Chapter 70 Does the World Revolve Around Sydney?
Chapter 70 Does the World Revolve Around Sydney?
Sydney’s rage manifested in the violent destruction of numerous items within her bedroom.
The Lark family dinner table that evening lacked its usual cheerful harmony.
A heavy silence covered the dining room.
+20 Free Coins
Even Matthias, typically sequestered in his laboratory, and Wesley, who had been away on business in another city, were present.
Skyler kept his head down, preoccupied with his phone. What a miscalculation, he thought. This version of Azalea actually has some teeth.
The online backlash didn’t particularly concern him–while inconvenient, it posed no real threat to his career. What intrigued him more was how his biological sister had evolved into someone far more interesting than he’d realized during their estrangement.
Cassius had been pulled away from urgent overtime work at the company headquarters. Bastian was still
en route.
Ivy shattered the oppressive quiet, directing her fury first at Cassius. “Some elder brother, you’ve been to Sydney! Look at the mess you’ve made–the entire internet is vilifying her! How is she supposed to show her face at school now?”
The old Cassius would have been consumed by guilt. The current version only felt weary disgust. That he’d intervened at all was already stretching the limits of their sibling bond.
Nothing in life is absolute. Once you choose to act, you should be prepared to deal with the consequences.
Did you really think the world would forever revolve around Sydney’s whims?
Ivy wasn’t the only one angry–Matthias was just as resentful. He’d just pulled two all–nighters finishing work in the lab and hadn’t even had time to rest before seeing the mess online. He couldn’t believe that this was the result of Cassius’s handling of the situation.
“Cassius, did you do this on purpose?”
I’ve thought the whole thing over. From the beginning, Azalea didn’t want to return. You found a substitute player, but they flipped on you, and that led to the entire chain of events. The root of the problem is that the person you picked wasn’t reliable. Cassius, Azalea used to be terrified of you. In this house, aside from mom and dad, she listened to you the most. No–maybe even more than them.”
Everyone always said the eldest brother was like a second father. Their parents were always busy and rarely home, and the three brothers usually ignored Azalea as long as she stayed out of trouble. Only Cassius truly stepped in to manage her.
“When you first went to see Azalea, if you’d really been firm, you could’ve brought her back. Don’t even talk about all the chances you had after that!”
Cassius understood exactly what Matthias meant, and it only soured his mood further.
What the hell is Matthias implying? Cassius fumed internally. That I deliberately half–assed bringing Azalea back?
|||
1/2
18:03 Thu, 21 Aug TTT
Chapter 70 Does the World Revolve Around Sydney?
That I intentionally find some incompetent stooge for Sydney’s scheme?
Do I look like I have nothing better to do?
+20 Free Coins
What pissed Cassius off even more was that everyone else believed it. Their father was now giving him a doubtful look. “Cassius, is it because you still feel guilty about what happened back then with that ungrateful girl, Azalea?
“And lately, your attitude toward Sydney hasn’t exactly been warm either.”
These are completely separate issues!
Frustration burned in Cassius‘ throat. His changed attitude toward Sydney stemmed from seeing through her manipulations, nothing more.
“Is it so wrong to feel remorse toward Azalea?” The words tumbled out before he could stop them, instantly drawing horrified stares from around the table.
Exhaustion settled over him like a lead weight–for his past blind obedience, for this present circus.
He didn’t want to explain anything anymore. Suddenly, he understood. Maybe this was exactly what Azalea used to experience. Back then, she’d dutifully cared for Sydney and done her best to help with everything. But when things went south, no matter whose fault it was, she was always the one blamed.
“Believe whatever you want. Since my efforts aren’t good enough, don’t come to me for anything else about Sydney from now on.” Cassius said flatly, throwing down his cutleries and leaving the table.
As he opened the front door, he saw Bastian returning home. Cassius shot him a warning look, as if saying, brace yourself, before striding into the night.
No one at the table had expected Cassius to storm off like that. Ivy recovered first, slamming her palm on the table. “That wicked Azalea has poisoned our eldest son’s mind!”
Matthias’s expression darkened further. Never had he imagined Cassius would turn against Sydney like this–and now Bastian too? Had that damned Azalea slipped them some kind of love potion to make them abandon their sister?
Sydney hadn’t expected her eldest brother to turn on her in front of their parents either. Her lashes fluttered down, her hands clenched into white–knuckled fists beneath the table. Over a decade she’d spent carefully cultivating her position in this family, and Azalea waltzes back after three short years and starts stealing everything? Given more time, that bitch would be walking all over her!
A terrifying vision flashed before her eyes–the entire Lark family looking at her with disgust and contempt. Her body gave an involuntary shudder, her delicate features twisting into something truly monstrous in that hidden moment, No. I will never allow that to happen. Never!
“Mom, Dad… Does Cassius hate nje now? And Bastian too… Is he still mad that I ruined his team’s shot at the championship?” Since Cassius and Bastian were no longer on her side, she decided to change tactics.
The moment the words left her lips, the atmosphere at the table shifted palpably.
Ivy’s eyes narrowed with dawning realization. In their outrage over Cassius’s behavior, they’d nearly forgotten about Bastian’s betrayal.
|||
