Chapter 4 The Dawsons

Rosa hesitated, her expression grim. She clutched Jayce's arm urgently. "Jayce, you should not act rashly. Eserith has changed drastically. People like us, frankly speaking, are treated worse than stray animals." Rosa had endured years of hardship and had lived in hiding since the incident a decade ago. Recently, she had felt that things had quieted down, so she cautiously returned to their old home. The once-private residence had transformed into a tourist spot, frequented by visitors who merely admired it from afar without venturing inside. Periodically, Rosa would return to tidy up the place. During the New Year, she would adorn the house with new ornaments and pay respects to the ancestors. Months ago, her visits were discovered. She had been imprisoned in this makeshift cage, guarded by fierce dogs to prevent escape. Occasionally, scraps of food were tossed to her—if in good spirits, into the cage so that she could have a full meal; otherwise, left outside for her and the dogs to fight over. Her hands bore cuts and bruises, testament to months of living in a torment worse than death. They neither killed her nor released her, only subjected her to endless torture. Jayce supported Rosa, his demeanor calm despite the raging fury within. Upon entering the house, Jayce found it in utter disarray, as though ransacked. He guided Rosa to a room, tidied the bed, and helped her lie down. Taking her wrist in his left hand, he checked her pulse with three fingers of his right. "Jayce, why … " Rosa was astonished by his professionalism, evident through his skilled movements. "Where have you been all these years? How did you survive?" Rosa had thought Jayce dead after the Howes family massacre, where they were the only survivors out of the eighteen members. They hunted down Jayce relentlessly afterwards after finding out that he had survived. Jayce and Rosa got separated during their escape, with Rosa fleeing to her rural hometown while Jayce's whereabouts remained unknown. All these years, Rosa thought Jayce had succumbed to an ill fate. "I was saved by the Yates' daughter. After that, I left Eserith and found a reclusive mentor in the mountains, where I spent a decade learning," Jayce replied calmly in a simple manner, though Rosa understood the suffering behind his words. Jayce finished checking her pulse. "Rosa, don't worry. Your body is fundamentally strong. You've endured hardships and dog bites these past few months, causing inflammation in your body. I'll prescribe herbs to aid your recovery. In a few days, acupuncture and scraping therapy will further help." Numbly nodding, Rosa struggled to comprehend the ordeals Jayce, once wealthy and had everything done for him, must have endured to master his medical skills. Jayce bought some food for Rosa. Due to her condition, he opted for light, easy-to-digest dishes like congee with eggs, and he also brewed herbal medicine for her to drink. "Rosa, tell me—who kept you captive here?" Jayce asked casually, yet an underlying anger simmered beneath. Having lost almost all eighteen members of his family in the massacre, Jayce had no many people left that he cared about. After knowing about Rosa's torment, he was determined to seek justice. Gripping Jayce's hand, Rosa looked worried. "Mr. Jayce, don't confront them. You can't win against them!" Jayce smiled gently. "Don't worry, Rosa. I know what I'm doing." His assured tone left no room for doubt. After a moment's hesitation, Rosa spoke softly. "It was the Dawsons … " Jayce furrowed his brow. "The Dawsons? Aren't they my mother's family? Even if they chose not to assist, they shouldn't have added to our troubles while we were down." Rosa sighed heavily. "Mr. Jayce, ever since your grandfather passed away, your Uncle Kemp assumed leadership of the Dawsons. This past decade, they've been hell-bent on distancing themselves from the Howes and are treating former relatives as adversaries to assert their stance." Jayce's hands clenched subtly. Although Kemp Dawson's connection to the Howes were only through marriage, their families had been allied. The Dawsons' harsh treatment of the Howes when they were in such a sorry state was unforgivable. But with Jayce's return, things were bound to change. If they did not acknowledge him as family, he had no reason to show them kindness. "Alright, I understand. Rosa, rest now," Jayce said as he tucked Rosa in and closed the door. From his bag, he retrieved a sharp knife and swiftly dealt with the three aggressive dogs in the yard. ... At Dawson Estate, a festive atmosphere prevailed. "Nigel, today marks your birthday. We debated celebrating at a restaurant, but hosting the banquet here, as a distinguished family, makes a grander statement," remarked the third child of the Dawsons, technically Jayce's aunt. Most of the attendees were Jayce's aunts and uncles. Since Kemp took charge, his eldest son, Nigel, had emerged as the heir apparent and the future patriarch of the Dawsons, earning widespread acclaim within the family. The expansive Dawson courtyard bustled with guests gathered to honor Nigel's birthday. "Mr. Dawson, the Dawsons' influence in Eserith is steadily climbing. Soon, you may join the ranks of the city's four great families." "Haha, indeed! Mr. Dawson's vision and leadership have propelled our family's advancement. It's only a matter of time before we're among the four great families." "Have you noticed the longstanding gap among the city's four great families? It awaits the Dawsons' rightful place!" The four great families of Eserith—the Hansons, Lanes, Capells, and Howes—were renowned. Following the Howe family's decline, a coveted position had remained vacant. Numerous contenders vied for this spot, yet the Dawsons emerged as the frontrunners. Nigel, the backbone of the Dawsons, thrived in his prime, poised for leadership. Once he assumed control, the Dawsons were confident of their ability to secure their position among the elite. However, their prior association with the Howes due to a marriage arrangement tarnished their reputation. To sever all ties, they suppressed anything associated with the Howes, even a former maid, to underscore their separation. They wanted to show the other three great families that they had nothing to do with the Howes anymore. Nigel raised his glass, remaining seated. "Today marks my birthday. Thank you all for joining me. Please, enjoy yourselves and drink up." He then took a sip of his wine as a sign of respect. Seeing as Nigel were toasting them, the guests repaid the respect and stood in unison before downing their wine. Amid the revelry, a bodyguard entered and announced, "Mr. Dawson, there's a visitor at the gate carrying something. He looks like he's here to celebrate your birthday. The problem is ... he appears disheveled, unlike someone from our circles." It went without saying that regular people were not allowed to attend Nigel's birthday celebration. Nigel waved dismissively. "It's okay. Even if he's a beggar, offer him food before sending him away if he says something nice to wish me a happy birthday." "Will do." As the bodyguard turned to leave, the young man in question entered. Jayce stood at the entrance, his demeanor icy as he surveyed the lively gathering. He spoke with cold disdain, "Nigel, get your *ss over here."