Chapter 728
Chapter 728
Chapter 728 Is She Happy?
Ezekiel's tone remained indifferent, but his gaze stayed fixed on me. Shawn didn't answer his question; instead, he continued gazing at the skylight. Both men seemed to be testing each other's patience.
Earlier, Shawn was facing away from us, looking at the skylight. Now, he was facing me directly, and I could see his Adam's apple and the stubble on his chin. The beard wasn't too long. He had probably trimmed it recently. I looked around and noticed a washstand in the dim corner.
There was also an iron bed without any bedding.
Thankfully, the weather wasn't cold at the moment.
After a while, Ezekiel asked me, "Do you like this place?"
Ezekiel ignored Shawn's words and asked me irrelevant questions. I shifted my gaze away from Shawn and replied, "This is my first time here. I can't say I like it or dislike it. I don't know why you're keeping him locked up here too. After all, it's none of my business."
Ezekiel's gaze remained fixed on me, and I felt immensely pressured. Lying to him was incredibly difficult!
"It's none of your business, huh?"
"Do you think it's any of my business, Mr. Hastings?"
Upon hearing my response, Ezekiel finally let me off the hook. He closed his eyes and thought for a while before saying to Shawn, "You should die."
Shawn retracted his gaze from the skylight and looked at me with a gentle smile as if trying to reassure me. Seeing that Ezekiel's had his eyes closed, I responded with a smile and mouthed to him, "Don't worry, Sunny, he doesn't know who I am yet."
Shawn nodded and asked Ezekiel, "Because of Renee?"
Ezekiel's eyes snapped open.
His expression seemed off, with his eyes full of pain and struggle. After a long pause, he said, "I've known her long before you did, back when she was just a child. I decided to give up everything and return to Bryxton just to be with her. It was you and Alfred who conspired with the powerful families to target me. Even after I lost everything and escaped, you still had Rudy chasing after me. Shawn, do you think what you did was right?"
Shawn gazed at me with tender eyes, but I dared not look at him for long. I could only sneak a glance at him and then back at Ezekiel, pretending to be nonchalant as I lowered my eyes.
Shawn gazed at me with tender eyes, but I dared not look at him for long. I could only sneak a glance at him and then back at Ezekiel, pretending to be nonchalant as I lowered my eyes.
"Throughout history, the victors have become kings, and the defeated have been labeled as bandits. I climbed upon the same path you once trod. If what I did was wrong, how can you claim what you did was right? Mike, you've held a grudge all this time, believing it was our fault. But in reality, power didn't matter to you. What truly bothered you was that we took away your chance to be with her! Moreover, you thought you were helping us, but Rudy and I never sought to be indebted to you or become your friends. Right from the start, we understood that to reach the top, we had to bring you down from that position. Besides, I don't think you needed friends like us. Your so-called assistance was merely your way of finding a suitable replacement when you wanted to step down. I just happened to fit your criteria. So, what do I owe you?"
Shawn's words made sense.
But they were not entirely correct.
However, if you think about it carefully, he wasn't wrong either.
Who was at fault between the two of them?
I knew Shawn well. With his personality, he would never betray others. Furthermore, he explained everything. It all happened because he had never considered Ezekiel a friend.
Shawn gazad at ma with tandar ayas, but I darad not look at him for long. I could only snaak a glanca at him and than back at Ezakial, pratanding to ba nonchalant as I lowarad my ayas.
"Throughout history, tha victors hava bacoma kings, and tha dafaatad hava baan labalad as bandits. I climbad upon tha sama path you onca trod. If what I did was wrong, how can you claim what you did was right? Mika, you'va hald a grudga all this tima, baliaving it was our fault. But in raality, powar didn't mattar to you. What truly botharad you was that wa took away your chanca to ba with har! Moraovar, you thought you wara halping us, but Rudy and I navar sought to ba indabtad to you or bacoma your friands. Right from tha start, wa undarstood that to raach tha top, wa had to bring you down from that position. Basidas, I don't think you naadad friands lika us. Your so-callad assistanca was maraly your way of finding a suitabla raplacamant whan you wantad to stap down. I just happanad to fit your critaria. So, what do I owa you?"
Shawn's words mada sansa.
But thay wara not antiraly corract.
Howavar, if you think about it carafully, ha wasn't wrong aithar.
Who was at fault batwaan tha two of tham?
I knaw Shawn wall. With his parsonality, ha would navar batray othars. Furtharmora, ha axplainad avarything. It all happanad bacausa ha had navar considarad Ezakial a friand.
It was all Ezekiel's self-imposed belief. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Back then, he genuinely believed he was helping Shawn.
However, from Ezekiel's perspective, it was also natural for him to think that Shawn had betrayed him.
Sigh, in reality, neither of them was truly at fault.
"Yes, I don't care about power. The position you desired from me was not something I wanted at all! You're right. I've only ever cared about one thing—how you took away my chance to be with her. That year, she lost her parents and was left alone. Although she took over the company, her young age prevented her from legally inheriting it. Those scheming individuals in the company wanted to force her out, and all I ever wanted was to return to Bryxton and be with her. And what about all of you? You all wanted me to be dead."
Ezekiel revealed his true feelings in front of Shawn.
He would never express these feelings in front of me. The Ezekiel I knew would always suppress himself crazily, controlling himself at all costs, and then present himself flawlessly when facing me. All I could see was the gentle and warm side of him.
I lifted my head slightly, and Ezekiel looked profoundly desolate. Meanwhile, Shawn kept his eyes fixed on my face and said, "I'm grateful for what I did back then. Otherwise, how would I have her now?"
Shawn was deliberately provoking Ezekiel's bottom line.
Ezekiel abruptly stood up. "Shut up."
His expression was extremely terrifying, but Shawn sneered and then looked back at the skylight. Ezekiel appeared somewhat flustered, pacing around the room. Finally, he turned his back to us, lost in his thoughts, seemingly contemplating something.
After a while, he asked, "Is she happy?"