Chapter 247: Pitiful Little Dog

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Pitiful Little Dog

Subordinate: "I’m not quite sure."

Alaric Blackwood was taken aback. "Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on him?"

"The Chairman recalled us to the company," the subordinate said helplessly. "We have a new assignment: protect the new president’s personal safety."

"?"

"Young Master..."

The moment Alaric heard his title change from "Mr. Blackwood" to "Young Master," and realized his men had been recalled without his knowledge, he hung up. He couldn’t be bothered to listen to pointless excuses.

He rushed to the hospital, but Officer Young had arrived first and was already in the attending physician’s office. Alaric went straight to Jaden’s room instead.

Nina Halloway was keeping watch in the hospital room, while Ethan Austin kept watch in the hallway outside. Jaden wouldn’t let him in, nor would he let him get close.

Seeing his pathetic state, Alaric shook his head with a sigh. "You honestly look like a sad little puppy kicked out by its owner. I almost want to give you a hug and tell you it’ll be okay."

Ethan Austin, sitting in a chair against the wall, looked up. His eyes were daggers.

He walked over and patted Ethan’s shoulder. "Hang in there, you sad little puppy."

"You’re the sad little puppy."

"I’m not the one whose girl kicked him out to stand guard."

"..."

"Didn’t you go meet the parents? Did it go well?"

"It didn’t go well."

"Looks like you won’t be hearing the title ’brother-in-law’ anytime soon."

Ethan was left speechless.

Alaric chuckled and glanced at the door. Through its small window, he saw Jaden spot him and wave excitedly.

He pushed open the door and walked in. Before he could speak, Jaden said excitedly, "I helped the police find the wireman’s body."

During the time Nina Halloway was watching over Jaden in the hospital, she had filled him in on the important memories he had lost. Although he hadn’t actually remembered anything, he now understood why the masked man wanted him dead.

"Have you remembered anything?"

Alaric walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

Jaden shook his head with a bitter smile. "The doctor said the chances of me recovering my memory are slim."

"Just keep cooperating with the treatment. Anything you remember, no matter how small the detail, could help the police crack the case."

"I know."

Jaden threw back the covers and got out of bed as he spoke. He pulled Alaric into the bathroom, shut the door, and whispered, "Did I really cheat on her?"

"Yeah."

"Not only did I cheat, I got engaged to another woman?"

"Yeah."

"I’m such a scumbag!"

Jaden was deeply troubled. "Tell me, if I apologize, do you think your sister will forgive me and take me back?"

"Not likely."

"Not even a little hope?"

Alaric didn’t answer. An image of Ethan keeping a lonely, dejected vigil outside flashed through his mind. ’Compared to Jaden,’ he thought, ’I’d much rather Nina choose Ethan. At least Ethan is reliable and can give her the sense of security she needs.’

"Alaric, don’t just go silent on me. Give me some kind of sign. Can I still win your sister back or not?"

"Why are you asking me? If I say yes, you’ll go after her, but if I say no, you’ll just give up?"

"What else would I do?"

"Then don’t even bother. She’s not coming back to you. You’re not worthy of her."

Jaden didn’t get it. "Just because I cheated once, I don’t deserve to be forgiven? I’m not worthy of her trust? Isn’t that a mistake most guys make? What if I sincerely apologize? Is that still not enough?"

Alaric sighed, leaning against the bathroom door with his arms crossed. He smirked. "Let’s say she forgives you, chooses you, and marries you. What happens when you cheat on her again after the wedding?"

"I won’t."

"Men are liars. I should know, I am one. I know what we’re really like."

Jaden was at a loss for words, his expression souring. "You make it sound like women don’t cheat."

"Sure, women cheat. And it’s incredibly easy for them to do it if they want to. But most women, especially after getting married, are different from men. It’s not that they aren’t attractive or opposed to an open relationship. It’s that they feel a sense of responsibility and loyalty to their marriage. They know what they should and shouldn’t do, especially as a mother. Do men ever consider that? No. For men, the cost of cheating is just too low. When a man cheats, he acts like he’s pulled a fast one on the woman, even gets smug about it. You think women can’t do the same to men? Of course they can. But the fact is, the infidelity rate is higher for men. That’s just how it is."

As Alaric went on, Jaden felt like he was being slapped in the face. His male pride was wounded. "Aren’t you a man? Why are you always taking the woman’s side and speaking up for them?"

A wry smile touched Alaric’s lips. "I just recently learned a profound lesson."

"What profound lesson?"

"Didn’t you see the press conference my dad held?"

Jaden hadn’t wanted to bring it up, so he was surprised when Alaric did it himself. He scratched his head, embarrassed. "Yeah, I saw it."

"The man my sister and I saw as a devoted family man, a good husband, and a good father... he cheated. He has an illegitimate daughter. And while my mom is fighting to divorce him, he’s making a huge spectacle of welcoming that daughter into the Blackwood family. He’s so brazen, acting as if we can’t survive without him as the head of the household."

"Alaric, don’t take it too hard."

"I’m not sad. I want my parents to get a divorce."

Jaden, trying to be a peacemaker, started to offer some advice, but Alaric held up a hand to cut him off. "Don’t, Jaden. Don’t you get it? I’m standing firmly with my mom on this. You asked me just now why, as a man, I’m taking a woman’s side? Well, I’ll tell you. My mom... she had a first love. She has her own lingering regrets in her heart. But did she ever cheat? No. She was a top graduate from a prestigious law school and could’ve had her own career. But my dad is more traditional and wanted her to be a homemaker, so she gave it all up for him. She made that huge sacrifice, and in return? He cheated. He has an illegitimate daughter out there who’s as old as I am. And you still think I should be telling them to work it out?"

"I was just talking! Don’t get mad!"

Jaden grew anxious and frantically tried to backpedal.

Alaric looked at him, feeling like he was looking at a stranger. The image of Nina dutifully watching over Jaden, with Ethan waiting just outside, flashed in his mind. He couldn’t stop himself from warning him, "Don’t you dare use the fact that the masked man attacked you and you almost died to guilt-trip my sister."

A flicker of panic crossed Jaden’s face. "I... I’m not."

"You’re not? Are you sure about that?"

"I..."

"Jaden, out of respect for how long we’ve known each other, I’ve always been patient with you. Even after you hurt my sister, I still gave you the chance to be my friend. But I’m putting all my cards on the table now. The day you cheated on her, I lost all respect for you. You have no self-control and zero sense of responsibility. You wouldn’t stay faithful even if you got married—that’s just who you are at your core. You’re not even genuinely sorry. You don’t actually think you were wrong."