“Mister… Mr. Hanks, why are you looking at me like that…”
Startled by Zayden’s gaze, Terence asked with a tremble.
Zayden clenched his jaw and glared at Terence. “Why am I looking at you like that? Let me ask you instead, how did Jasper know that you were the one who set the fire, huh? Also, he told you to find out who else I’m in contact with? Did you tell him I was here?”
Terence’s mind buzzed, and he was dazed.
Countless excuses had flashed through his mind on the way here before he decided that he would just be frank instead. After all, he would be screwed if Zayden found anything out.
However, it had not occurred to him that he had a fatal loophole in this script of his.
Jasper did not know that Zayden had returned at all, so the fact that Jasper would tell Terence to find out who else Zayden was in contact with meant that Terence had already confessed about Zayden being the person he was taking orders from.
“I didn’t have another choice, Mr. Hanks!”
Upset, Terence told Zayden about everything that had happened without hiding a thing.
“Jasper told me to help him, Mr. Hanks, but how would I dare?!”
“But I couldn’t just reject him either. I don’t mind going to prison, but I can’t end up delaying your plans just because of my own problems.
“That’s why I pretended to agree first and then came to report what happened. I’m on your side, really!”
Terence spoke with a wail, truly afraid that Zayden would suspect him.
Staring at Terence sinisterly, Zayden waited until the man was done speaking before he landed a harsh and sudden slap across Terence’s face.
“Motherf*cker! If I’d known that your brother was such a person, I’d have killed him long ago. What the f*ck is wrong with you anyway? Don’t you know better than to keep an eye on your brother? How’d you let him eavesdrop on such important information?!”
Terence cupped his cheek, and his gaze was filled with fear and resentment when he spoke, “I never expected that he would help an outsider. I can’t believe he ran to Jasper to tattle on me!”
“Forget it. He already knows and there’s nothing we can do about this anyway. I’m no longer the same person I used to be. So what if Jasper knows, hmm? What can he do about it?” Zayden scoffed.
“Thank goodness he still expects you to help him and find things out for him. We’ll just feed him a fake piece of information to confuse him later. I’d like to see what he looks like when he gets betrayed!”
Zayden could not help but chortle at the thought. Sinister schemes had already rushed into his mind and he could not wait to screw Jasper over with them.
“Exactly, Mr. Hanks. With your formidable status, who is Jasper anyway? Even your smallest move will have him immediately crawl over to kiss your feet!” Terence agreed.
“Has anyone told you that your ability to apple-polish is absolutely horrible?” Zayden spoke as he glanced at Terence coldly.
Terence had fawned over Zayden so much that he might as well write sonnets about the man’s greatness. He immediately blushed out of embarrassment and did not say another word.
“Don’t think that I don’t know what your plans are. You’re just on my side because you don’t have another option. You’re afraid that Jasper will still hold you accountable for the things you’ve done.
“Not that I care anyway. As long as you can prove to me that you’re useful, then I’ll still protect you. The rewards I promised will be given as well.”
Zayden smirked darkly before continuing, “But… should you dare lie to me and play me like a fool, then you’d better prepare yourself when I come to kill you. Understood?”
“Understood! Crystal clear!” Terence frantically nodded to show his loyalty.
“Here, take the money.” Zayden pulled out a wad of around 10,000 Somer Dollars from a drawer.
