HEIR OF PAIN のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 151 - チャプター 160

Ryder stepped out of the small resting room inside the ward, already dressed in a dark suit. The mirror he had passed earlier showed a man he barely recognized. His face looked sharper, thinner. His eyes were tired and hollow, carrying weeks of pain and sleepless nights. He walked toward the hospital bed slowly. Arden was still lying there, unmoving, surrounded by machines and soft beeping sounds. His chest rose and fell steadily, but that was the only sign that he was alive. Ryder stopped beside the bed. He just stood there, looking at Arden’s face. The face that used to be full of life now looked pale and fragile. His lips were slightly dry. His lashes rested softly against his cheeks. He looked like he was sleeping, but Ryder knew better. He sighed quietly and leaned forward. He kissed Arden’s forehead gently. “I will be back, Ardey,” Ryder whispered. As much as Ryder wanted to stay, he knew he could not keep ignoring everything anymore. For one whole month, he had

“Ryder! More people are entering the place. We need to be quick!” Ryan warned. Ryder didn’t respond with words. Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a grenade. His jaw tightened as he pulled off the pin and tossed it toward the next wave of enemies rushing in through the broken entrance. The grenade landed and a loud explosion followed. In seconds, fire, smoke, and shattered concrete filled the air. The entire squad was taken out instantly. Bodies were thrown back, crashing into walls and pillars. Ryder was about to breathe out in relief when Ryan’s voice rang out again, louder this time. “Ryder, watch out!” Before Ryder could fully register the warning, a deafening roar shook the entire mansion. Boom! The force threw him backward. His ears rang painfully as smoke poured into the hallway. When he lifted his head, his eyes widened. Several of his guards lay motionless on the floor. Blood covered the tiles. Broken walls, shattered glass, and chunks of concr

“What the hell?!” Carlos yelled. Before his words fully settled in the air, more gunshots rang through the mansion. This time, they were much closer. The sound was sharper, heavier, and more controlled than before. Ryder barely had time to react. Suddenly, a loud blast tore through the room. The explosion shook the walls and sent dust and broken tiles flying everywhere. Ryder reacted on instinct. He threw himself sideways in the safe room just as the force of the blast slammed into the room. Pieces of the ceiling crashed down, glass shattered, and the air filled with smoke and debris. Ryder covered his head with his arms and pressed his body flat against the floor. The sound rang loudly in his ears. For a few seconds, everything felt unreal. Then… silence. Slowly, Ryder lifted his head. The smoke cleared little by little, and what he saw made his breath catch. Carlos’s men were down. Some lay sprawled across the floor, unmoving, blood spreading beneath them. Others had b

When Arden arrived at the mansion, he finally understood everything. It hit him slowly—the way Ryder and the family had kept him in the dark, how they had handled the chaos at the hospital and the mansion. And then, when he heard about Corner’s death and how he died, a deep pang of remorse struck him. Corner had given his life to protect Mrs. Black and Asher. Amber had done the same. Arden’s chest tightened at the thought. He had been so angry at Ryder before, but now, he realized that the anger had been misdirected. Ryder couldn’t have known everything that would happen. He had been acting to protect Arden, even if it had meant keeping him away. Ryder noticed the change in Arden’s expression. He stepped closer and spoke gently, “It’s okay, Arden. You were angry because you didn’t know. Anyone in your place would feel the same.” Arden nodded slowly. “Yeah… I guess I understand now. I just… I feel so guilty. I shouldn’t have yelled like that.” Ryder put a hand on his shoulder.

~~~~~~~Two Later~~~~~~ Mrs. Black sat on the bench in the garden, a glossy brochure resting on her lap. The pages were filled with pictures—different proposal designs, flowers arranged in perfect harmony, soft lights glowing under the night sky, candles forming paths, and elegant setups that spoke of love and commitment. She flipped through the pages slowly, her eyes studying each design with careful attention. Some were too flashy. Some were too simple. She wanted something that spoke from the heart. Finally, she stopped. Her finger rested on one particular page. “I think this will do,” she said calmly, pointing at the design. The decorator leaned forward slightly to look closely. “This one, Ma’am?” he asked. “Yes,” Mrs. Black replied with a small nod. “It’s warm. Not too loud. It just right.” “Very well, Ma’am,” the decorator said respectfully as he straightened up. “We will get everything done exactly as shown. You won’t be disappointed.” “I trust you,” Mrs. Black s