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CHAPTER 175

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"Perhaps I can help you have a change of mind." Zale smirked at her, showing her a part of his teeth, He was happy he had her finally in his hand. "Bring him in."

'Just after I have tortured her well enough, I would call father and send him the video of her miserable life. She would scream and beg me to end her life but I wouldn't. Just not yet at least.' Zale thought to himself.

Jade did not say anything to him but allowed him to bring whomever he wanted to bring in for her to see.

"Boss, he is here." One of his guards announced, ushering Arctic into the room but due to the darkness, Jade could not easily see his face, that and the fact that Zale was blocking her view.

"Oh, welcome, welcome. Please why not make yourself known, hmm?"

As he said this, he paved the way for Arctic, so that Jade could see him and gestured for them to push him forward.

Jade who wasn't expecting that the person who had told on her would be Arctic was extremely shocked when she laid eyes on him.

"Isn't this a lovely reunion? You see. I love the that look on your face Jade. So splendid."

Jade and Arctic ignored him. They weren't up for his jokes one bit. What they were facing was a very critical issue right there.

Jade looked closely into Arctic eyes. She wanted to make sure that it was Arctic and after a few seconds had passed she got her answer quite clear. Arctic could see the look of hurt in her eyes followed by an unknown kind of pain but on careful look at even at facial expression he understood quite well what that was.

It was the pain of being betrayed by the one you trusted the most.

His own eyes mirrored hers. He had that pained expression on. All these while he kept up a straight face like nothing actually mattered but when he laid eyes on Jade awake, his own emotions failed him bringing him to a point of almost tears.

"Jade, I'm sorry."

That was the straw that broke the carmel's back. She opened her mouth to actually question him but all that remained was her voice breaking and a tear sliding down her cheek. "Why?" She managed to ask after sometime.

"I…"

"Enough of the reunion," Zale rudely interrupted them pulling Arctic away.

"You!"

"Yes, I. I wasn't the one who betrayed you was I? If you want to get angry or get mad at anyone, get mad at your father's most trusted bodyguard. It was he who did it."

Just mentioning Arctic alone, Jade squinted. Hearing about him right now was almost making her puke but she controlled herself as she knew that Arctic would not do that without a very god reason.

"But as a nice business man, who am I to complain when I can just reap the spoils of a failed business?"

"Is that all human life is worth to you? A failed business? Was that why you killed my whole family and now you are after my own life?"

"YES. Isn't that what you want to hear? That is what your lives mean to me. An opportunity to get more out of the business world, while ruling the mafia world as well. With your family gone, my family would be the sole rulers of Moon Crest City."

"You detest me. I hate the very sight of you, Zale. You are a money hungry beast."

"So what if I am? I am not a backstabber that only knows how to betray the one you have sworn your allegiance to. No. So call me a beast, I am better than the people you trust the most in the world."

"I hate the very sight of you. Get out." Without uttering another word, Jade turned her head to the other side and her eyes caught sight of Arctic who had his head down, completely affected by what Zale had been saying.

"Tell me, why you did what you did?"

"It is complicated, Jade."

"How the damn hell is betraying me after everything complicated, huh? What is so complicated about that. You betrayed all that you stood for. If you knew that this was what it was going to come to, then why did you still bother saving me, enh?"

Even though her heart doubted he did that but she knew he wouldn't tell her the real reason just like that without she having to force it out of him.

"Tell me! Why? Did father's death mean nothing to you? Did my mother's death and all of our people's death mean nothing? Where is the revenge you promised me or were you in on this with him all this time?"

By now Jade had allowed her emotions to take over so as to get her needed answer and she was letting take control pretty well. Before long her tears began to flow out. Nothing hurt more than a betrayal from a close friend.

What f he really betrayed her without any cause and all that they were doing was just a ruse all this while?

Her heart clenched when that thought came to mind and she shook it out, not wanting to doubt him again.

"Tell me."

"Awwn, poor little Jade wants to know why her father's most trusted body guard betrayed her. Well, let us see if he would spill or keep his dignity and actually take up the blame like the villain he really is," he informed her.

"Unkillable killer, what do you think? Why not tell her what she wants to know. But it is funny though, bodyguards, especially those who specialize in killing, they are supposed to not have any emotions and kill them to be able to excel as an indeot killing machine."

"That is where you et it wrong, Zale. He was never a killing machine. He was father's best friend and that is why, I want to know why you did it?!" Jade yelled the last part at Arctic as her eyes widened, searching his for an answer.

Although he looked at her, he did not give her what she wanted to know and turned his gaze towards Zale. "I kept my end of the bargain. Now you keep yours."

Jade was appalled by what just happened. He completely ignored her. That was one thing he had never done in all of her knowing him. That moment she wondered if really she had known this man she had cherished in her heart.

"Arctic." Ignoring the consequences since all truth was out, Jade called out his name without a second thought but as usual he ignored her.

"Zale we had a deal! Now keep your end."

"Oh, if you do not keep your col, I would change the terms of our arrangement," Zale threatened, knowing fully well that Arctic would not try anything stupid. "Now be a good boy. Whu npyt let us make this reunion somehow touchier and I hope for more tears to flow out when I add the other person."

"No. Don't you dare."

Jade was getting confused with their talk. Who was it. Somehow she knew that this person in question was somehow related to the reason why Arctic betrayed her.

Just knowing this fact only made Jade more inquisitive to want to see the person.

"You see, even your heiress is very much interested in meeting this other person." Zale let out a hearty laughter. Like the whole situation was becoming better than he had imagined it to be.

"Zale Anders do not try this. Keep your own end and let her go as agreed on. Do not bring her into this," Arctic ordered.

"Are you ordering me? You should be pleading your cause now. I hold all the trump card and not you. I can decide what happens from now on, not you."

"Seeing that he had played right into his hands, Arctic had no choice but to do as he was told. "Please."

"Fine I would but on a different condition. She must join the party, then I would set her fre as promised."

"Thank you."

Jade honestly felt bad that she was used as a bargaining chip for someone else. Was it that she meant so little to him in the first place that he could do that to her without blinking his eyes.

Her heart hurt so much that moment. Everything was now falling apart. No longer was she hopeful again.

It was what her father was teaching her then and all her tutors. They were teaching her how not to feel anything and keep all of her emotions in check.

To a large extent all that had worked not until she lost all that meant dear to her.

Even then she was supposed to kill her emotions but she found Arctic and she decided to hold him close as well while seeking her revenge, then Xander came in and further opened her heart.