Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 89

89 Chapter 89 – Beneat the Ashworth Gaze: A Daughter’s Stand

The tension in the air followed us like a shadow as we drove away from what remained of the Hawthorne family legacy. I stared out the window at the passing cityscape, trying to process the execution I had just witnessed. The casual efficiency with which Harrison Ashworth had ordered two men killed left me feeling hollow.

“Are you alright?” Isabelle’s voice was soft, her hand finding mine in the darkness.

I turned to face her, searching those captivating eyes for any hint of the coldness her father had displayed. Instead, I found only concern.

“Your father just had two people killed right in front of us,” I whispered, keeping my voice low enough that the driver couldn’t hear. “And everyone’s acting like we just left a business dinner.”

She squeezed my hand. “That’s the world I grew up in, Liam. The Ashworth name carries responsibilities and consequences that most people never see.”

The car pulled into a private hotel entrance, where a small army of security personnel awaited. As we stepped out, I was struck by the sheer scale of the operation. Men in tailored suits with earpieces stood at strategic points throughout the lobby. Others patrolled the perimeter with military precision.

“All this for one family visit?” I muttered.

Isabelle’s expression tightened. “After what happened, Father’s not taking any

chances.”

We were escorted to the penthouse suite, which had been transformed into a command center. Security monitors covered one wall, displaying feeds from throughout the hotel. Staff moved with practiced efficiency, completing tasks without needing instruction.

I suddenly felt very small, very insignificant. What was I compared to all this? Just a former live–in son–in–law who’d stumbled onto powers I barely understood. The Ashworths had been wielding this kind of influence for generations.

“Hey.” Isabelle pulled me to a quiet corner, away from the bustling activity. “I can see

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89 Chapter 80 Beneath the Ashwont haze: A Daughter’s Stand

you drowning in your thoughts.

“This is your world,” I said, gesturing at the operation around us. “All this power, all these resources. What am I even doing here, Isabelle?”

Her eyes flashed with unexpected intensity. “You’re here because I want you here. Because despite all this- she waved her hand at the room, “–you were the one who

saved me.

I was about to respond when a staff member approached, bowing slightly to Isabelle.

“Miss Ashworth, your father requests your presence. His car is waiting downstairs.

Isabelle frowned. “Now? It’s nearly midnight.

“He was insistent, Miss.”

She sighed, squeezing my hand one last time. “Wait for me here. I won’t be long”

I watched her walk away, her posture straightening, shoulders squaring as she stepped back into her role as the Ashworth princess.

Through the penthouse windows, I could see Harrison’s black car waiting below. As Isabelle approached, I noticed another man standing nervously beside the vehicle. Even from this distance, I recognized William Vance, the Deputy Mayor of Havenwood City.

Vance was practically bowing as he spoke to Harrison, his body language screaming submission. Harrison stood impassively, barely acknowledging the man’s presence.

I slid open the balcony door, stepping out into the cool night air. I couldn’t hear their words clearly, but Vance’s apologetic tone carried upward.

…deeply regret the oversight, Mr. Ashworth. I assure you, had I known…”

Harrison cut him off with a dismissive gesture. “Michael expected better, William. He’s displeased.

The mention of Michael Ashworth–Isabelle’s grandfather and the family patriarch- seemed to drain the blood from Vance’s face. He stammered something else, but Harrison was already turning away, opening the car door for Isabelle.

Before entering the vehicle, Harrison looked up–straight at me. His eyes locked with

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89 Chapter 89–Beneath the Ashworth Gaze: A Daughter’s Stand

mine across the distance, and I felt a chill run down my spine. These weren’t the eyes of a businessman or even a criminal. They were the eyes of someone who had never known true opposition, who bent the world to his will as easily as others breathed.

I didn’t look away. Despite the fear churning in my gut, I met his gaze steadily.

Something shifted in his expression–not respect, exactly, but perhaps recognition. Then he slid into the car beside Isabelle, and they pulled away.

Inside the vehicle, Harrison Ashworth maintained his rigid posture, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Isabelle sat beside him, her own back straight, mirroring her father’s dignified bearing.

“Your security detail failed catastrophically” Harrison said, his voice cold and precise. “Where is your secretary?”

Isabelle’s secretary, seated in the front passenger seat, visibly flinched.

“I’m here, sir.”

Harrison didn’t even look at her. “Four men will be terminated tonight. You will be responsible for finding replacements who understand the meaning of vigilance.

“Father,” Isabelle interrupted, “that’s unfair.”

“Unfair?” Harrison finally turned to face his daughter. “You were kidnapped, Isabelle. You could have been killed.”

“The men assigned to me did exactly as instructed,” she replied calmly. “I specifically ordered them to ensure Mr. Knight’s safety during the confrontation.”

“You risked your life for that man?” Disapproval dripped from Harrison’s voice.

Isabelle met her father’s gaze unflinchingly. “I made a calculated decision based on information I had and

you didn’t.”

For a moment, father and daughter stared at each other in silent confrontation. Harrison seemed momentarily taken aback by Isabelle’s assertiveness.

“You’ve changed,” he finally said, his tone softening slightly.

“Perhaps I’m simply showing you who I’ve always been.”

Harrison studied her face before returning his attention to the road. “The men will

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29 Chapter 89 Beneath the Ashwth Gaze: A Daughter’s Stand

receiveprimands instead of termination, he conceded. “But their failure will

written not be forgotten.”

“Thank you. Isabelle said, then added quietly, “Grandfather would appreciate your

mercy.”

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