Chapter 521 - Five Hundred And Twenty-one: Money Or Family
Chapter 521 - Five Hundred And Twenty-one: Money Or Family
The third point of view:
"I heard you love to beat women. Let's test out that theory, shall we?" Eden grinned, but to a certain human called Baz, he looked like a grim reaper from hell.
All blood drained from Baz's face, what did he just hear? A sheen of sweat covered his forehead and his palms became clammy from fright. However, the man still decided to test out his luck. For all he knows, his son-in-law might be pulling his legs.
"Hehe," He laughed nervously, "Son, you have a dark sense of humor. I almost thought that you meant that," Baz attempted to lighten the tense environment, "You didn't mean it right?"
Eden didn't say a word to him, instead he bent down and took a long puff of his cigarette, blowing the smoke at his face and released a smile that didn't touch his eyes. He said, "I always mean what I say,"
At once, ice-cold fear like the claws of a tiger gripped Baz's heart tightly and goosebumps appeared on his arms. Eden's blue gaze was so dark it seemed he was staring into a bottomless pit.
"I always forgive the past but I never forgive the present because it means your cup has finally run over," Eden stood up, gesturing, "Bring him in. It's time to teach the elderly how to behave,"
"No, no, no!" Baz screamed, trying to escape their clutches but he couldn't fight against three able-bodied young men who subdued him in no time, bringing him into the factory.
Baz could only scream and whimper as they dragged him into the ghost factory. The factory was large and decaying with a section of the roof ripped off. There were rows upon rows of gigantic machinery - more than a hundred - and they took up more than the floor of a football pitch.
The man couldn't tell what was previously being manufactured in the factory but a part of his heart told him he didn't want to know - he just wanted to get out of here. Baz swore mentally that he would never bother Camille if Eden gave him a second chance. He didn't want to die, boohoo.
The man was roughly dragged to a part of the factory where a larger machinery lay and he gulped upon seeing the opening. If the machine was still functioning, he would be ground into a paste if he fell in by mistake or in this case, thrown into it.
"It's still operational," Eden told him as if he had been reading his mind. Well, one didn't need to be a werewolf to smell Baz's pheromones since he stunk of fear greatly.
His legs were trembling as he stared open-mouthed at the machinery that would smash him into a paste.
Baz immediately rushed at Eden, his guards dragged him back roughly, he fell. But the man got on his knees and began to kowtow to him.
"P-please, have mercy. I'm just an ignorant old man who got too greedy for money... You can take all the cash," He gestured, "I don't need them anymore. You can have them all. Take them away!"
Eden chuckled, the sound reverberating through the empty factory, "You think a man like me needs money. I have all the money that I could ever want," He made it clear to him.
"Then what do you want?" He rubbed his palms together in a pleading manner, "I would do it just for you to spare my life,"
"Really? Spare your life so you could find another way to make Camille's life miserable?"
"No, no," Baz shook his head quickly, "I'm not going to disturb her anymore. I just got too greedy,"
Eden said with a heavy heart, "You see that's the thing with a pest. You give them a chance to live by not pulling them out by the root, the next, they grow up beautifully and bountifully, even choking the beautiful flowers one plants,"
He added immediately, "Even up to now, you still haven't acknowledged your sins, blaming your greed instead of apologizing to your daughter who you almost ruined her LIFE! " Eden said in an outburst that made Baz shiver.
"I'm sorry, forgive me please," Baz cried out.
"You're sorry?" Eden smiled cruelly, "What are you sorry for? Sorry for the fact your daughter sold her body just to provide for herself and her family? The fact that you failed as a man and as a father? Sorry for the fact that you don't deserve to live? You know what?" he threw up his hands, "Even death is a merciful punishment for your crimes,"
"Which is why..." Eden stretched his hand over and a document was handed over to him, "You're going to sign this,"
"What are those?" Baz found himself asking with dread. What if that was his death warrant?
"It's a document stating that you sold your family to me for five million,"
"What?!" Baz was stunned.
"Yes, you heard me right. Since you love money so much, I want you ousted from the family. Once you sign those, you have nothing with Camille and her mother ever in this life. In return, you leave freely with the money but you won't ever make contact with them," Eden stated.
Baz gulped, his hand trembling. That means he could leave with the money without trouble. But then, he would no longer have a family - his own family.
"Why?" Eden shot him a brow, "The money is not enough? Fine, I would add five million to it. What do you say?"
"T-ten million," Baz trembled, his throat going dry. That was so much money. He hadn't even touched that tremendous amount in his entire life. Even the so-called family had not given him such huge money.
"What?" Eden sensed his hesitation, "You think it's still not enough? Fine, I'll add ten million to it bringing it to a total of twenty million, so make your choice. Is it money or your family?" He threw the ball in his court.
There was silence as Baz hadn't made a choice. His eyes kept shifting between Eden and the document in his hands.
"I don't have the time to wait for your decision all day. I'm a businessman, but to help you out…" He squatted down till his eyes were on the same level as Baz's, "Think from your heart, what do you want so much? Or rather what's more important to you, family or money. It's time to make that decision,"
One might ask, why was Eden helping out the asshole? He was simply helping Camille. No matter how much one loathes their parents, there's still that glimmer of hope in their heart that they would one day change. And Camille has been holding onto that hope.
Eden knew his smart wife Camille knew many ways to get rid of her father - even forevermore - but has been giving him second chances over and over again, getting hurt in the process instead. He knew all about their history even before they got married. He knew of her working as a prostitute - although for a short time - and her I'll relationship with her father.
Why wouldn't he know? He was a Spencer and before they welcomed anyone into the family as a wife or husband, they would have to be sure that one wouldn't pose a threat to the entire clan or worse a double spy.
The reason he married her nevertheless? Well, he was no different from her. Camille sinned, he was a much better sinner. Unlike Camille, he was a killer and had taken lives - knowingly and unknowingly. Hence, if anyone was to be charged guilty, he was the one. Although Eden had waited for her to come clean with him. But since she kept mum, he did the same as well. That secret was hers to tell, not his to judge.
"I want the money!" Baz announced. Unknown to him, the declaration shocked Eden - the man had given him a second chance to redeem himself
"W-what?"
"Yes, I'll choose the money as long as you don't go back on your word of letting me go safely," Baz told him.
At that moment, Eden regretted not killing him. At first, he had planned to flog Baz mercilessly, inflicting the same pain he had done to Camille, but Eden realized it wasn't worth it. As much as he hated it, that man was his father in law and he was sure Camille wouldn't appreciate killing or physically harming him. So he set this test to know Baz's stance once and for all. It was time to let go of all toxic relationships - Camille needed peace.
"Give me the money, I need the money," said Baz.
"You're not going to regret it?" Eden asked him to be sure.
"I'm not," Baz decided, fists clenched resolutely. What had his wife and daughter done for him? This time with this huge sum of money he'd establish himself.
What's their use then? With enough money, women would flock around him notwithstanding his age. He'd even get a young wife that would bore him a male heir - something Camille's mother hadn't been able to do
"Fool," Eden called him mentally. Why give up your family for twenty million when your son is worth more than it. It was better this way then, he didn't need such parasites around Camille.
"Fine then, let's sign the deal,"