06

Jaxon continued speaking, “Sam…!” A moment of silence followed. He wiped his face with his hand, clearing away the last of his tears, then continued, “From the moment he laid eyes on Lily, he fell deeply in love with her. Almost simultaneously, Smooth Group approved a business merger with Hedge Funds Investment. I’m sure you remember when that happened, since you were working under the company too…?” He finished with a questioning look directed at Barrister Noah.

Barrister Noah slowly shook his head and said, “At that time, I hadn’t started working with Smooth Group yet. I joined just around the time Sam got married…”

Jaxon went quiet for a moment as if lost in thought, adjusting himself in his wheelchair.

“You never told me what separated you from your wife. Why are you alone with just your kids? Did life hit you with some unexpected blow as well…?”

Noah stayed silent, watching Jaxon for a moment before giving a small smile and rubbing the back of his neck. “One shouldn’t interrupt a story midway to start another, or the listener might get confused,” he said with a smile still on his face.

Jaxon smiled too, studying the barrister, and then said, “Go on… Where did I stop?”

That question nearly made Noah laugh. He gave a light chuckle and replied, “You were talking about how Sam met Lily.”

Jaxon smiled again. “Exactly…” He composed himself before continuing, “Smiling hasn’t been in my nature since I lost my happiness… and here you are making me do it like it’s free. If Marie and Aurora saw me smiling right now, they would reward you generously…”

Barrister Noah chuckled again and said, “I just hope you keep smiling, because it truly adds warmth and grace to your face.”

Jaxon rubbed his chin, which had only just started growing stubble, and went on, “Sam and Lily got really close. She assumed it was purely due to their business dealings. She never suspected that Sam harbored romantic feelings for her. Sometimes he’d request confidential meetings with her—just the two of them. They’d go out to joints, parks, and so on, always under the pretense of discussing business.

“At that point, I started suspecting something. I didn’t like how much time she was spending alone with that young tycoon. I started showing her my disapproval. Meanwhile, Hedge Funds Investment was rapidly growing, thanks to the support of Smooth Group. Lily thought I was just being jealous. She even voiced her frustration, saying her father was proud of her, that this was a big deal. You know how businessmen are… to them, business comes before everything else.

“Eventually, things started becoming obvious. It was clear that Sam had fallen deeply for Lily. That’s when I began to feel like she had betrayed the love we shared. I didn’t want to believe it, but I couldn’t stop myself. Sam started giving her such extravagant gifts, even she began to feel uncomfortable. When she came to me and tried to explain what was happening, I ignored her.

“Her mother was never in support of Lily being involved in her father’s business affairs. Being their only daughter, she thought Lily should focus on something else. But her father, seeing how much his company was growing thanks to Sam, forgot everything else. He became very close to Sam...almost like he was the son he never had. To him, Sam approaching him directly was a huge success. He saw it as validation, considering Sam had bypassed several smaller firms to reach his.”

Jaxon paused, looked up at Barrister Noah, then continued, “Do you know what was most shocking?”

Noah shook his head.

Jaxon went on, “Lily’s father accepted Sam’s proposal. Not just me...her mother and even Lily herself were completely blindsided. On a Thursday, he called me to his sitting room and said, ‘Jaxon, please accept that Lily was never meant for you. Consider this your fate. Go find yourself another girl...wherever she may be....and I’ll support you like a father until she becomes yours. I’ve already accepted Sam’s proposal for Lily. The wedding will happen very soon.’

“In that moment, I nearly passed out. My world spun out of control. I was like… how could Uncle do this to me? After all the dreams Lily and I had—building a home, a life, everything together. We grew up side by side, planned our future together. We only ever knew each other’s love. And suddenly, it was all over in one day? How could that be possible?

“My voice trembled as I said, ‘Uncle, please… did I do something wrong? Do you not trust me? Please don’t separate us. I don’t know how I’ll go on without her. Uncle, please don’t do this…’

“He looked at me with pity in his eyes, bowed his head, shook it slowly, then looked up again with difficulty and said, ‘Jaxon, I’m sorry. Forgive me, son. I have no choice. You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the sake of my business, as long as it’s within my power. My entire life has been dedicated to building it. I’m sorry, Jaxon. I truly am…’

“I didn’t even realize when I stood up and started walking away. I didn’t know where I was going… until suddenly I saw Lily standing in front of me, sobbing. She grabbed me and cried, ‘Jaxon, please don’t let Dad do this. Tell him you still want us to be together. Please don’t let him marry me off to someone I don’t want. Don’t forget our dreams… our plans… Jaxon, please answer me....tell me what he said to you…’

“She shook me like I was a lifeless doll, tears streaming from her beautiful eyes. I couldn’t tell whether it was the pain of her crying or the sting of betrayal from her father that hurt more.

“I couldn’t say a word. I just gently removed her hands from me and walked away. I could still hear her sobbing behind me, pleading with me to come back. But I couldn’t turn around… because I knew if I did, I might break down too…”

Jaxon fell silent, his eyes turning red and glossy. Barrister Noah was deeply moved, his eyes welling with tears, overwhelmed by Jaxon’s heartbreak.

Jaxon continued, "At first, Sam seemed like he was going to back out of pursuing Lily, since she clearly didn’t have any feelings for him ....despite all the wealth and looks he had. But his two friends kept pushing him. I still remember one day outside the Hedge Funds Investment office, his friend Lucian said, 'So all the money you’ve spent is just going to go to waste? You’re just going to let a broke nobody win the heart of the girl you love? Come on, Sam. Don’t let us down. What’s the point of having all that wealth at your age if you can’t get the one you want? Just go for it. Do what you want. No one else is on your level anyway ...but only if you take my advice…' That was all I overheard before they got into their luxury cars and drove off."

"A week later, I suddenly heard the news — Lily and Sam were getting married. I saw missed calls, countless messages from her, but I ignored them all. I didn’t respond. On the day of the wedding, I wasn’t even planning to pick up, but something in me made me answer her call ....her voice was shaking, almost a whisper through sobs: ‘Jaxon, they’re going to kill me. Please come get me out of here… I’ve locked myself in the bathroom, but I can hear them looking for me. Please help me...’"

"I jumped to my feet in panic. I asked her where she was, who was trying to hurt her. Through tears, barely audible, she said, ‘Jaxon, please come now .... I’ll do my best to stay hidden until you get here...’ I begged her to text me the address. A few minutes later, her location appeared on my phone screen."

"Marie and Aurora were in the sitting room watching TV when they saw me rush out. I didn’t say a word ....didn’t even explain why I was suddenly disappearing. Marie stood up and called after me, ‘Jaxon, what’s wrong? Where are you going this late?’ But I didn’t answer. I was already out the door and into a taxi."

"When I reached the house, I ran straight inside. Just as I stepped in, I heard her voice calling my name, begging me to help her. I shouted her name and started opening doors, frantically searching for her."

"Then ... BANG! ... I heard a gunshot."

"I couldn’t hear her anymore. My body shook. I rushed further in, searching for her, until I found her near the bathroom in the central bedroom. Blood was pouring from her chest .... she’d been shot. She was reaching toward me, trying to speak, but she couldn’t. I crawled to her, voice shaking, asking who did this. Who hurt her?"

"That’s when Sam, Adrian, and Lucian stormed into the room, panicked ..... Adrian, the cop among them, had a gun in his hand. They froze when they saw me cradling her lifeless body. She tried to lift her hand one last time, but it fell. Lily stopped moving."

"I screamed, clutched her tighter."

"Sam charged at me in rage, shouting that I’d done something to his wife and now I had to die. I grabbed him and shouted back, demanding what they had done to Lily ....swearing I'd kill them all. Before I could react, all three of them jumped me. They beat me like they wanted me dead. Adrian stomped me with his boots while the others joined in. My legs .....they didn’t stop. I watched as long as I could, but eventually, I couldn’t see anything."

"Thinking I was dead, they had their security team dump me outside the city. I was left for dead in a field. Some man found me near his farm, gave me traditional first aid until I was able to speak again. I told him where I was from .... that’s how I was brought back home."

"Marie and Aurora cried for days .... especially Aurora. She said it felt like she’d lost someone all over again. I didn’t tell Aurora the full truth, only Marie. After I told her, she didn’t let us stay in New York .... she was afraid if they found out I was alive, they’d come back to finish the job. She took us to her hometown in Boston."

"There, I received medical care. They tried surgery at a top hospital, but the doctors confirmed that some nerves in my legs had permanently shut down."

"I woke up one morning and realized… I was crippled."

"I would never walk again .... that’s what they told me. For the rest of my life, I’d be stuck in this wheelchair you see in front of you."

He let out a long breath and added, “That’s the story of Jaxon. That’s the damage The Three Faces did to my life.”

He looked at Barrister Noah, who sat in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the tragic story.

Noah slowly pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped away the tears that had welled in his eyes, deeply moved by Jaxon’s pain. Then he asked, "You’ve clearly lived through hell. But are you sure they’re the ones who killed Lily? Could it be that you just arrived at the wrong time?"

Jaxon raised his head and looked directly at him, shaking it slowly. “You know Sam Smooth. You also know that every woman he’s ever claimed to want ends up dead. As a lawyer, have you ever asked yourself why that is? Why no one dares challenge him? Is it because of his wealth? Or is it something else? If his wealth is cursed .... if he uses it to destroy women .... then Lily’s blood won’t go unpunished. It will stay stuck in his throat. I didn’t come here by accident, Barrister. I came ready.”

Noah exhaled sharply. “So… you’re taking legal action? What’s your plan?”

Jaxon gave a small smile. He wasn’t surprised by Noah’s question ... after all, this was his area.

“Have you ever heard of anyone defeating a billionaire in court? Or fighting the system and winning? His friend Adrian is a licensed cop. And even if he weren’t — where’s my evidence? One witness against three? No, I didn’t come here to waste time. I came to take justice with my own hands, Barrister. So don’t start thinking about how you can help me in court.”

Barrister Noah fell silent, watching him. Jaxon's voice interrupted his thoughts as he said, “I’m really glad you have strong ties with the Smooth Group. The one big favor I want from you right now is to help Aurora get a job at your company....specifically, I want her to be Sam Smooth’s personal secretary.”

Aurora, who had been standing at the doorway, had heard everything. Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. Even Barrister Noah felt a sharp jolt in his chest.

***

Harper had been sitting for a long time on the couch, slowly pulling out the cotton stuffing from the large teddy bear in her arms. She had never imagined Lavinia would reject her request. Suddenly, she squeezed the teddy bear tightly against the couch and started talking to it like someone on the edge of sanity.

“So tell me, uncle, why? Why did you have to get married? Why couldn’t you just stay with your family...why bring another woman into the picture? Don’t you see how Adrian barely cares about his own family now? It’s all about his wife. Uncle, is that who you’ll become too once you marry? She’ll take you away from us. You’ll be hers alone...with her family. I won’t let that happen. You hear me? I won’t let anyone take you away from us!” She paused, then looked at the ruined teddy bear in her arms. “Oh, I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, love. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m really sorry, okay?” she whispered as she stuffed the cotton wool back into the teddy’s torn belly.

In a sudden motion, she got up and placed the teddy in its storage spot, grabbed her car keys, and left the house.

Elsewhere, Lucian and his associate were studying a map and discussing the restructuring plans for the company. Just then, his phone rang. He excused himself and stepped out to find a private spot before answering.

The voice on the other end said, “Lucian, what’s taking you so long? I haven’t heard from you in days.”

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck and replied, “Sir, I’m working on it. I promise, I won’t disappoint you. Everything is going according to plan....it’s just a matter of time now. Everything’s almost in place. I’m sorry, sir....we’re in the middle of a meeting. I’ll call you back in the next fifteen minutes. I don’t want him to get suspicious.”

The caller responded shortly before ending the call. Lucian exhaled deeply, ran his hand through his hair, and then stepped out of the elevator, heading back to Sam’s office.

To be continue....