A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6109

Garrick's face did not shift. "You have no choice."

Jared turned to Vivian; tears streaked her cheeks, and she stood there as though her spirit had slipped away.

His gaze slid to the six elders; every one of them wore a stone-cold expression, greed and lethal intent pooled in their eyes.

Finally, his focus settled on Garrick again, and he spoke at an unhurried pace.

"Master Garrick, I have a question."

"Speak."

"You never meant to cooperate from the beginning, did you?"

Garrick paused, then nodded with frank calm. "Correct."

Hands clasped behind his back, he continued in a measured tone. "You're wanted by the Celestial Palace for fifty thousand bottles of celestial elixir. The Janis Family is influential, but not foolish enough to antagonize the Palace on your behalf."

He let a beat pass before adding, "Yet your Golden Dragon Bloodline, and your ability to enter Dragonmere, are opportunities we cannot afford to miss. So we devised this little scheme."

"We let you enter Dragonmere, retrieve the treasures, and then use the collar to force you to hand them over. After that…"

He let the sentence trail off; the implication couldn't have been clearer.

The final move was to deliver Jared to the Celestial Palace and claim that fifty-thousand-bottle reward.

Two birds, one stone.

Jared listened to the so-called explanation and, instead of fading, the smile on his face spread wider, as though every word had only confirmed what he already knew.

"Master Garrick, what a calculation. Truly, what a masterful calculation."

He turned toward Vivian. Her whole body shook, and her face had gone the color of blank parchment.

"Vivian," his voice stayed even as he spoke her name, "is that what you wanted as well?"

Vivian jerked her head up; tears pooled so quickly that her lashes glittered.

"N-no… it's not like that…"

Her voice quavered. "Young Master Chance, I swear I didn't know… I never imagined Father and the elders would—"

"Vivian."

Garrick cut her off. His tone snapped hard. "At this point, what more is there to say? You're The Janis Family's young miss—our interests come first."

Vivian swung toward him, eyes rounding as if the word itself had struck her.

"Father! You used me? You sent me to bargain with Jared, had me buckle that collar on him—so you were using me from the very start?!"

Garrick's expression didn't shift. "Vivian, every move I make is for The Janis Family."

She let out a sound that was half laugh, half gasp. "For the family? And Jared? He entered Dragonmere for us; he wronged none of us. Is this how we repay him?"

"Vivian!" Garrick's voice dropped like a weight. "You're far too naïve. He's a wanted man—harboring him pits our house against the Celestial Palace. Will you risk a thousand years of foundation for a stranger?"

Vivian shook her head, and tears coursed down unchecked.

"But we gave him our word… we promised to shelter him…"

"Empty words are nothing," Garrick replied lightly. "Those who achieve great things don't fuss over trifles."

Vivian's breath hitched; speech left her.

She looked from her father to the six elders whose faces had stiffened into stone, and for a heartbeat they felt like unfamiliar figures occupying familiar skins.

Had the family she grew up in really turned into this?

Had the father who once taught her to honor a promise become this man before her?

She pivoted back to Jared.

Jared stood straight, the cursed collar gleaming at his throat, his expression placid, unreadable.

But in his eyes lay a chill that pricked her skin.

That icy light made Vivian's heart give a sharp, involuntary lurch.

"Young Master Chance…" She opened her mouth, yet no words followed.

Jared regarded her. "Miss Janis, there's no need. I believe you didn't know."

Vivian's mind went blank for an instant.

Jared went on, "The way you scrambled a moment ago isn't something anyone could fake. Besides, with your nature, if you truly meant me harm, you wouldn't have acted so clumsily."

He let out a dry little laugh, tinged with something almost sour. "Unfortunately, you have an outstanding father."

Tears burst past Vivian's lashes.

Garrick's brows drew together; his voice sank.

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