Dear Immortal Tyrant

"I've decided you'll be the man of my destiny." Lina slid her hand over his, gripping it. She wasn't going to back down. She wasn't going to let some old man tell her otherwise. For all Lina knew, he could be manipulating her. 

"The man of your destiny?" Kaden echoed.

Suddenly, a phone rang in the hallway. When they turned to look at the door, Theodore entered.

"Atlantis." Theodore placed a hand to his chest and bowed. "Atlantis is calling again, Madam."

Lina was surprised. She rose to her feet, her brows tugging together. Why not call her on her phone? Oh. Right.  She had tossed it out of aggravation. She made up her mind to get another one soon.

"Go and ask him about his grandfather," Kaden told Lina.

Kaden didn't bother to leave his chair. He remained seated casually, for he was certain of her fidelity. Certain in her love for him. She wasn't as foolish now. She knew what she wanted, remembered who wronged her, and what must be done. He was certain she wouldn't flee from him again.

"Of course," Lina said.

Truthfully, Lina only wanted to speak to Atlantis about his grandfather. How did that old man know so much? And was Lawrence connected to this? Lina knew her grandfather didn't like Kaden. Who in her family did? No one.

Lina didn't want it to be like this, but it was. She wondered if the DeHavens would like her. With this in mind, she left the room and picked up the phone.

"I want to meet your grandfather," Lina said within seconds. She didn't give Atlantis the time to propose something.

"O-oh," Atlantis stammered, surprised by her abruptness. "Well, you're in luck. I'm conversing with my grandfather right now over the shortage of organ supplies to our largest partnered hospitals."

Organ supplies? "Is the harvesting legal?" 

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" Atlantis mused. "And if it wasn't, would it frighten you? It wouldn't be the first time my hands are covered in blood. Don't tell me you've forgotten the thorough beatings I gave?"

Lina was suddenly uneasy. "I don't feel comfortable discussing this. Let's discuss your grandfather."

Atlantis didn't expect her to draw the boundary this quickly. He straightened up and turned to his grandfather. Eventually, the old man slowly nodded.

"You should come right now. My grandfather will be heading to his weekly check-up soon," Atlantis informed.

Lina pressed her lips together. She glanced back at the dining room, which was on the other end of the foyer. The doors were slightly open. She could see Kaden's powerful posture. He sat like the most important man in the world. He wasn't even watching her. Instead, he was drinking his coffee.

"Is Kaden with you?" Atlantis asked. "Why do I feel like you're always waiting for his verification before you do anything? It's almost like you're being controlled by him as some kind of puppet. You're your own woman, Lina."

Lina's grip tightened. "Kaden doesn't control me. He's given me more freedom than anyone ever has."

"Or perhaps you're exchanging the collars from your parents for a nicer one cuffed by your husband," Atlantis mused.

Lina was bewildered. "And you think marriage to you won't be another collar?"

Atlantis was stunned silent. "I—"

"Meet me at Yang Enterprise instead." Lina hung up. She didn't bother to wait for his reply. 

Whether or not he came, Lina made up her mind. She was going to converse with her First Uncle later. Returning to the dining room, she knew everything was going to change from this moment forward. 

Starting with Atlantis.

- - - - -

"Do you truly know your best friend?" Kaden asked.

Lina saw him through the corner of her eye. He was accompanying her to yang Enterprise's second headquarter. What for? She thought he'd be plagued with his own agenda for the day. When she worriedly asked, he insisted he had time to spare for his wife. Always. 

Resting a hand on her thigh, Kaden was watching her like a hawk. She sometimes wondered if he was going to clone her. All he did was study her features.

"As much as any childhood friend possibly could," Lina said. 

"Don't you find it strange he knew how to fight so well in middle and high school?" Kaden mused.

"Atlantis rarely met his father, but when he did, they were always training. I heard that Medeor's ex-Chairman took great pleasure in legally beating his son through martial art matches," Lina stated.

"You pity him."

"I sympathized with his childhood," Lina explained.

"Sympathized is just a sugar-coated version of pity. Just admit the truth." 

Lina blinked. "Would you not pity an abused child?"

"You forget I am one," Kaden mused.

Lina wondered where this conversation was going.

"Don't you find it funny?" Kaden asked. "Why would an heir like Atlantis need to fight for his life, when he always had hidden bodyguards following him? Why would a boy like him need to fight for his life like that?"

Lina knew what he was implying. She caught on right away.

"Not unless… there have been people targeting him. And who would be heartless enough to go after a child?" Kaden mused.

"Certainly not business people," Lina mumbled.

"Right."

Lina swallowed. What was Atlantis protecting himself from? Why would he need to? He wasn't Everett Leclare, whose company possessed dark secrets. He was just Atlantis. An illegitimate son, who up until now, wasn't even viewed as the next in line. Yet, the Medeor Chairman had made an unexpected announcement in declaring him the heir. If Atlantis' worth wasn't mentioned in the past, why would he need to fight for his life?

Why spar with his father? Why train that hard?

"Only the mafia would target kids if they're a weakness to their parents," Lina finally said.

"Such a smart wife," Kaden teased.

Lina wanted to believe in Kaden's statements. It was speculation for now since she did not have the proof. Now, she was beginning to doubt the circumstances around Everett's death. 

The news reporter's monotone voice rang in her head. Shot execution-style. Beat to the verge of death. Mafia symbol on the floor. The resurfacing of the mafia on the streets of Ritan at night.

"House DeHaven dabbled in underground activities before they became business people," Lina suddenly realized. Her head snapped in Kaden's direction.

Kaden could have access to the mafia. He could be the reason. He could be the killer. Instead of denying her statement, Kaden smiled. He said nothing. And it only made things worse.