Chapter 7: The One Who Must Be Removed
I realize something—
everyone in this house is watching Kael.
But for different reasons.
Some with hope.
Some with fear.
And some…
with envy.
My mother-in law calls me over with a gentle smile.
The most perfect smile in this house belongs to her.
"Elara,"
she says softly,
"I trust you understand how fragile this family is."
Fragile.
What a beautiful word.
"I'm trying to,"
I reply calmly.
She looks at me.
There is no warmth in her eyes.
"Kael is very capable,"
she says suddenly,
"but capability does not always lead."
I remain silent.
Silence is the safest answer in this house.
She steps closer—slowly, deliberately.
When she's close enough, she leans in and whispers,
"Some people are not born to carry weight…
because they break."
I understand immediately—
this is not a warning for Kael.
This is a threat.
From a distance, I watch Kael.
He is going through documents, calm as ever.
He doesn't look at anyone.
But he hears everything.
This man…
he's not someone who breaks.
That night, Kael speaks to me.
"You spoke with her today."
Not a question.
A statement.
"Yes,"
I answer.
"She's dangerous,"
Kael says.
I look at him.
"You know that."
A faint smile appears on his lips—brief, almost invisible.
"I do."
I understand then—
Kael is not a fool.
He figured it out long ago.
"Then why don't you do something?"
I ask.
He replies slowly,
"Because they think I don't understand anything."
I let out a quiet breath.
This man…
he's truly dangerous.
"They want to remove me,"
he says calmly.
I straighten slightly.
"Then we stand."
He looks at me.
For a long moment.
For the first time—
he considers trusting me.
"You know,"
Kael says quietly,
"if you walk this path, you won't be safe."
I take a step forward.
"I'm not Isabella."
The name hits him like an explosion.
He closes his eyes for a brief second.
Then—
"Fine,"
he says.
"Then we play."
For the first time—
Kael and I are no longer separate.
Inside the Montclair family,
a war has begun.
And my mother-in law still doesn't realize—
she chose the wrong target.
Because Kael Montclair
is not just an heir.
He is a storm.