615: [Bonus chapter] pill of truth

[Bonus chapter] pill of truth

[Medical Center City]1

"But that doesn't justify your actions. Silas, if you truly want revenge, then you should've targeted us directly. You should've just plotted for Grandma's murder instead of dragging the innocent children into this unresolved family issue. Those kids… you were like them once. They are innocent and Basti doesn't deserve to still be in a wheelchair."

Axel pressed his lips into a thin line, watching the live broadcast on the tablet in his hand. He could see the situation in the venue. He didn't know what software he was using, but that didn't matter. 

"So what? Dom, so what if you saved your brother? Nothing changes!"

When he heard Silas's response to the situation, his eyes flickered with a tinge of sadness. 

'He really is an idiot,'he thought, unable to get rid of this bitterness in his mouth. 

Seeing Silas lose his mind and still push through his wicked plan left Axel with mixed emotions. Although the latter was able to tease the man, he couldn't truly say he had no other feelings aside from anger. After hearing why Silas hated the Zhu family so much, he couldn't help but feel guilty. 

"You should've asked for help, dummy," he whispered as the screen suddenly turned black and the call abruptly ended for a reason he couldn't explain as well. However, even if the broadcast didn't end, Axel was already planning to end it. 

He didn't want to see more of it. 

He simply accepted this offer from one of the bodyguards who handed him this tablet because he wanted to see Silas. He wanted to see Silas's reaction once he found out he was alive. Deep in his heart, Axel was hoping Silas would feel relieved. Axel was secretly hoping Silas would show a bit of regret for trying to murder him.

Sadly, the reaction he got was the complete opposite. 

Why was Axel surprised, though? What did he expect? Even though there was a little chance Silas didn't really want to kill him, the chances were just too low. It was impossible. 

"I hate Grandma for this," he whispered, lowering his swollen eyes. "She's really at fault this time."

Axel would never justify or tolerate Silas's actions and how he colluded with the Red Scorpion and Primo to abduct his nephew. However, that also didn't mean he didn't understand Silas. Silas had a rough childhood; his father was an ambitious fool who didn't have a shred of shame in beating up his wife. And then, Silas's mother, who despite the darkness shrouding her marriage, didn't allow it to diminish her light that guided her son, was murdered by her own significant other. 

Axel might be spoiled and annoying, just like everybody claims, but he had a big heart to spare. And this? He wouldn't say Silas was right. Silas was wrong at every angle. But even so, Axel just couldn't find the energy to really hate him. 

How complicated, indeed.

As Axel was thinking about how things would have turned out differently if Grandma Zhu made the right decision back then, a knock from the door caressed his ears. He blinked ever so slowly, turning his head to the door. When his eyes landed on it, the door was already sliding open, revealing his parents.

"Axel," Ria called airily, teary-eyed at the sight‌ of her son. "Oh, my poor baby."

Ria wheeled Lionel in and stopped when he was right beside the bed. She then immediately rushed to Axel's side, scanning her son's swollen face with worry. 

"Oh, god," she murmured, trying to cup Axel's cheek but couldn't. "I'm sorry this happened."

"Mom, why are you sorry?" Axel let out a momentary laugh. "I'm fine. If someone has to me say sorry, then that should be the person who beat me up."

Ria pressed her lips into a thin line, holding back the tears that were tempting to escape her eyes. Knowing speaking more could only push her to bawl her eyes, she simply let out a deep breath. 

"Are you hurt anywhere else, Axel?" asked Lionel, making Axel and Ria look back at him. "Son, we're sorry you have to go through this. It's our fault."

This time, Axel couldn't refute his parent's claims because it was true. At the time of Olivia's death, Silas, Dominic, and Axel were just children. Lionel, Ria, Grandma Zhu, and even Olivia were the adults at that time. They should've dealt with Leon Zhu more properly instead of letting his ghost haunt their family till now. 

"Dad, Mom…" Axel slowly set his eyes on the ceiling. "Where's Basti and Miracle?"

"They're in the other ward with Miriam. They're fine, don't worry about them," Ria answered gently, only to receive silence from her son as an answer. 

"Good. Now I can be honest." Axel breathed out after a moment. "This… situation is your fault. It's your fault and Grandma's. To tell you the truth, I'm really really disappointed in you three. I've always looked up to you and have always been proud of the Zhu family. But after knowing Silas's plans, I can't help but blame you instead of hating him."

"We are all just messed up," he continued under his breath as tears rolled down his temple. "Because of your decisions back then, me, my brother, Silas, and even Basti and Miracle are suffering. Because of you, my brother is out there trying to kill the person he always thought of as family."

His lips quivered as he remembered how Dominic doted on Silas and how Dominic looked after Silas without the latter's knowledge. Dominic was not the type to do things grandly just for credit and recognition. But Axel had always known that his brother had been searching for Leon Zhu for years to do the job their parents and Grandma Zhu hadn't finished in the past. 

Dominic had done so, so Silas would get reassurance that his monster of a father would never touch him. But now Dominic was out there, engaged in a fight to kill Silas. This added more bitterness to Axel's mouth. 

Just what did they do to deserve this?

No wonder Heaven and Dominic were dead set on ending this internal problem. Because they knew if they didn't, then Sebastian and Miracle might face the same fate as Dominic, Axel, and Silas. Still, settling this matter also meant Dominic had to swallow his emotions and principles and cut a portion of his heart that Silas took up.

This pill of truth was not easy to swallow.

"This family's reputation…" Axel's voice cracked as he forced his words out. "... is what's important to everyone. That's what I feel, and it disgusts me. Just how far did you guys take it just to protect this so-called reputation? To be honest, I don't want to know. Silas is already enough proof. I'm grateful to you for being great parents, but this still makes me sick. It's something I can't overlook. I'm sorry, but please, leave me alone. I don't think I can be in the same room as you for now."

Ria and Lionel couldn't argue. All they could do was stare at their youngest because, one way or another, their reputation also played a huge role in their decisions back then. Olivia's wish simply gave them another reason to protect their reputation.

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