Chapter 76: Let’s See How Useful That Rifle Really Was (Updated)

They stayed with the children for a few minutes, then Granny took them into a small office and closed the door. Megan sat beside her while Liam took the chair near the wall. She had been quiet during most of the drive, but now that Granny was in front of her, she started speaking before the old woman could ask another question. She explained the men in Princeton, the calls, and the ticket Rudolf had sent. Granny listened without interrupting, though her hand tightened around Megan’s when she mentioned how often he brought up the orphanage.

“He keeps calling me his future wife. I don’t want to marry him.”

“Did you tell him that?”

“Yes. He doesn’t care.”

Granny looked toward Liam, and he nodded when she asked whether he knew about the men following Megan. He told her what he had seen outside McCosh Hall, keeping to what he had actually witnessed. Megan then showed her the messages about the airport pickup. Granny put on her glasses and read them slowly, scrolling back when something caught her attention. By the time she handed the phone back, she had stopped asking why Megan hadn’t told her sooner. She pulled her closer instead, rubbing her back while Megan finally let herself cry.

“Come stay with me for a few days.”

Megan asked it against her shoulder, then sat up and repeated herself. Granny immediately looked toward the door. There were children to look after, things she had promised to do, and people expecting her to be there in the morning. Liam waited while they discussed it, then offered to arrange somewhere nearby so she wouldn’t have to leave town. After several minutes, Granny agreed to speak to the other staff. Megan stayed beside her as she made the arrangements, unwilling to let the conversation end with another promise to think about it.

An hour later, Liam carried a small suitcase out to the car. Granny had explained that she was taking a few days away, left instructions for the staff covering her work, and said goodbye to the children. Megan walked beside her, holding her arm even though she didn’t seem to need the help. Liam put the suitcase in the trunk and waited until both women were seated before pulling away. Nobody stopped them, but one of the men near the entrance watched the car leave with his phone pressed to his ear.

‘He’ll know soon enough.’

Rudolf called before they reached the hotel. Megan stared at the screen, then showed it to Granny. The old woman held out her hand and waited until Megan gave her the phone.

“I’m with Megan. We need to talk about what you’ve been telling her.”

Liam kept driving while Megan moved closer to listen.

Granny stayed on the phone until they reached the hotel. Rudolf tried to dismiss the whole thing as Megan misunderstanding him, but she kept returning to the same question: why were men following the girl around Princeton? When he asked where they were, Granny looked toward Megan first. Megan hesitated, then nodded. They agreed to meet in the lobby that afternoon, and Liam parked outside while the old woman ended the call. He booked their rooms, helped carry the bags upstairs, and gave them time to wash and rest before they went back down.

Rudolf arrived with two men. Megan recognized him before he came through the entrance and immediately stopped talking, her fingers tightening around the glass in her hand. He looked much as she had described, a man in his late fifties wearing expensive clothes, smiling as though he had come to collect someone after a pleasant holiday. Liam stood when he approached their table. Rudolf looked at him briefly, then turned his attention to Megan and opened his arms. She remained seated, leaving him standing there until he slowly lowered them.

“You could have told me you were bringing a friend.”

“I came to see Granny.”

Rudolf pulled out a chair and sat opposite her, telling his men to wait nearby. He spoke gently at first, asking about the flight and whether she had eaten, but Megan gave short answers and Granny didn’t let him continue for long. She asked about the marriage. His smile remained, though his eyes moved toward Liam before returning to her. He said he had looked after Megan for years and wanted to keep looking after her. Megan put her glass down, carefully enough that Liam noticed her hand was shaking.

“I don’t want to marry you. I’ve already told you.”

“You’re upset. We can talk about this at home.”

Rudolf stood and gestured toward one of the men. The man approached Megan’s chair, telling her that the car was waiting, but Liam stepped between them before he reached her. His expression changed immediately. He caught Liam’s upper arm and tried to pull him aside, tightening his grip when Liam didn’t move. A moment later, the man’s face lost its color. His hand fell away, and he stumbled backward with a rough gagging sound, catching the edge of an empty table before vomiting onto the floor.

The second man came forward angrily, then stopped beside him, his own expression twisting as Liam’s passive reacted to his hostility. Chairs scraped nearby as guests moved away. A member of the hotel staff hurried over, followed by security, and Granny stood to explain that the men had been trying to make Megan leave with them. Megan spoke for herself when the guard asked, clearly stating that she didn’t want to go. Within minutes, Rudolf’s men were being taken away from the seating area, one still wiping his mouth while the other struggled to walk straight.

Liam sat down again. Rudolf was watching him now, the pleasant expression gone from his face. Megan moved her chair closer to Granny and picked up her bag. She had finally said what she wanted in front of someone who would listen, and she wasn’t staying to repeat it.

“We’re going upstairs.”

Liam stood with them. Rudolf started to rise, but the hotel guard stepped closer and asked him to remain seated.

Liam called Erto after Megan and Granny had settled upstairs. He stood near the window in his room, watching the hotel entrance while explaining what had happened. There was no point pretending Rudolf would forget about Megan because his men had embarrassed themselves in the lobby. The man still had people in Princeton and control over the orphanage she cared about. Liam gave Erto his name, described the marriage demands, and asked whether he knew anyone in California who could make him stop. Erto listened without interrupting, then asked Liam to send everything he had.

“Give me a few hours.”

“I don’t want trouble brought to the orphanage.”

“I heard you.”

Liam ended the call and sent the details, including the messages Megan agreed to share. Using a Silverschild’s connections left a bad taste in his mouth, but he hadn’t spent all that time getting close to Erto just to ignore the advantages when he needed them. He couldn’t watch Megan, Granny, the orphanage, and his own family at the same time. After putting his phone away, he went next door and told the two women what he had done. Granny asked several questions about Erto, and Liam answered them without promising that one phone call would settle everything.

‘Let’s see how useful that rifle really was.’

Erto called back that evening. Someone he knew had contacted Rudolf, who apparently had plenty to say about Liam until the Silverschild name entered the conversation. After that, his account became a misunderstanding between himself and a girl he had generously supported. Liam listened with his jaw tight while Erto explained what had been demanded: no more men approaching Megan, no interference with Granny, and no attempt to punish the orphanage over the disagreement. Rudolf had agreed. Erto also gave Liam a contact in California who would remain available if he changed his mind.

“Have the old woman tell you if anything happens. Don’t wait until it becomes serious.”

“I will. Thank you.”

The following morning, Rudolf sent Megan a message saying he would give her some space. She read it beside Liam, then handed the phone to Granny without answering. It wasn’t an apology, and she didn’t look relieved enough to believe the whole thing was over, but her shoulders finally relaxed when she called the orphanage and heard that nothing had happened there. Granny decided to remain at the hotel another night. Liam extended the booking, and they spent the afternoon arranging regular contact with her and discussing what to do if Rudolf’s people approached again.

Two days later, Liam and Megan returned to Princeton. Granny had chosen to go back to the children, with the new contact’s number saved and a firm promise to speak up instead of hiding trouble to protect Megan. Liam carried their bags to the car while Megan called her after landing. This time, the conversation was about the flight and whether she had eaten. He waited until she finished before pulling away, glad to hear her laughing at something the old woman had said.

Back in New York, Erto received a call from John before the afternoon was over.

“I hear you’ve been making calls for Carter.”

Erto put down the document he was reading and sat back in his chair.

“He asked for a favor.”

“Tell me about it.”

Liam returned to his dorm after dropping Megan off and locked the door behind him. His bag went beside the bed, his phone went on the desk, and for the first time since leaving for California, nobody needed him to call someone or arrange something. He sat down and brought up the system. The fight with Lin was still bothering him. His skills were powerful, but using the screwdriver and cape together had nearly given him a headache before the man even drew his sword. He needed to check what he already had before looking for another reward.