A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6018

"Mutual affection? Ha!" Julian’s laugh slammed against the rafters, brittle and furious.

"My daughter is young and foolish—you fooled her with sweet words!" he barked.

Why did you sneak into Jade Immortal Manor and cozy up to Rania? What are you after? And Quentin’s sudden disappearance—was that your doing as well? Speak!

His thoughts spun. In his head, Quentin’s strange disappearance, the Turner brothers’ eerie deaths, and this sudden, enigmatic Jared fused into one story.

A vast shadow of conspiracy and imminent danger closed over him.

"Father, Jared isn’t a villain! He’s been wonderful to me—he even shares his most precious treasures! He means every word he says to me!"

Rania's nails bit through Jared's sleeve as she clung to him, tears sliding down her face.

She faced her father and shouted, "I chose this! If you want him dead, kill me first!"

Julian's voice cracked with fury. "You... unfilial girl!"

Jared saw the older man's shoulders tremble, rage and disbelief twisting that stern face because his daughter had just turned her blade on him.

Words clung in Julian's throat, too thick for speech.

Beneath the storm Jared caught a flicker—fear, maybe love—because Julian had only that one cherished daughter. The tension in the man's clenched fists loosened by a hair.

Then the killing light returned, swirling in Julian's eyes like dark fire, hot enough that Jared felt the air tighten against his skin.

The manor lord's gaze locked on Jared, cold and fixed, as though measuring where to strike first. No doubt remained—the man meant to erase him.

Yet Julian's eyes flicked toward Rania, lingered, then snapped back. That heartbeat of wavering told Jared where the leverage lay.

Jared felt the killing pressure bearing down. A humorless breath brushed his throat, but outwardly he sighed.

He lowered his voice for Rania. "Rania, don't do this. He is still your father."

Jared turned toward the manor lord and met the frigid stare. "Manor Lord, my feelings for Ms. Rania are genuine."

"Grand Chamberlain Fay invited me here to help her study the old texts. I have no idea why he left the manor."

"If you mistrust me, I will depart at once and never set foot in Jade Immortal Manor again. Just, please, do not blame her."

Inside, Jared let the words fall like bait, hoping retreat would buy him room to maneuver.

A direct clash now, he knew, would waste strength he still needed elsewhere.

His true hunt lay with the celestials and the old vendetta—goals that demanded patience, not a brawl in the front yard.

For now, Rania was both ally and armor; he had no reason to discard the cover she offered.

Julian barked a laugh, sharp as splitting wood. "Leave? Dream on!"

"Speak your real name and purpose," the manor lord warned, voice dropping to a lethal hush, "or you won't leave this place alive."

His eyes dismissed every word Jared had offered, branding it a lie before it fully left his mouth.

"Father, touch him and I'll die right here!" Rania cried.

She tore the silver hairpin from her bun; the razor tip pressed into her pale throat, and a bright bead of blood blossomed.

Tears blurred her gaze, but the resolve in it chilled Jared more than steel. "I mean it!" she said, voice breaking.

"Rania! Put the pin down!" Julian's roar cracked across the courtyard.

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