"Knock, knock, knock."
A dull knocking sounded on the door, followed by a deeply authoritative voice from outside.
"Coles, you did very well today. You did not disgrace the William Family. What you need to do now is pull yourself together and let more people see the bearing the William Family ought to have, instead of locking yourself in your room and wallowing in self-pity over some lowly slave.
"I have already dealt with the damage and destruction caused by that wretched slave. If you want one, your father can find you another."
Inside the room, Coles's expression shifted constantly, now grief-stricken and indignant, now furious, now venomous.
Although he had always looked down on slaves like Chen Cheng, that big fellow who had grown up alongside him had always been different in his heart.
Although his father had taught him since childhood that slaves were lowly beings, after living with Big Fellow for so many years, even if his young heart had been twisted by his father's teachings, some innocence still remained.
And that childlike innocence had been placed in Big Fellow.
Outside, Baron William did not hear Coles reply. His stern face furrowed, and he said in an exceedingly cold tone:
"You truly are pathetic. Do you know why your father let that lowly thing stay by your side all these years? He was the final lesson your father left for your coming-of-age ceremony.
"Even if he had not died this time, on the day you came of age, you would have killed him with your own hands."
His father's words continued to echo and amplify in Coles's mind. This was the first time he had felt his father's utter ruthlessness toward him.
Coles bit his lip hard, refusing to let out an enraged roar.
Drops of blood