Chapter 11

"He was curled up in the car, drenched in a cold sweat, shivering, and clutching his wound to stay awake through the pain. He was whispering your name, saying, 'William, I'm so cold.'"

Theodore released a long sigh, his gaze fixed on William.

A sharp pain pierced William's heart, as if he'd been stabbed and the knife was being twisted.

"It was so difficult, and I wasn't there for him. He gave so much, and in the end, I told him I didn't love him. No wonder he was so furious he wanted to kill me."

The gunshot was merciful. Otherwise, it would have been a direct shot to the forehead.

"William, if you keep this up, disappearing for years at a time, leaving him to struggle alone without your help or comfort, and you still don't love him, then just let him go. You're really messing with his life, and he doesn't owe you anything."

"I can't let go."

William felt a strong urge to punish himself. Was he even human? Look at what he had done, the years of neglect towards Brian, and he still had the audacity to argue with him? It was so difficult, so tough, and he didn't even make a single call. He had convinced himself that his suffering was due to his mission, that he was nobly sacrificing his small family for the sake of the country. What a joke! In reality, he was just irresponsible and heartless, causing pain without even lifting a finger.

He leaned back, recalling Brian's indifferent face, his fiery eyes, and the cold barrel of the gun. Then he saw Brian, covered in sweat and blood, weakly calling his name.

"I want to make it up to him. I want to treat him right."

Even though it was three years late, he still wanted to save their marriage before the divorce.

"If you still want Brian to be your workhorse while you enjoy yourself, and he works hard without any help or comfort from you, and you still don't love him, then just forget it. No one is as exploitative as you, he doesn't owe you anything."

"That's not what I mean. I'm saying I want to treat him right, understand? I want to love him!"

Theodore looked at him, snorted, and downed a glass of wine.

"Don't use love as an excuse to deceive people. Brian has sharp eyes and a ruthless hand. What use are a few 'I love you's from you?"

"What can he do with his slender arms and legs?"

Ruthless? He was ruthless to himself, wasn't he?

"You haven't seen him fight, have you? He's incredible, I tell you. He takes off his suit, picks up a chair, and knocks someone out. He grabs a bottle and charges forward. You still want to deal with those who hurt him? They've been dealt with by him long ago, either in jail, missing, or bankrupt abroad. Even the board of directors of your family's company, who initially caused him trouble, were reshuffled by him. Many of them were from your grandfather's generation, and he didn't show them any mercy, driving them all away. Now, most of the board of directors are his people.

In business, he's fast, accurate, and ruthless. In a fight, he's steady, accurate, and fierce, no worse than you. Once, I saw my him stab someone. Half a bottle went straight into the guy's stomach, and blood was spurting out of the bottle. He even gave him a kick. He was taken to the police station, and his secretary bailed him out. The guy who got stabbed was sentenced to ten years.

Brian's legal team is one of the best in the country. They could argue a dead man back to life. Do you think that if you divorce, Brian will lose his position in the company, and everything he has now? That's a joke. Do you think your family's company can survive without Brian? His team was handpicked and trained by him, and together with the legal team, they're a force to be reckoned with. If you divorce and Brian leaves, his team will definitely leave with him. Your family's company will be paralyzed, and it won't be long before it goes bankrupt.

Do you really think he cares about your meager allowance? Are you aware of how much he earned from his last case in Africa? Or how substantial his annual bonus is? If he had a shred of selfishness, it would be easy to deceive your parents. The company is already under his control, and he is the rightful person in power, owning half of the shares. With a little manipulation, you and your parents would be out on the streets.

But he didn't, did he? Why? You should think about it. You're arguing with him? Let's be clear, it's not that he relies on your family to stand firm, needing this marriage to secure his position. It's you who needs him to help you hold onto your grandfather's legacy. Understand, William?"

"Hold on, my husband is that formidable?"

William had never thought that Brian, with his delicate wrists, could be so brilliant.