Chapter 6

If Wesley were still alive, and his suicide five years ago had all been a staged act, then what about Dad’s death, Leroy Group’s bankruptcy, my five years in prison, and Mom’s stomach cancer from overwork? One thing after another—all because of him! I was burning with so much rage and hatred that I wanted to strangle him and tear him apart. The intensity of my anger must’ve been terrifying because the man took two steps back, clearly rattled. But then his eyes flickered, and he rolled them dramatically. "Wesley? My name's Javin." Javin Holt touched his jawline with a smirk. "I get mistaken for that dead celebrity all the time. I guess we look alike, huh? No wonder Ms. Tatham kept me around from the first time she saw me." His words brought me back to reality, and I slowly started to calm down. However, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his face. He looked too much like Wesley. Identical, even. I never believed there could be two people who looked exactly the same, but Wesley was definitely dead. Javin couldn’t be him. As for Sharon keeping him around, she must have just wanted a replacement. He was a perfect copy of Wesley, after all. I swallowed my anger and let out a cold "Oh," before sitting back down. My lack of reaction made Javin frown in dissatisfaction, and he kicked my chair. "Hey, I’m thirsty. Go get me a glass of water." We were on Tatham Group’s turf, so I held my temper. "I'm not an employee here. I don’t have to follow your instructions." "Who do you think you are, talking to me like that, you filthy ex-con?" Javin sneered, glaring at me with disdain. "I wouldn’t even want to breathe the same air as you. No clue which idiot let you in here, polluting the place." I looked up at him, ice-cold fury bubbling inside me. He clicked his tongue, taunting me further. "What’s the matter? Five years in prison didn’t humble you? People like you should’ve died in there." Javin's words hit a raw nerve, and flashes of everything I’d endured in prison surged through my mind. My temper flared, and I stood up, grabbing him by the throat and glaring at him. "Say that again." For a split second, I saw something flash in Javin’s eyes—a glint of triumph. Before I could process it, someone shoved me hard. I stumbled and crashed to the floor. Pain shot through my bones as I hit the ground. I struggled to get up, but Sharon’s furious voice boomed from above. "Kaelan! What the hell are you doing? How dare you come here and cause trouble on my turf!" She was standing protectively in front of Javin, turning to check if he was okay. "Are you hurt?" Javin immediately played the victim, clutching his neck and whining to Sharon. "Ms. Tatham, if you’d come a second later, he would’ve strangled me! "You should’ve seen how terrifying he was. He looked like he wanted to kill me. I didn’t even do anything! All I did was ask him to step aside, and he went berserk." Slowly, I pushed myself up into a sitting position and let out a bitter laugh, watching Javin put on his pathetic act. The truth was, I was so weak now that I barely had any strength left. Even with all the force I could muster, I didn’t leave a single mark on Javin’s neck. Besides, one shove from Sharon had been enough to knock me down. But of course, Sharon didn’t doubt Javin for a second. She turned to me with a solemn expression "Apologize to him, or you’re not leaving here in one piece." I got to my feet and looked Javin in the eyes. His innocent act was so flawless that it reminded me too much of Wesley. I didn’t hold back as I exposed Javin's lie. "He provoked me first. He even admitted that the only reason you kept him around is because he looks like Wesley. "You don’t even know what kind of person you’re keeping by your side. Isn’t that hilarious?" I smirked coldly and threw in one last jab, saying, "You believe whatever he says, huh? Sharon, the guy you hired deserves an award for his top-tier acting." Javin’s face fell, and he hurriedly turned to Sharon, desperate to explain himself. "Ms. Tatham, that’s not true! I was just standing up for you, and he… he twisted everything I said…"