“Sit up straight!”
Leo’s voice was low and commanding as he reminded Altair, but Altair didn’t even glance his way. He was too content, nestled against Selene, soaking in the warmth they shared.
A subtle hint of sandalwood wafted through the car, soothing and refined. The moment Selene slid into her seat, the chaos of the world outside melted away.
“What’s Star playing with?” Her voice was gentle, deep and soft. Altair, without a word, passed her the intricate metal puzzle he’d been fiddling with.
Outside the car, a reporter from Platinum 818 squeezed his head between two burly bodyguards‘ arms, craning his neck for a better look. He recognized the man inside the luxury car–Mr. Vaughn himself.
He bore a striking resemblance to Harrison, with the same sharp features and that unmistakable air of the Vaughn family. The bodyguards‘ uniforms confirmed it: this was Harrison’s uncle, Leo.
The reporter stretched out his arm desperately, shoving his microphone through the narrow gap as the car door began to swing closed.
“Mr. Vaughn–Dr. Vaughn, is it true? Did you know about the allegations that Selene’s been abusing her own son?”
Leo had come to pick up Selene; he clearly hadn’t yet heard about Damien’s
dramatic accusations.
If Leo learned someone in his family had been mistreated, there was no doubt Selene would be tossed out of the car on the spot.
“Dr. Vaughn, listen to Damien’s recordings! Look at what Selene has put her own child through!”
The other reporters kept a safe distance, standing back several yards. Secretly, they all admired the Platinum 818 reporter’s sheer audacity.
The car door inched open again, sending a jolt of excitement through the Platinum 818 reporter. He signaled frantically to the cameraman not to miss this–Selene was about to be thrown to the wolves.
But as the door swung wide and the interior lights flickered on, they illuminated Leo’s striking features–handsome, severe, and utterly imposing.
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21:41
For a heartbeat, everyone forgot to breathe.
It really was Dr. Leo Vaughn.
pillar of the Aldonia Academy of Sciences, renowned for his intellect and influence, a frequent guest at the Azure Circle, whose word carried weight at the highest levels.
Leo’s presence alone was the cornerstone of the Vaughn family’s power.
He and Harrison looked enough alike to be brothers, their ages separated by just a couple of years.
Leo was like a cathedral atop a mountain–majestic, awe–inspiring, and impossible to approach. His good looks were undeniable, but there was a gravity about him that commanded respect, even fear.
When his dark, fathomless eyes swept over the crowd, the reporters felt as if their very souls were laid bare, as if he could see right through them.
Since his rise to fame, Leo had been an elusive legend–appearing only when he wished, never to be found otherwise.
To spot him, even by chance on the campus of Capital University, was a stroke of luck none of them took for granted.
The bodyguards formed a line outside, but Leo, seated inside the car, seemed elevated above them all. Even with just a few feet between him and the reporters, he felt worlds away, someone you could only look up to.
“Selene has raised Damien for five years,” Leo said, his voice calm but unyielding. “As her uncle, I have never once seen her mistreat her child.”
Leo was actually defending Selene. The other reporters barely dared to breathe. “But Dr. Vaughn, just listen to what your nephew is saying-”
The Platinum 818 reporter pressed play, letting the recording fill the silence. “A seasoned journalist, digging for dirt from the mouth of a five–year–old child–don’t you find that a little absurd?”
Leo’s voice swept through the car like a chilling wind through the valley. The
