Despite the three of them being in a sorry state, they survived. At the crucial moment, thanks to Kelvin slashing his own wrist, the scent of his blood lured the monster towards the electric grid. His desperate courage paved a way for everyone to escape. It seemed like fate had already decreed this outcome: evil could never triumph over good!
“I was sitting on the roof, looking at the blood flowing everywhere, and I really thought I was done for.”
“Oliver arrived just in time with his team to blow open the lab door, and the three of us returned safely.”
“Mr. Lara, with all your calculations, did you ever consider what kind of end you’d meet?”
Cheyenne walked towards him step by step, looking down at him with a mocking gaze. Hayden frowned as he listened. According to his calculations, even if someone came to rescue them, the three of them wouldn’t last long. By then, he could use a long-term strategy to capture all his accomplices in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t as he wished. He-lost! And he lost completely!!
“History is written by the victors. Now that you’ve won, whatever you say is right. You can curse all you want.”
He didn’t care and wouldn’t beg Omari for mercy. At least he had some backbone. Cheyenne snorted coldly and told him an even harsher truth.
“I guess you’re still hoping that Jaelynn’s uprising will succeed.”
“Face reality. Elsa is dead.”
“Jaelynn has also been captured, and the twenty thousand men you stationed in Brewood were all captured in one night.”
Captured…
Hayden clenched his fists.
“It was something I foresaw, but until the last moment, I couldn’t believe it.”
“Even now, hearing it with my own ears, I still can’t believe it.”
After saying this, he took a deep breath and then asked with slightly parted lips, “Where is Jaelynn now?”
“She has been sent back to the country. Don’t worry, it’ll be your turn soon.”
When the time comes, all that awaits him is a disgraceful end. For Omari’s sake, Cheyenne didn’t make things difficult for him and turned to leave after speaking.
“Cheyenne, wait for me.”
Kelvin’s wife chased after him, and the two walked away side by side. The room suddenly only had Hayden and Omari, the two brothers. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still in that moment. They were silent, not knowing how to express their feelings to each other. They shared the same blood.
Brothers were supposed to be the closest relationship in the world, but now they had severed their bonds, hurting each other.
After a period of silence, Hayden spoke first. He sneered self-mockingly, closed his eyes, and leaned against the wall behind him to rest.
“Now I am the loser and you are the victor. If you want to do something, just do it directly. Why beat around the bush and stay silent?”
He knew exactly how he had treated Omari before. Now, it was only natural for Omari to want revenge. An eye for an eye, he did not regret his actions.
“Big brother.”
The long-lost “big brother” stirred Hayden’s heart, making him feel unsettled for a few seconds. Seeing his expression waver, Omari took a few long strides to sit beside him on the floor, putting himself at the same level. Silently, but with actions that showed respect.
As soon as Omari sat down, Hayden angrily moved a few steps to the side, creating distance. His cold attitude drew a line between them.
“What did you call me?”
“Big brother?”
“Omari, don’t be hypocritical. You should hate me a lot, right?”
After all, the intent to kill him wasn’t fake, and it was Hayden who had cursed him, turning him into neither human nor ghost. If it weren’t for his strong will, he would have died in prison. Even so, could he still call him “big brother”? Hayden himself couldn’t believe it.
Facing his sarcastic and harsh words, Omari’s expression didn’t change.
“No matter what you say, you will always be my big brother.”
“I will always remember when I first arrived in Onistead and got into trouble with some street thugs, it was you who saved my life.”
That day, to protect his younger brother, Hayden broke his good student image and fought. When they returned, he was punished by that vicious woman to kneel for two hours, and his knees were swollen-all because he helped him.
Father often said that the two of them were each other’s only family in this world. Without one, the other would be lonely.
He was getting old and would leave them one day. When that time came, they could only trust each other.
“I didn’t expect you to remember that incident.”
Yes, Hayden did indeed help him at that time.
But he had his own motives because their father only had eyes for Omari and neglected Hayden and his mother.
His mother’s strong personality led to discord between the couple, and as their son, Hayden was caught in the middle, suffering daily torment.
Omari’s arrival added to his sense of crisis. To reclaim his position in their father’s eyes, he deliberately rushed out to save Omari.
This action indeed angered his mother, who punished him by making him kneel.
Two hours was not much for a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, but he intentionally hit his knees with a stick where no one could see, causing them to swell and redden.
Fortunately, his self-sacrifice was not in vain. His father, seeing him protect Omari, indeed treated him much better.
That period was the happiest and most joyful time for Hayden.
“Heh… you’re so naive, almost to the point of stupidity. I saved you just to gain father’s favor, yet you took me as a lifesaver and were grateful.”
“Omari, let me be honest with you. From the first day you came to the Lara family, I wished you dead!”
The truth was so cruel.
Omari’s face turned pale, and the last bit of hope in his heart was shattered.
His lips moved, but he forgot the words he wanted to say, leaving only a deep sense of helplessness.
“Regardless of your motives, and whether you believe it or not, I truly regarded you as my big brother.”
“Even when you took the girl I liked in college, I wasn’t angry. It’s just a woman; if big brother likes her, I can let you have her.”
“I never wanted to fight you for the Lara family, so I left and established my own business.”
“I believe I’ve shown enough sincerity. Big brother, you shouldn’t have pushed me to this point!”
“You shouldn’t have extended your hatred to others, especially to Cheyenne… she is innocent.”
Cheyenne was more important to him than his own life.
The brotherly bond had already disappeared when the laboratory door closed.
He was saying this now because they still shared the same last name.
“Hayden, take care of yourself.”
After saying this coldly, Omari got up and left.
His departing figure looked lonelier and more desolate than before.
####Chapter 1145: The Son’s Departure
“Brother…”
“Omari… hahaha, big brother. How can I even be worthy of you calling me big brother?”
Hayden watched his departing figure, his eyes gradually moistening, silent tears slipping down.
“Brother, it’s me who has wronged you.”
The sobbing, low cry echoed in the space, blending the sorrow and regret of a disappointed man.
If only he had awakened sooner, perhaps the ending wouldn’t be like this.
But sadly, it was already too late; his life was nearing its end.
Looking back on this short life full of schemes, many figures flashed through Hayden’s mind like a revolving lantern.
Finally… his father’s face appeared, the teachings as vivid as yesterday.
“Dad, I’m departing first, unable to personally care for you in your old age.”
At the moment his words fell, Hayden made a decision.
With a resolute heart, he closed his eyes and crashed headlong into the wall.
Bang-
With a loud noise, bright red blood splashed.
The regretful man stared blankly in the direction of home, his tall and thin body slowly falling backward.
Outside the door, Omari, who should have left, had returned.
He had just opened the door when he saw a streak of blood flowing to the floor, his pupils dilating in shock.
His emotions instantly collapsed.
“Big brother!”
No one expected that the deeply deceitful, calculating eldest young master of the Lara family, a graceful figure in Onistead, would commit suicide in such a manner in this small inn.
What a sigh-inducing scene.
From another perspective, how could someone as proud as him accept returning home to face trial as a prisoner?
As the mastermind behind this case, he would either face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Rather than spending the rest of his life in prison, subjected to the scorn of the world, he chose suicide.
Being in a foreign country, it was inconvenient to bury the body and equally cumbersome to transport it home.
Omari decided to send his body to the crematorium for local cremation.
When he returned to his country, he was dressed in solemn black attire, holding a white urn in his hands.
The plane arrived at Onistead Airport three days later in the morning.
The man’s extraordinarily handsome appearance, coupled with the eerie urn in his hands, undoubtedly drew many glances.
Omari moved forward as if there was no one around, gently caressing the cold urn with his hands.
His clear voice carried a trace of sorrow, “Big brother, I’ve brought you home.”
Not far away, Leon sat in a wheelchair, accompanied by a group of bodyguards to receive him.
The elderly man, dressed in black with white hair, was particularly noticeable in the crowd.
Cheyenne saw him at a glance, noticing that Leon’s face had aged significantly.
A man in his fifties had turned white-haired overnight, looking as though he had aged twenty years.
He must have been unable to sleep these past few days.
Even Channing, who was of the same age, was shocked and felt sympathetic.
“Leon, your hair… my condolences.”
As a parent, Channing could understand the pain and struggle in his heart.
Two sons, both equally precious; he couldn’t bear to lose either.
At this moment, Channing was grateful that he had only one daughter, Cheyenne, to whom he could give all his love without reservation.
If he had another child, perhaps he would also end up on Leon’s path.
Leon wanted to smile, but the bitterness in his heart turned his smile into a forced one.
“Channing, thank you. If it weren’t for you, Omari might not have returned safely.”
“As for Hayden…”
Mentioning his wayward eldest son, Leon’s eyes dimmed, losing their light.
“He chose the wrong path himself; no one else can be blamed.”
“If anyone is to be blamed, it should be me. I failed as a father, not teaching him well, which led him to harm both others and himself.”
It was his fault. If he had stopped Hayden earlier, not indulging his schemes, perhaps it wouldn’t have come to this.
Channing patted his shoulder, sighing deeply.
“Don’t blame yourself; everyone has their fate.”
“I believe you and Omari have many things to handle. My daughter and I won’t disturb you today; we’ll visit another day to express our gratitude.”
Leon nodded.
“Forgive me for not seeing you off.”
“There’s no need for such formalities among old friends.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Channing prepared to take his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson home.
Before leaving, Cheyenne glanced worriedly at the silent Omari.
Her lips parted slightly, “Omari, take care. Until we meet again.”
As for Hayden’s funeral, she thought she wouldn’t attend.
Hearing her, Omari looked over, forcing a smile.
“Cheyenne, thank you.”
The scene of the two exchanging glances made Kelvin feel a pang of jealousy. Unwilling to be ignored, he interrupted them coldly.
“What are you looking at? Omari, I’m the one who saved you this time. Shouldn’t you thank me too?”
Normally, Omari wouldn’t pay any attention to such petty remarks. However, today, he surprisingly complied.
“Of course, thank you, Kelvin, and Oliver…”
“We’ll see each other in a few days. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll come find you afterward.”
Oliver, knowing Omari must be feeling very sad at this moment, used comforting words he had learned somewhere, bringing solace to those who heard them.
“Uncle Omari, if you want to cry, just cry. Don’t hold it in. My shoulders may be small, but you can lean on them.”
“Great-grandpa said that men don’t easily shed tears; it’s just that they haven’t reached the point of heartbreak. I won’t laugh at you.”
As he spoke, he even patted his own shoulder seriously. This childlike but thoughtful gesture lifted the spirits of everyone present, and even Omari smiled.
Channing patted his grandson’s little head and praised him.
“Oliver is so understanding. But don’t worry, your Uncle Omari isn’t that fragile.”
“I think so too.”
The way the grandfather and grandson interacted was enviable, and the clever, considerate grandson was a reason Leon envied Channing even more. He couldn’t help but think back to years ago.
If he hadn’t prevented Omari from being with Miss Lawrence back then, perhaps such a smart and adorable Oliver would have been his precious grandson.
Later, when he found out that Cheyenne was Channing’s daughter, Leon regretted it. But by then, Cheyenne had regained her memory and reconciled with Kelvin.
As Channing’s group left, the space felt significantly emptier. When Leon retracted his envious gaze, he saw that Omari’s eyes were still on Cheyenne. His gaze clearly held deep affection, restraint, and… reluctance and gratitude.
“Omari, I’m sorry… it’s because of me that you lost a lifetime of happiness.”
“But Miss Lawrence and you are no longer possible. You should try to let go.”
Hearing this, Omari withdrew his gaze and looked down at the urn in his hands.
“Dad, she and I are just friends now. As for letting go, I’ll try my best.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t force you. As long as you’re happy.”
Having gone through so much, he had come to understand that nothing was more important than his son’s happiness and well-being.