All Chapters of Daddy's Fight Club Rules: Stand Your Ground: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

My older brother, Callum Mercer, lowered the wet towel in his hand. Water dripped onto the marble floor. He looked down, not at the floor, but to avoid looking at Lyra Mercer. My mother, Katherine Vane, was rooted to the spot. Her lips parted and closed. Then, she chased after me. "Dinner isn't ready yet. Why don't you go rest in your room first?" Her voice was noticeably gentler than it had been just a moment ago.Harrison Reyes, the butler, took one look at Katherine's expression before guiding me upstairs. He led me to a room at the end of the hallway that faced north, with thin curtains and an empty wardrobe. The mattress was unmade, and in the corner, a water stain snaked down the wall from the ceiling to the baseboard. As we walked down the hall, a young housekeeper walked past us with a tray. Harrison lowered his voice and said, "Ms. Lyra said this room is quiet and suits her best."I rummaged through my canvas bag. I had two T-shirts, a pair of jeans, and a pair of ca

Chapter 2

The next morning at breakfast, Lyra poured me a glass of milk. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Kendra, could you not practice boxing at home?" She paused before lowering her voice, her tone gentle and considerate. "The housekeepers told me they were a little scared. They're worried that one of these days you might lose control and hurt someone." "I was only practicing my stance yesterday. I didn't make a sound.""I know, but accidents happen.""Which housekeeper told you that?"Lyra was stumped. "Call them over so I can clarify." I took a sip of milk. "I believe everything you say, but I still need to know who it was." "I don't know exactly who it was either. Someone just mentioned it in passing." I set my glass down. "No one mentioned it. In other words, you made it up." Her eyelashes trembled slightly. "You want everyone in this household to think that people who practice martial arts have violent tendencies." "That's not what I—""Why don't you just as

Chapter 3

Cedric's 50th birthday banquet was held in the grand hall of the Mercer residence. I didn't touch that gown. Instead, I dug out my own old clothes—an old dress—from my canvas bag. Then, I went downstairs.The main hall was filled with guests. Dressed in a custom navy-blue gown, Lyra accompanied Cedric as he walked around to exchange toasts with the guests. She was a sweet talker, and she managed to make several of the ladies laugh. Spotting me descend the stairs, she walked over with a champagne flute before sizing me up. "Kendra, didn't we have a new gown made for you?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the guests nearby to hear. "Why did you wear this? Are you just not used to dressing properly, or do you simply not know how to wear it?"The two ladies beside her exchanged a look.Callum squeezed his way through the crowd. He glanced at the old dress I was wearing, and his expression instantly darkened. "Where's your new gown? The housekeeper said she had del

Chapter 4

The first recording was of Lyra and Caspian. "Kendra was brought up elsewhere, so her perspective's different—"Caspian demanded, "She feels wronged? What right does she have to feel wronged?" The second recording was from the kitchen, late at night. It was Lyra's voice. "Plant this under her pillow on the night of the banquet. Once it's found, you don't have to make a sound. Once the dust has settled, you'll get this much. It'll cover two years of your son's tuition." The hall went dead silent. It was quieter than it had been when the watch was found moments ago. Caspian stood frozen in place, his face drained of color. The voice in the first recording belonged to him. Lyra's face was as white as a sheet of paper.Katherine's hand gripped the armrest of the couch, her knuckles turning white. She didn't look at Lyra. Her eyes were locked on the antique watch lying on the coffee table where Harrison had placed it face down. Cedric didn't look at the watch. He looked at me,

Chapter 5

I walked out of the banquet hall, and the silence behind me felt like a stone sinking into the water. That night, I didn't go downstairs for dinner. Later, three knocks sounded on my door. Cedric stood in the hallway. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and there was a crease across the back of his shirt. "Kendra." His voice was hoarser than usual. "I'd like to talk to you.""There's no need to apologize. Those of us who train in martial arts believe actions speak louder than words."…The next morning at breakfast, Cedric did something he had never done before—he put some food onto my plate. His hand froze in midair for a second before setting it down. He didn't say a word, though.Callum took the seat beside me, instead of Lyra. He pulled his chair out half an inch farther away, putting a little more distance between us, but he sat down nonetheless. Lyra kept her head down as she ate. She never looked up the entire time.Katherine cautiously asked me, "Kendra, that

Chapter 6

It was 10:00 pm when I returned from Kai's gym. There was a narrow alley outside the Mercer residence. The streetlight there had been out for half a month. When I reached the entrance of the alley, I stopped in my tracks. There were three men there with steady footsteps and measured breathing. They were trained, not street thugs. One of them blocked the entrance, while the other two emerged from the shadows. None of them said a thing. I could tell that the three of them weren't here to intimidate me—they were here to fight.The first one lunged at me with a straight punch. I pivoted, deflected his hand with my left hand, and drove my right elbow into his chest. He let out a muffled groan and staggered back two steps. The second man came at me from the left, brandishing a dagger. I took half a step back, the blade grazing past my sleeve. I seized his wrist joint with my right hand and twisted it in the opposite direction. The dagger slipped from his grip and clattered onto th

Chapter 7

In the week that followed, the Mercer residence was incredibly quiet. One day, Cedric knocked on my bedroom door. He was carrying a small bag. It was a tube of cream and the medication the hospital had prescribed. "Mr. Brown told me you got a few stitches on your arm," he said. "This is to remove the scar."I took the bag and set it on my nightstand. "Thanks."He remained rooted to the spot. His gaze drifted to the window in my room. It was still the north-facing bedroom. Harrison had offered to switch rooms for me, but I hadn't accepted his offer."You're not changing rooms?" he asked. "I'm used to it."He fell silent for a moment. "Kendra, I know some things can't be made up for with a few gifts or a different room, but if there's anything you need—" "I don't need you to make up for anything." I paused for a beat. "You abandoned me for 18 years. That's not something you can make up for." He didn't argue. His hand rested against the doorframe, and he stood there for what

Chapter 8

The day I left to take over the branch office, my suitcase still contained only the things I had brought with me when I first arrived. Not a single extra item. I pulled open the closet. The new clothes Katherine had hung inside were still there with their tags intact. I kept one set. I folded the rest neatly and placed them on the bed, leaving a note behind. "Thank you, but I can't take all of these with me."Cedric was waiting downstairs, his suit jacket buttoned up tight. "If you run into trouble at the branch, call Mr. Brown, not me. He has a branch office over there too."Katherine handed me a bag full of snacks, a jar of salsa she had asked someone to bring back from her hometown, and an envelope that contained a debit card and a letter. "You didn't read the last letter I gave you," she said. "It's different this time. Take it with you. It's up to you whether or not to read it."I accepted it. The envelope was heavier than I expected. Callum leaned against the doorfram

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP