herself from the fog that had settled over her thoughts. Zara, allowed her gaze to wander around the room. The air was thick with the aftermath of the explosion. Caldwell’s incredulity was palpable, but the others in the room were still trying to come to terms with the truth. Everyone had assumed the worst about Dylan—whether they had consciously acknowledged it or not. But now, with this new information, the foundation they had built for their judgments was crumbling. Dylan, still silent, finally broke his stillness. His voice was calm but cold, like ice cutting through the air. “You wanted proof,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he addressed Caldwell. “I’ve j
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 71
71 The truth had been spoken, and now there was no going back.Caldwell’s panic was growing more palpable with each passing second. His hands trembled, his grip tightening on the back of the chair as if it might hold him steady in the face of his own crumbling world. “No,” he insisted, his voice rising with desperation. “This isn’t true. I—I gave her the right treatment! Dylan, you’re just a bitter man, a vengeful man, trying to ruin me—trying to spread lies about me.”His eyes flicked around the room, searching for someone—anyone—who might stand with him, who might back his claim. But the faces of the people around him were hard and unmoving. Olivia’s face was a mask of fury, her hands still clenched tightly in her lap as though holding herself back from doing something reckless. Everett stood like a pillar, unwavering, his eyes cold but filled with an undeniable truth. Dylan, silent but resolute, remained a constant, a rock against Caldwell’s mounting hysteria.“You think you can
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 72
72 The silence that followed was suffocating. Everyone in the room was processing the gravity of what had been said, the weight of the betrayal hanging over them like a dark cloud. Zara’s breath came in short, shallow bursts, her anger building to a fever pitch. Her hands, still clenched, trembled with the force of it. How could this man—this so-called doctor—have put her sister’s life in such danger? And for what? Ego? Ambition? “This is what you’ve done?” Olivia’s voice broke through the silence, raw and shaking with fury. “You let him treat my daughter when you knew he wasn’t ready? You knew he wasn’t qualified!” She was shaking now, her anger spilling over, raw and unfiltered. She stood up, her movements jerky, her breath catching as the weight of it all came crashing down. “How could you do this?” she demanded, her eyes filled with both anguish and fury. “You said you were friends! You said you’d trained him. This is what you’ve done to us?” Everett’s expression softened for
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 73
73 Lewis took another step closer, his expression dark. “If my daughter had died because of you…” His voice trailed off, but the threat in his tone was undeniable. Caldwell’s breathing turned shallow. He shook his head rapidly. “I didn’t—I didn’t want that. I swear, I was only trying to—” “Trying to what?” Olivia snapped. Her hands were shaking at her sides. “Play hero? Prove something?” She let out a choked sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “You almost destroyed my family.” Caldwell’s mouth opened, but no words came. His hands trembled as he looked at each of them, realizing there was no way out of this. Dylan took a slow step closer, his expression unreadable. “I don’t think you understand the situation you’re in,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet. Caldwell stiffened. Dylan tilted his head slightly. “You should leave while you still can.”The air was thick with tension, every breath heavy, every movement charged. Lewis’s jaw clenched, his fists tight at his sid
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74Her voice was ice, her body rigid with fury. Caldwell recoiled, his lips twitching, but she wasn’t done.“We’re going to file a complaint against you,” she said, her voice sharp enough to cut. “You nearly killed my daughter. And we will make sure you never get to hurt anyone else again.”Caldwell let out a harsh, bitter laugh, his teeth bared in something almost animalistic. “You think you can ruin me?” he sneered. “I’ve worked too hard for this! I won’t let you destroy everything I’ve built!”Olivia let out a sharp breath, her hands trembling at her sides. “You destroyed yourself,” she said coldly. “No one else did that for you.”Caldwell opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, Lucas—who had been eerily quiet until now—spoke.“This is annoying.”Everyone turned to him.Lucas leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. But there was something unsettling in his gaze, something almost… disappointed.Caldwell noticed it, too. His eyes flickered with
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Chapter 181: Ashes Don’t Forget The air in The Broken Compass turned thick with tension as Lilith lifted her goblet once more, her calm demeanor a fragile mask. The flickering lantern above her cast shadows along her jawline, emphasizing the cold steel in her gaze. That’s when a sleazy-looking man swaggered up to her table. Gold rings on every finger, a filthy toothpick dancing between his lips, and the unmistakable stench of rum and arrogance clinging to him. He slapped a few crumpled bills onto the table and grinned. “You look expensive, sweetheart. But I’m feeling generous tonight.” Lilith didn’t even flinch. “Pick those up before I shove them down your throat.” The man laughed like she’d told a joke. “Oh, come on, don’t play hard to get. I heard about you. Night Order, right? Bet you’ve done worse for less.” Her hand twitched near the dagger strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath her coat. “Last warning.” He leaned closer, his breath hot and disgusting. “You’ll change your m
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Chapter 181: Ashes Don’t ForgetThe air in The Broken Compass turned thick with tension as Lilith lifted her goblet once more, her calm demeanor a fragile mask. The flickering lantern above her cast shadows along her jawline, emphasizing the cold steel in her gaze.That’s when a sleazy-looking man swaggered up to her table. Gold rings on every finger, a filthy toothpick dancing between his lips, and the unmistakable stench of rum and arrogance clinging to him.He slapped a few crumpled bills onto the table and grinned. “You look expensive, sweetheart. But I’m feeling generous tonight.”Lilith didn’t even flinch. “Pick those up before I shove them down your throat.”The man laughed like she’d told a joke. “Oh, come on, don’t play hard to get. I heard about you. Night Order, right? Bet you’ve done worse for less.”Her hand twitched near the dagger strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath her coat. “Last warning.”He leaned closer, his breath hot and disgusting. “You’ll change your mind aft
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Chapter 180: Embers of VengeanceThe fire in the hearth snapped as Dylan returned to the drawing room. The old wood panels whispered with every step he took. Gregory sat in a leather armchair near the flames, polishing a pair of vintage spectacles. He looked up as Dylan entered.“All settled?” Gregory asked.Dylan nodded, running a hand through his hair. “She’s asleep. Curled around that fox like it’s armor.”“She’s been through more than most grown men could survive,” Gregory murmured. “Just like her mother.”Dylan’s jaw tightened. He walked over and poured himself a glass of aged whiskey from the crystal decanter. He drained the glass and set it down, then leaned against the mantel. “What do you know about the Night Order?”Gregory paused. “Only what Helen told me. That they used to be a myth… until they weren’t. Secret society. Rituals. Power plays. Blood pacts.”A silence stretched between them until Gregory said, “There’s a woman. Used to be one of them. She turned her back on t
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Chapter 179: Through the AshesThe ride was silent at first—except for the soft crinkle of Dolly’s lollipop wrapper and the distant hum of the engine. Dylan stared out the tinted window, his jaw clenched, one hand resting protectively on Dolly’s knee.She leaned against him, but her eyes were wide open, darting around the interior of the luxurious car.“Is this a magic carriage?” she asked, voice soft.Dylan chuckled faintly. “Something like that.”She held up the lollipop. “It’s cherry. That’s my favorite.”“I remembered,” he said.Her brows rose. “You remembered? But you said you didn’t know about me.”He hesitated, then smiled. “I didn’t. But your mother used to say, ‘If I ever have a daughter, she’s going to love cherry more than anything else.’”Dolly’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “Mama said that?”“All the time.”They fell into silence again, but this time it was less heavy.After a while, Dolly turned her head and whispered, “Do you miss her?”Dylan’s throat tightene
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Chapter 178: A Father’s OathThe mansion’s heavy front door creaked open, letting in the morning light—and a gust of wind that smelled of ash and distant bloodshed. Dylan held Dolly close, her small arms still wrapped around his neck, her cheek pressed to his shoulder.But as they reached the edge of the stone steps, she stiffened in his arms.“Wait,” she whispered, pulling back slightly. “Where are we going?”“Somewhere safe,” Dylan replied softly, adjusting her weight in his arms.“Safe?” Her eyes narrowed. “But who are you?”Dylan froze.“I told you,” he said gently, “I’m your father.”She looked at him long and hard. Her tiny brows furrowed, lips pursed with doubt. “You… you don’t feel like Papa.”His heart cracked a little. “I didn’t know about you, Dolly. Not until tonight. If I had… I would’ve come for you sooner. I swear on your mother’s life.”Dolly blinked, silent for a moment, then asked, “Did Mama really tell you to come?”“Yes.” He crouched down, setting her gently on the
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177Chapter 177: The Search BeginsDylan’s boots thudded against the stairs as he stormed up them two at a time, Seraphina’s blood still drying on his chest like a second heart. His throat burned, but he swallowed the pain. There was no time to mourn. Not now.“Dolly!” he shouted, voice rough and hoarse. “Dolly, if you’re here—please answer me!”The hallway stretched before him, quiet and cloaked in shadows. The scent of old wood and lavender clung to the air—Seraphina’s favorite oil. His hand brushed the wall as he passed a set of closed doors, his mind racing.He threw open the first room.Empty.Just dusty blankets, a cracked mirror, and toys that hadn’t been played with in years.“Dolly!” he yelled again, more desperately this time. “It’s Papa. I’m here. Please—baby, answer me.”His heart thundered. He moved to the next room, nearly ripping the door off its hinges.“Dolly—”Nothing but silence.Then—A faint thump.He froze.It came again.He turned sharply toward the third door.
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176“I forgave you,” she said suddenly, her voice clear for a brief second. “For everything. For the things you did… for what we became. I forgave you a long time ago, Dylan. I just wish you could forgive yourself.” His chest tightened so sharply he could hardly breathe. “You don’t get to say goodbye. Not like this. No. No—stay awake. Don’t close your eyes. I need you. We need you.” “I’m tired,” she whispered. “But listen… the Alliance… it’s burning. They’re tearing it apart because of you.” He flinched, guilt sweeping over him. “I never wanted this war. I built Dragonia to unite our lands, to end bloodshed…” “But you left,” she said, blinking slowly. “You left it behind… and it turned into a battlefield.” He pressed his forehead to hers, eyes wet with grief. “Because I couldn’t face what I lost. Because I was a coward.” “You’re not,” she murmured. “You were always brave. Stubborn… cruel, sometimes. But brave.” “I don’t want to be brave anymore,” he whispered. “I just want you
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175“Please…” he whispered. “Don’t leave me.”A long silence stretched between them. The forest around them was too quiet—no birds, no wind, just the rising smoke and the smell of iron and earth.Then—suddenly—her hand caught his wrist.His heart leapt.Her grip, weak but deliberate, made his breath hitch.“…It’s too late,” she whispered, a faint smile pulling at her cracked lips.“No. No, it’s not.” His voice was thick with tears as he shook his head. “I’ve got you, I can—”“You can’t.” Her voice was softer than a breeze, fragile and final. “Not this time. Dylan…”His jaw clenched. “Don’t talk like that. You’re not dying, do you hear me? You’re not—!”She squeezed his hand, surprising him with a flicker of strength. “Listen to me. There’s something I never told you…”His heart pounded violently against his ribs. “What?”“Our daughter.”She coughed, blood spilling from the corner of her lips, staining the side of her chin.“Her name… is Dolly.”Dylan froze.“What…?” His voice cracked.
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Chapter 174 Dylan’s hands trembled violently as he knelt beside Seraphina’s broken body. Panic surged through him like wildfire, fast and merciless, as he stared at the blood soaking her clothes. It pooled beneath her like a cruel mockery of life, staining everything it touched a deep, damning red. Her lips were pale. Her breath was shallow. But he wasn’t giving up. Not now. Not like this. “I know what to do,” he muttered under his breath, barely hearing himself over the roar of his heartbeat. “I can save you. I can fix this, Seraphina.” Her lashes fluttered. A small, pained groan escaped her lips. Dylan yanked the pouch off his belt—the one he hadn’t touched in years, the one covered in old leather and tied with fraying string. His fingers shook as he undid the knot, revealing a weathered collection of dried herbs, crushed roots, and dusty vials—everything he had once learned from the old masters in the Eastern Mountains. He swallowed hard. Manwa medicine. Ancestral craft. No
