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CHAPTER 203

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"Asia if I did not know best I would have thought you were on their side."

"No Jade, I need you to see past your rage and carefully think. Do you think Xander would just annihilate your family just like that? It wasn't like there was some sort of competition going on and if he wanted your people and rights, he could have gotten it with his power and influence, yet he left Moon Crest alone."

"Maybe it is a façade."

"Why are you too quick to tag him with something that bad?"

"Because, Asia, he really gave the order. As to why exactly, we do not know, but I do know nothing is good."

"I am sorry dear but that is why you need to think. Don't you see that Zale had succeeded in getting what he wanted? Find out the truth for yourself, Jade and do the right thing. Sometimes, it is all but a misunderstanding."

"Yes, their lives were taken away. My vengeance."

"Exactly, your vengeance, your rage should all be visited on Zale first then we would figure out what really happened. I do not or I may not know this Xander guy well enough but for the fact, that you, my friend, a perfect judge of character could fall so deeply in love with this guy. It says something. He is not capable of doing something without a candid reason."

"Men can be deceptive."

"That is just your anger speaking Jade. You are much wiser than this."

"I know that father would have never endangered innocent lives. He was much too good for being a mafia Lord himself. Father would not want to end his race, never."

"Great, we have a goal then, leave us to dealing with Zale while you figure out the truth. Travel to Moon Crest if that is what it takes or ask my father. He knows everything about your father."

"I will."

"Please do and see for yourself before you destroy your heart in the process. I still love you and care for your happiness, Jade Frost. I would take my leave now and let you be."

"Hmm." Jade inhaled sharply then shook her head. Perhaps they were all right and she just needed to calm down and think properly.

Relaxing back into her chair, she tried to think back down memory lane and piece things back together.

***

Meanwhile, Xander did not like the way things had been going and decided to fix them all up. While he put fire on the asses of his friends, he also tried his best to check on the things that Zale had been doing.

On the other hand, Zale Anders had been bedridden for quite a long time since their last encounter and was very furious now that he was getting better.

The doors pushed open and an elderly man walked into the brightly lit room with a maid behind him holding a tray of food in her hands.

"I do not want to eat anything. Take it away," the young man lying on the bed ordered with his back to the two people that entered the room.

"Hmm. Until when would you wallow here in self-pity?" He asked with a stern face before turning to look at the maid. "Drop it on the table and you can excuse us."

"Yes, Master."

Obediently she did as she was instructed. Without uttering another word, she took her to leave, locking the door behind her and leaving the two to sort things out.

The young master had been bedridden for a month now and did not think or want to leave his bed. He felt so ashamed that his hand had been cut off by his arch-enemy but felt even more embarrassed for losing the one who he should not have lost.

He had her in his grasp, went to several lengths to do all that needed to be done in order to keep things that way and to what end?

He lost her after everything and lost an arm because of it. He hated Jade now more than anything and Xander equally. Both of them never would be written off his book from now on.

"Zale." It was when the older man called his name again that he did turn around to face him.

"Father."

"Zale, what is the meaning of all this? Haven't I condoled so much of your annoying act enough?" Zale did not respond but lowered his head as he clutched his other arm that had been taken away from him.

"Zale Anders!" Zain yelled at him. "Get back up. I never gave birth to a loser you know. So what is next? What happens next after you have succeeded in causing a rift between the lovers? What happens next? Leave them to find love again or you use this opportunity when they are divided and broken to get what you want?"

"I would never let that happen."

"Can you really say that in this your current situation, huh Zale?" Zale kept mute. He was busy analyzing some things in his mind and failed to answer his father. "Answer me!"

"Do you think I am that foolish father?"

"I do not know, you tell me, are you? Cause all I see is a son lying down and wallowing in self-pity, refusing to eat for days now because of a lost arm. The fact that Xander did not kill you, you should be thankful and make him regret that decision all too well and not cry over spilt milk."

'Easy for you to say. You are not the one with a broken arm and a spoilt reputation amongst your men.' Zale said within himself.

It wasn't like he did not want to do something about his situation. No, he wanted to but not now. Unfortunately, his father did not know that.

"Okay, what have you done, yourself, father? You had your son beat up like this, shouldn't you seek revenge as well?"

"Shut up. You are not ashamed and still have the guts to tell me you were beaten up. Man up, already Zale and fight your fight yourself."

"Since when was it just my fight, huh father?"

"That is not the point. I just want to see change. Have you started something and told me, then would refuse to assist you Do not forget, you still need to finish them so that I can hand over the position of the CEO to you."

"Sigh!" Zale exhaled sharply then he pulled the covers off of him and stood up, shocking his father completely.

The way and manner in which he did that, did not seem to make him look like someone who has not left the bed in days. Rather he looked so energetic, save for the sickly look on his face.

He turned his back at his father, then placed a hand on his face and pulled something off. By the time he turned back around, the Zale that Zain saw before was now a completely different looking and changed person.

"Zale? I do not understand, what is happening here?" His father was left perplexed by the sudden change but not Zale. Zale on the other hand had a face full of smiles. "Zale."

"I am disappointed that father does not know the son he gave birth to and think of me as one who would wallow in self pity. This is the real me and the bedridden me is nothing more than a façade of my father. Nothing more."

"So you mean to say you are… But I saw your hand, it wasn't there."

"Oh this," he raised the broken arm that now had a machine arm fixed to it. "This would do for now. What more can I say?"

"What is going on here really?"

"You see father, we never can tell whom or where our spies are. So in other to maintain a perfect façade, I decided to make everyone feel like I have refused to come back to the land of the living and want to while away in self-pity."

"Okay, good plan because even I thought that was it."

"Yes, I was waiting for the day you would storm in here yourself and query me for doing so. I did not want to send for you so that it doesn't seem suspicious and all. To carry on the plan, I needed to make sure you were not into it so you could act naturally," Zale explained.

"I see. That is great then."

"Sure, very great, Father. With this, even if Jade or Xander have spies tailing me, they would not be able to get any useful information about me. Everyone would think I have dropped and carry on but their lives like before and then I strike again."

"Good plan son. I am highly impressed by your intellect," Zain praised.

"Thank you, father. After all, I am the son of my father, so I should represent well."

"So what now is the plan and what have you been up to?"