Chapter 92: Chapter 92- Akira Malhotra

"It's not an unfavorable opinion," Damien declared, his tone firm and unwavering as he boldly rejected Akira's suggestion that he harbored a negative view of the Malhotra family.

"Huh? Sorry—" Akira stammered, caught off guard. She had just overheard his conversation with a woman that had clearly revealed his disdain for the Malhotra family, given that he had been cursing them and expressing how terrible they were. However, before she could clarify, he interrupted her.

"I hate those bastards," Damien said, his voice steady as his narrowed gaze locked onto Akira. His words left her momentarily speechless as she stared at him in disbelief, joined by the elderly woman and her friend, who was supporting a wheelchair.

"Ahem, I mean, particularly that Abhishek Malhotra who cheated me in business," Damien continued, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone as he realized how harsh his words were in front of the women. He ruffled his hair, redirecting his attention to the old woman. "So, I was saying, Grandma, be aware of them."

Without lingering further, Damien calmly made his exit. Both women stood in shock, watching him leave, their expressions blank as he passed by, excusing himself and exiting the establishment.

".....What was that?" Akira muttered, still reeling from his outburst. She blinked in bewilderment, turning to her friend for answers. The awkward silence hung in the air, leaving her question unanswered. She had intended to ask about Damien's animosity toward the Malhotra family, but his sudden departure had left her confused.

Under normal circumstances, Akira would have been a spirited young woman. However, following her recent disability caused by an accident—which had been orchestrated by her own brother—her sense of strength began to wane. She felt rendered useless and vulnerable before those who sought to curry favor with the Malhotra family.

Consequently, she had taken to spending her days in the library, seeking solace in books and quiet activities.

Her brother had made it abundantly clear that she should never think of involving herself with those powerful people, or the consequences would be dire. Thus, she had adopted the role of an innocent and fragile woman—at least, that was how others perceived her.

"Rina, what does Damien Raphael have to do with my brother?" Akira's tone sharpened suddenly, a cold edge settling in the room as her friend, Rina, looked on in surprise. The elderly woman, her eyes squinting due to age, slowly perked up, sensing the shift in Akira's demeanor. Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Even her friend released her grip on the wheelchair, surprised as Akira seemed to stand without any support, almost as if it were a theatrical performance.

"Young miss, that young man seems to have come here to approach you," the old woman said, her voice imbued with a wisdom that suggested she had seen far worse in her time. This tone felt different, as though awakening a previously dormant spirit within her. She carefully shuffled out from behind the counter, hands folded behind her back, casting a knowing glance in the direction of the door.

"Hm, I thought so too, but..." Akira's instincts kicked in. She had never been one to believe in coincidences. It was apparent to her that Damien had ulterior motives, attempting to manipulate her and the situation to his advantage.

If not for her instantaneous recognition of him as none other than Damien Raphael—the son of one of the richest families she had memorized from photographs—she might have been caught off guard.

Akira possessed a remarkable photographic memory; she never forgot a face or detail of anything she had seen, making it impossible for her to overlook Damien, even after all this time.

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Already up to date with the news of Raphael's family abandoning him and now seeing him roaming around this particular rose street out of nowhere, she could clearly understand he was trying to approach her. But the issue was if he wanted to do that, he could have simply acted like he hated the Malhotra family, even if it was a lie, and tried to approach her by getting her sympathy.

However, he suddenly left while cursing the family.

This was definitely unexpected, even for her, since she had thought to use this fool, yet smart guy in her favor to get into some stronger family other than the Malhotras.

Indeed, she wasn't interested in getting back her family asset given how, all these years, even when her dad was alive, she had made sure to get as much money as she could and even let her foolish brother orchestrate an accident, believing he was successful and got the position of honor of the family without being aware that he was just a puppet manipulated by her without him knowing anything.

She had complete control over the Malhotra family, having all the money and assets. While by being behind everything, she had made sure that until she was done with her work, Abhishek acted as a manager, managing her assets, which she could take back any time.

Until then, he was simply a caretaker.

While acting like a weak woman seated in a wheelchair, she was secretly preparing to become even more successful and get her hands on some bigger family.

"Should I interrogate him?" Rina asked, stretching her hand and quite clearly feeling slight cramps due to controlling herself for too long. She was prepared to beat or even break one or two limbs to interrogate that fool who thought his plan was some masterpiece to manipulate someone of Akira's caliber.

The moment he abused Malhotra, she was angered just because her friend, mostly called Akira, would feel bad. And if she did that, who knows what would happen to that abandoned hire? So she was pitying him, not her friend.

"No, leave him, and you, why didn't you tell me that idiot was bothering you?" Akira moved towards a flower pot, using scissors to adjust the dense leaves, cutting them while watering with a spray, inquired her pupil, glancing at the old woman as she stood near a plant in a firm posture, wearing a soft fabric frock that reached slightly above her knees.

"Apologies, Young Miss. I intended to take this opportunity to erase my identity by faking my own death," the old woman confessed. Having lived for more than 300 years due to her exceptional cultivation prowess, she felt an urgent need to sever her lingering attachments to this flower shop, once owned by her late husband.

After joining the Malhotra family, she had relinquished her claim to it, never imagining that Abhishek would come to cherish this particular location and attempt to intimidate her with thugs.

Naturally, the old woman yearned to shed her identity as a flower shop owner, especially after so many years spent in this place. Today, she had planned to enact her ruse of dying right here.

But then, an unexpected young man appeared and played the role of a hero. Initially, she believed he would be overwhelmed and forced to flee, yet as the confrontation unfolded, it became clear that he was more than capable; he was also a cultivator.

As she observed his movements, she quickly realized his expertise—there was a precision in his actions that spoke of professionalism. Each motion was deliberate, devoid of unnecessary gestures, and the force behind his punches was astonishing. They shattered the bones of those muscular assailants with ease, indicating that he was at least at the Body Refinement Realm.

"Hm, understood. You may stay here for a few more days," Akira remarked, tilting her head thoughtfully. She had a strong feeling that Damien would return, especially since today's encounter didn't seem like mere coincidence. It was likely that he intended to get her attention, and she was convinced he would be back soon.

"As you wish, Young Miss. Should I deal with any goons Abhishek sends in the future?" the old woman inquired, her head lifting slightly. The sharp look she directed at Akira conveyed a clear desire for permission to eliminate anyone who might attempt to forcibly drive her out of the shop. Now that she had chosen to stay, she was resolute: no one would take this place from her by force.

"Yes, but I doubt it will come to that," Akira replied, her tone calm and collected. She was acutely aware of what her brother's reaction might be if she broached the topic of letting the flower shop go.

"Today, I plan to have a word with that idiot," she added, fully aware of the potential fallout from confronting Abhishek about the matter. Though it was necessary to make him aware that he shouldn't touch this shop.

"Let's go." Taking a flower, she cut it as she moved towards the wheelchair before sitting in it; Rina held it for both of them as they slowly left the shop and made their way out of the place.

Looking towards the departing figure of the woman who had inherited her grandfather's legacy, the older woman really felt nostalgia considering how she had been slightly more connected with Akira's grandfather, who was a reputed and well-known man in his time. But his son and even grandson were both useless, not able to inherit the legacy of their ancestor.

But right now, looking towards Akira, the old woman really felt nostalgia, 'She is the spitting image of you, my friend. She is sharp, cruel, and definitely worthy of your legacy.'

As she stated, the woman turned before holding a smile on her face, moving, and taking a seat near the bench, looking towards the falling night as the streets were emptied and the light of the flower shop closed.