The King Of War Returns (Jaden Rift) novel Chapter 182

Declan Raze’s breath hitched as he tightened his grip on the crutches, his knuckles pale against the cold steel.

“It seems… Ms. Verrick still isn’t convinced of my sincerity,” he said, voice hoarse, barely keeping the strain out of his tone.

Selena said nothing. Her arms were folded across her chest, her expression unreadable—eyes cold, chin raised, posture stiff. Vane stood behind her, jaw tense, Nora clutching the edge of the dining table as if needing something to hold on to.

Declan forced a broken chuckle. “I don’t blame you. Not after the man I’ve been. My arrogance... my ignorance... it poisoned everything. It made me blind, and it made you doubt the truth of what I feel now.”

He drew in a breath through clenched teeth. “But please. I beg you… believe me when I say this—I'm truly, deeply sorry.”

Then, in a flash that stunned everyone in the room, Declan flung his crutches aside. They clattered violently to the floor. The man—leg in a full plaster cast—lurched forward with sheer desperation in his eyes.

Gasps broke out all around. Nora instinctively stepped forward. Vane grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“What the hell is he doing?” Nora whispered in disbelief.

Declan gritted his teeth and braced himself. “I will kneel if that’s what it takes.”

“Boss! Stop!” One of his bodyguards lunged toward him. “Please—your leg—if you put pressure on it, you’ll cripple yourself permanently!”

Declan shoved him back with a wild flare in his eyes. “Get away from me, you idiots!” he roared. “Don’t you get it? I’m already finished if Ms. Verrick doesn’t forgive me. I’d rather shatter this damn leg than walk away without her mercy!”

Sweat poured down his bald scalp as he tried to balance on one good knee. The moment his broken leg shifted even slightly, he cried out in agony—but still, he pressed forward, determined to bow.

Selena’s composure cracked.

“No—stop!” she said, voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

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