"You want to know what you've done?" Jake's voice trembled with restrained fury, his eyes boring into Charles. "How about this you owe everything you are today to me. I made you who you are. And what did you give me in return? Pride. Arrogance. Disrespect. You strutted around like a king when you were nothing but a servant boy in my house!"
A smirk curled on Mark's lips. "Oh? So he was a servant? Another juicy little secret about you, Jake…" he teased, his tone dripping with mockery.Jake's jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening. He shot Mark a glare sharp enough to kill."Hey, Charles," Mark drawled lazily, "with the way Jake's glaring at me, don't you think I'd be better off dead?"
Charles chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with malice.Jake ignored the bait and took a step forward. "What do you want?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"What do I want?" Charles sneered. "Your death. Come on, Jake, don't tell me you're that stupid not to see it." He took a deliberate pause, savoring the tension. "But before you die, I think you deserve to hear one last bitter truth." Charles crouched to Jake's level, his breath cold and foul against Jake's face. "I killed your mother."The words crashed over Jake like a storm. For a heartbeat, the world went silent then rage erupted inside him like an inferno.
"HOW… DARE… YOU!!!" Jake roared, his voice echoing off the walls. In one swift motion, he lunged, his fist smashing into Charles's face with bone-crunching force.
Charles staggered back, blood trickling from his nose."Oh, now this is going to be fun," Mark said with a mocking laugh, leaning back in his chair as though watching a show.
Jake tackled Charles to the ground, fists raining down like thunder. "You scoundrel! You wretched, stinking old man! What did she ever do to you?!" Each punch came harder than the last, his vision blurring with fury.
"Mark! Get this boy off me!" Charles yelled, his voice breaking.Mark just grinned. "Why would I? I'm enjoying myself. But Jake, have a little decency he is an elderly man, for crying out loud."
Jake froze for a moment, panting heavily, then turned his burning gaze on Mark. "Do you understand? He killed my mother. My mother. What would you have done if it were you? Let him walk away free?" His voice cracked, his chest heaving. "Why am I even explaining myself to someone like you? You probably don't understand my pain. You've never felt the agony of losing a parent."
Mark's expression shifted, his smirk faltering. His voice was low and taut. "Mind your tongue, Jake. You don't know anything." His eyes glistened, his jaw tight. "I know very well the pain of losing a mother. You have no right to question me like this."
Jake blinked, caught off guard, but before he could speak, Mark wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and straightened his back. His voice was cold again. "Not that it matters. You're going to die anyway."
Jake didn't see it coming. A vase smashed into the side of his head with a sickening crack. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, blood pooling rapidly beneath him.Mark's wicked laughter filled the room. He crouched beside Jake, his shadow looming over him like death itself. "Any last wishes, Scott? Because I have to admit you're made of tough stuff. After the beating, the torture, and now this you're still clinging to life."
Jake's lips trembled. "Au… Au… rora."
Mark frowned. "So I'm a woman now?"
Jake shook his head weakly, his voice barely a whisper. "If there's any shred of goodness left in you… do this for me." His trembling hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a small calling card. He pressed it into Mark's palm.Mark glanced at it, his brows furrowing. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Keep it. One day… you'll understand." Jake's voice was fading, but his eyes held an unshakable resolve.For the briefest moment, something flickered in Mark's gaze hesitation, maybe even guilt. But it vanished just as quickly.He straightened and called out, "Scorpion!" A tall, menacing man stepped forward."Hand me a gun," Mark ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.