Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Zachary looked grim as he endured his injuries and demanded angrily, "Mr. Yeager Senior, are the Yeagers just a bunch of sore losers?"

Matthew avoided the main issue and refused to discuss winning or losing, instead continuing to pressure him. "You bastard, I'm giving you one last chance. Let go of my son. I told him to go easy on you earlier, but I never expected you to be so heartless and ungrateful!"

He added, "This match doesn't count, and you have to do it over. And this time, my son's going to bash your damn skull in!"

As the tide turned, Matthew completely abandoned any pretense of dignity. His prized son had just lost, and he was desperate to rewrite the outcome.

And in Goldridge, the Yeagers had the power to do just that.

Gabriel and Riker both frowned and quickly stepped in to back him up.

"Zachary, was it? Let Joseph go. There were irregularities in the match. It's only fair to redo it," Gabriel said.

Riker chimed in, "That's right. You should know you're not really on Mr. Yeager's level. Let him go and restart. This is your best shot. Otherwise, things could get unpredictable."

The entire audience was stunned at how far this was going. Everyone's expressions twisted with discomfort as they watched the powerful pull strings.

Matthew was clearly abusing his influence, and now Gabriel and Riker were chiming in to help him flip the script.

A legitimate trial was turning into a full-blown mess.

Then, Alex completely lost it and roared from across the hall, "Zachary! I told you let go. Did you not hear me? Or do I have to come over there and make you let go?"

The threat could not have been more obvious.

Zachary stood torn, furious, and deeply unwilling, but he knew where he stood. In Goldridge, he was an outsider, a nobody.noveldrama

And now even Alex was siding against him. If he did not let go, things could spiral out of control.

Rowan burned with fury, ready to lash out at Matthew's shameless bullying.

However, Evan quickly stopped her. "Rowan, let it go this time. Picking a fight once or twice is one thing, but this... don't do it."

Rowan snapped, "Can't you see Zachary won? These people are twisting everything, trampling on fairness. I can't just sit here!"

Evan's voice turned low and serious. "Even if you can't stand it, you have to. This isn't about right or wrong, but politics and power. The Yeagers are untouchable in Goldridge. Even Mr. Ackermann and Mr. Lamar have to show respect to them.

He added, "If the Onyx Serpents speak out now and oppose the Yeagers, Matthew will never forget it, and that would cripple our influence in Goldridge."

Rowan fumed, fists clenched tight, but in the end, she bit down her rage. She hated everything about this, but she also carried the title of Onyx Serpents' president. If she acted on emotion now, she would drag her entire faction into the fire.

While everyone was silently mourning the injustice being done to Zachary, a calm voice suddenly rang out.

It was not loud but clear enough for most people in the hall to hear it.

"Zachary, if they won't admit defeat, what are you waiting for? Choke him out. Kill

him if you have to. I'll take the blame."

Gasps echoed everywhere as the entire room erupted.

Someone whispered, "Who the hell was that?"

"Who's so gutsy to speak out like this, right in front of Goldridge's powerhouses?"

Another asked, "Is that man out of his damn mind?"

Rowan whipped her head around and finally saw the man's face.

Her eyes widened with shock and lit up with unmistakable fire. "It's really you, you bastard... It's really you! You disappeared for so long, and now I've finally got you! This time I'm not letting you get away again!