Kai snorted
He had been raised from a young age within their safe embrace and only wanted to do what was asked of him. Before his family fell apart and his father went to prison, he had grown up as Kai’s brother.
“So, how much did my aunt pay you to disappear after that?… Was she the reason you vanished so quickly?” Qian leaned against the door to ensure their noise didn’t bring any security here until his cousin was done. He wasn’t going to let this fucker escape, either.
She had justified cutting him loose and breaking ties because of his part in Yuelin’s death, and he had believed it fair at the time. It was only after years on he realized she had only used him as a pawn and dumped him in the gutter when his worth diminished.
Her children were tools.
He had only known real love when he met Meilei. Learned how to give and receive it, and she had become so necessary to his survival back then that losing her had thrown him right back within his mother’s grasp. He had gone on to be exactly who she wanted him to be. Everything worked in her favor, minus his aversion to marrying Anna.
Meilei was stuck inside his head, her broken expression, her tears, her getting on her knees at his feet that day and begging him to listen. He couldn’t wipe that image out of his head. She had cut him to the core by showing up, and he had reacted in sheer agony to her presence. He loved her so much that even seeing her that day made him want to rip his heart out and toss it away.
He had woken up one day to the realization his entire existence had always been about influencing Kai to keep him on the straight path she set. Kai had always been hot-tempered and strong-willed, and San was better at coaxing him, swerving him with just one word from her. It had started when they were merely little kids. San, the cooling balm to Kai’s rebellious nature. He was his shadow and minder, yet he had always thought he was an adopted son.
San flushed with shame and nodded. Averting his eyes back to the floor, he exhaled loudly.
San glanced warily at Kai and then at Tian, knowing he should speed this up. Kai seemed ready to burst free and take another go at him, and he didn’t fancy his survival.
“It really was an accident. Meilei tried to save her.” Qian was somber by the door. Banging his head back against the hard panel. He had his own swirling emotions. Knowing the narrative his aunt had spewed for years about Meilei pushing her to save herself from exposure.
Qian’s cousin had been close to him, and he had always hated the woman who caused her death. Now he found out she was the one who had tried to save her instead. Meilei was never a villain in any way.
Qian had no words.
Kai had no words.
Staring at San, who was crumpled on the floor, a sense of numbness and disbelief wracked his soul. He was caught in a dreamlike state where he had just learned that his life for years had been an ongoing running lie and the world he had built himself had a foundation of sand.
The room fell silent again as each man pondered the situation and the reality of what they had known to be the truth. Kai was growing hostile once more, unable to stay at peace, and Tian could sense the rise in the atmosphere behind him. They were in a hotel, not a boxing ring, and had already caused enough chaos.
He had to be the smart one here, given their high status and positions of power in this city. The Xuchen family was famous enough to cause headlines should something as minor as a hotel punch-up come out. Reputation was everything.
“I don’t think there’s anything else to be said here. Unless you plan to let Kai beat you to death, we should leave. If you have anything else to add, then contact me.” Tian smoothly pulled out his business card from an interior pocket and dropped it on the floor at San’s feet. He couldn’t muster the urge to hand it politely.
Tian knew Kai was brimming with growing rage, and there wasn’t anything more to be added. This was over.
Kai stepped in his direction and then paused. Cooling his temper and his deep desire to beat him until he was unrecognizable, but a tearful expression in his mind’s eye held him back. Consumed with heavy despair and longing to be somewhere else now that he had done this. He didn’t want to lay eyes on San again.
Fatigue washed over him, along with a deep heaviness and a pounding headache. He needed some breathing space and a dark room before his head exploded.
Qian stood up, straightened his cousin’s jacket and tie, smoothed his hair back to its sleek styling, and then opened the door smartly like he was assisting him on any office day. He patted him on the shoulder as a way of consolation, and they silently communicated a mutual nod. They knew this would change their family, and Qian had his back.
Qian threw a glare San’s way with a parting shot.