Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 201 Travis looked down at his scarred hand, as of contemplating on whether he should answer the question or not. Matter of fact was, it doesn't matter whether he do or not because nothing was going to change his mind about how he felt about Alexander and everyone he cared about.

Alexander destroyed his world, the life that could have been his in short sentence, Alexander was everything he abhorred.

He raised his eyelids, his cold eyes fixed on Alexander and he replied. "I have no tto talk about what you already know and trustno conversation will change my mind about what is going to happen here tonight" He swallowed hard and he sniffed hard.

"At least, let my family lives." Alexander replied instantly.

"Why should I?!" Travis roared back, the venom in his voice, engulfing what little peace was left in the air. He tightened his grip and took two steps closer to Alexander. His eyes were filled with a billion daggers, ready to kill Alexander on order. "Why should I let them live when you took money away?!" This time, his voice was lower but was still filled with the sanger and disgust towards the man chained in front of me.

"I didn't!!!" Alexander thundered back. His voice a thousand gold venomous than Travis. He couldn't take this crazy accusations anymore.

"You did!" Travis roared. “I saw you with my own eyes. You and your father destroyed my life. A drop of tears rolled down his eyes as the memories of his parents terrified cries filled his eyes.

Although the incident took place fifteen years ago, everything felt fresh in his head as of it has only happened last night.

"My father is one of the most respected man in history, why would he do such?" Alexander replied, his breath heavy as he tried to control himself.

"To steal from us. Project E.M.Z originally belongs to my father." Alexander scoffed at th absurdity of Travis words. Project E.M.Z wasn't just an ordinary project, it was THE project. It was one of the Blackthorn Holdings exclusive projects that would still be talked about even after a century have passed.

"Blackthorn Holdings owns all right to Project E.M.Z" "Of course, after stealing it from us and then proceeds to kill us all to stop us from fighting." "My father would never do such a thing." Alexander growled.

Travis walked away and returned with a big stapled pieces of paper which he placed on Alexander's thighs. He then walked back into the middle of the and waited for Alexander to go through it.

Travis had cback prepared with all the evidence he could get his hands on.

Although Alexander's hands and legs were chained, he could still flip through books with his fingers. He wasn't doing it because he believed Travis, far from it. His father had always been a man of honor, a leader who built their empire with sweat and blood. Right? And yet...

With every page he turned, his breath becshallower. His heart pounded harder against his ribs. The words before him, hidden truths, old records, undeniable proof, began to unravel the very foundation of his life.

The family he knew.

The company he ruled.

The legacy he had sworn to protect.

All of it might have been built on lies and fraud.

Alexander swallowed hard, his throat dry as sandpaper. When he finally raised his gaze to meet Travis's, his expression had changed. For the first time, he understood the depth of Travis's hatred. The betrayal. The pain that had festered for years. growing into something dark and unrelenting.

And for the first time, Alexander realized, Travis had every right to be furious.

But not at him.

He took a slow breath. He needed to control himself before speaking.

"Even if all of this is true... I had nothing to do with the fire." Travis let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"I never expected you to cclean." Without another word, he pulled a lighter from his pocket and opened it and slowly, he cocked his head and looked at a corner of the room. Alexander followed his gaze and spotted it, a can of gasoline His stomach twisted. His grip on the book tightened until his knuckles turned white.

"Let my family live." His voice wavered, but the desperation in it was undeniable. "I beg you." Travis tilted his head, watching him like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.

"Why should I?” His voice was a quiet storm. “All of you must die the sway my parents did." "They are innocent." Alexander begged.

Travis scoffed, and took two steps closer. "My parents were innocent too. But you and your father destroyed us." Alexander's mind raced. There had to be something that could mak "Let them live in exchange for my company." Travis stop.

Travis's lips curled into a cocky smirk. "Do you think I care about that? I might not be as rich as you, but trust me, I'm doing just fine." Alexander's jaw clenched. "Two wrongs don't make a right." Travis's eyes narrowed. "Tell that to your father when you see him." With that, he turned on his heel and began walks to the gasoline can and tically, he opened it.

The thick scent of gasoline filled the air as Travis began pouring it around the room.

Alexander's breathing quickened. His heart pounded so loudly he could barely hear anything else. He was running out of time.

"Wait." He said sharply.

Travis paused, but only for a moment.

"I had an alibi that night." Travis let out a humorless chuckle. "I don't care about your cooked-up stories." Alexander swallowed hard as he shamely added.

"I was with Annie that night. If we can find her, she can clear my name." A slowly, satisfied smile appeared on Travis lips.

His eyes gleamed with the sdarkness that filled his soul.

"Oh, don't worry about Annie. She's withnow." The room spun.

"In fact..." Travis's grin widened.

"She's the one taking care of your one taking family as we speak." Ice flooded Alexander's veins.

Annie. With his family.

A horror unlike anything he had ever felt gripped his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs.

Alexander began thrashing against the chains.

The veins in his neck bulged, his muscles strained, but he didn't care.

"LET MY FAMILY GO!" His voice was raw, almost unrecognizable.

Travis only watched, amused, drinking in every ounce of his suffering.

"I have no plans to keep them forever." he replied coldly.

And then, he turned away.

Alexander's entire body tensed as he watched in slow motion as Travis ! the digkiter and then, with one flick final smirk, he tossed it.

Fire and heat rushed toward Alexander, searing his skin before the flames even touched him: He even coughed violently as thick smoke filled his lungs, his vision blurring.

Through the growing fire, he saw Travis step outside, his silhouette dark against the roaring flames.

And then, the door slammed shut.