Chapter 4: The price of betrayal

Elena avoided Devlin's gaze and turned her attention away.

“I heard my sister had an accident, is she okay?”

“At the moment, Anthea is still in a coma, but she will wake up soon, I believe.” - Devlin also avoids Elena's gaze, if he knew his sister might never wake up Elena wouldn't be able to withstand this shock, both of them were lying to the person in front of them.

"You haven't answered my question, why are you arrested?"

"Something happened to the company..." - Elena stammered, she didn't know where to start.

"Don't hide from me, Elena. Sooner or later I will know the truth, tell me now and I will find a solution sooner.”

Elena burst into tears, there was no other way, Devlin was the only person she could trust and turn to right now. The Julia family owns a huge fortune in the real estate industry, Elena and Anthea's parents are Julia Gavin and Ida. They are famous business people in this city, because of wanting to rest, Julia Gavin soon handed over the corporation to her two daughters to manage, but in just one night everything fell apart. Elena has been trying to contact them for a few days now but her parents seem to have disappeared from this world and Anthea had an accident shortly after.

Since Elena is an adopted child, the head of the corporation is Anthea, she holds all the information related to the transactions. Elena remembered the night before it all happened and told Devlin.

“That night, Anthea and I argued. She decided to buy a large plot of land with the corporation's money without discussing anything with me. The important thing is that the lot is in the name of another man, not anyone in the family. It was Mitchell Edric... but Anthea used her name to withdraw such large sums of corporate money. Now all the shareholders of the corporation are asking us to compensate for the loss and return the money or the board will remove the Julia family name from the list of leaders of the group, worse still Anthea will go to jail.” - Elena began to falter when it came to this, she felt guilty, her fingers constantly digging into her skin.

“Mitchel Edric? The name is familiar, but I can't remember who he is." Devlin interrupted.

"That's Anthea's mistress... she cheated on you... I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"What are you saying? That cannot happen.” - Devlin did not believe what he just heard, and immediately refuted it.

“It's true, Devlin. You have to accept that Anthea has long since ceased to love you.”

“Long time ago? How long do you mean I've been lied to?"

"I don't know, but when I found out it was over a year ago."

“You consider me a puppet? Has it been over a year? Why don't you tell me? In vain I consider you my best friend.” - Devlin's spirit starts to panic.

“Sorry, Devlin. I have my pain and Anthea is also my sister, she said she will tell you everything soon but she needed time so I let her decide. Lately, I've been urging her to tell you the truth, too..."

Devlin was in pain and anger, he got up to leave, but when he reached the door, Elena's voice called after him making him feel hesitant.

“Devlin, respecting our friendship since college, let's remember our good things more than our resentments. Please help me, right now only you can help me get out of here.” - Elena's voice begged urgently.

"Can I ask you a question?" - Devlin gripped the doorknob. "Mitchell Edric, where is he?"

“Perhaps he is at the company, Edric is a director of a subsidiary in the group... he was recently brought back to the headquarters by Anthea and joined the board of directors of the corporation…”

"What? Administrative Council? Did Anthea trust him that much?”

"Maybe so..."

Devlin took a deep breath, suppressing the raging waves in his heart.

"Get out of here, I'll bail you out."

“Thank you, Devlin. I will do whatever you ask in my power.”

"No need. After we got out of here, you and I became strangers, as if we had never met.” - Devlin's cold, an iron voice pierced Elena's heart like a knife.

"I know you hate Anthea, hate me but please help me one last time, keep my family corporation, don't let it fall into someone else's hands."

“You mean Mitchell Edric?” - Devlin snarled.

“Yes, before I was caught here I let someone follow Edric and found out that he was plotting to take over the whole corporation, it seems he has been planning this for a long time and now he was doing it, Anthea trusted Edric so much, I didn't expect her to be so blind. But I don't have any proof, I can't prove it to the police."

“Ok, let's get out of here first.

Devlin, after bailing Elena out, drove back to the hospital alone. His mood became confused, he thought of the memories with Anthea during the four years of love, and yet she betrayed him.

Standing in front of the hospital bed, Anthea was still lying motionless with no sign of waking up, but her face had become more rosy and alive.

“Why are you treating me like that? What should I do now? Wake up and explain everything.”

“Master! I got a call from an unknown number.” - a guy bodyguard came in, holding the phone and giving it to Devlin.

"Hello..." - Devlin said in his original hoarse voice.

A familiar voice spoke on the other end of the line.

“Devlin! It's me, Ida."

"Aunt! Where are you? Is your uncle with you? It's been a few days without contact with the two of you, Elena is very worried."

“Please help me take care of Anthea and Elena, we have a huge debt so we have to go abroad temporarily. Our daughter depends on you, I know you won't leave Anthea, right?"

"I..."

"I know, Anthea is sorry for you, our family owes you this favor, until the storm is over, I will do anything to repay you."

"Okay... take care..." - Devlin had no choice but to immediately turn off the phone, he was afraid that if he heard more, he wouldn't be tough anymore but soft-hearted.

“Consider me repaying you for four years ago you saved my life, Anthea,” Devlin whispered in his heart and turned to leave.