Chapter 184 I have a career to work towards

Chapter 184 I have a career to work towards
Zane's POV

My jaw tightened when I saw Rhys's expression. His face first registered shock then disgust and finally rage. He lifted his gaze towards me and his eyes were much colder than I can remember.

He flung the document to the side. “And then what? You want to start acting like my brother? You want me to treat you as my brother,” he turned towards Mandy, “you want to play the mother role now?”

Mandy reached for his arm but he stepped away. “Rhys, I can explain.”

I tightened my fist at both sides. This was exactly as I imagined. When I found out three days ago that he was my brother, I barely had time to be surprised with the news before hatred engulfed me.

When he wasn't my brother, he was better than me in everything. He took the woman I loved and played the sports my mother loved most.

I knew once our relationship goes public, I would be the one to suffer backlash. He was the golden boy after all while I was the failure.

Mark picked up the document. He glanced through it and crumbled it, tossing it into the trash can. “It's just figures. What makes you think it would change anything?”

“No one wants anything to change.” I snapped, barely hiding my hatred. “We are just brothers on paper and it should remain like that.”

Mandy slapped my lips before I could finish talking. She shot me a cold glare and then turned towards Rhys, smiles plastered all over her face.

Just seeing that smile on her face felt as if someone was twisting a blade in my chest. I knew what it always took me. How I cried, begged and perfected the good son she wanted before she even smiled at me.

Even when Rhys had hit me then and landed me in a coma. I couldn't forget the first thing she said to me.

“How long are you going to be a weakling? Do you know exactly what this costs me?”

Her face was stone cold, as if I wasn't even her son. That was exactly while I envied Clare. Her father was so transparent. He loved, sheltered and showered her with a kind of love I could only imagine.

To everyone else, my mother pampers and spoils me but only I understand the hell I always had to go through in her hand.

“Don't mind your brother. A lot of things have to change, don't you want to reunite with your family.” Mandy said, dragging me back to reality.

“Family?” Rhys scoffed, his gaze filled with irritation. “Who told you I needed one?”

The doctor stepped out before Mandy could say anything.

Rhys walked up to the doctor. “How is she doing? Do you need anything else?”

Mandy rushed towards the doctor too. “How's my daughter? I heard she went into the OR room. Why didn't you call me?”

The doctor spared Mandy a brief glance before turning towards Rhys. “She's fine. Check back after twenty four hours.”

He brushed past Mandy and disappeared into the long hallway.

Rhys turned around too and disappeared into the hallway alongside Mark. Mandy kept trying to say something to them but they didn't spare her a listening ear.

“What the hell are you standing there for? You should talk to your brother and help him remember we are family.” Mandy sneered after they disappeared from sight.

It took me a few seconds to understand and process what she had just said. “I should call him my brother?”

“What else should you call him? Your father?” Mandy snapped.

I clenched my jaw staring at Mandy in pure disbelief. Growing up, I had cried and begged for my brother and each time I mentioned him, I always knelt down for hours as punishment.

Now, out of the blues she wants me to go running back into his arms. I was no longer going to be her puppet. It was time I faced my life and made something out of it.

“Mom, you heard him already. We are just siblings on papers. He doesn't want us and I don't want him either.” I said, folding my hand on my chest.

“He doesn't need to want us. We need him, don't you get? I heard he secured a contract with Black City team. We can use it for our benefit.” Mandy added, I could clearly see the excitement in her voice and it burned rage deep into my bones.

“Mother, so you want to reconcile with him because of his status.” I asked, barely hiding my anger. “What about me? Are you not going to help me get into a good team?”

“He's my son and so are you. Do you think I would even want the reconciliation if you took your training seriously and surpassed him?” Mandy spat.

“So you are not going to support me anymore?” I asked, my lips pressed together. “If you reconcile with him what happens to me then? What happens to everything you have promised me?”

Tears stung in my eyes and I was barely fighting it back.

“Don't be a baby, Zane. Rhys is your brother and his achievements are superb. If we can at least use his connection in the media, we can take over your step father's company.” She said, casually. “When I'm dead you will inherit it, hockey isn't your calling so why don't you try something else.”

“So you want me to give up on my career and support your dream?”

She nodded. “Any how you put it. I supported the so-called career for more than fifteen years and yet you have nothing to show for it. Don't you think it's time you support mine? After all, the benefits still go to both of us?”

I bit the inside of my cheeks, swallowing back my tears. “I don't have any brothers and I'm not talking to anyone. If you want your dream to come to reality so badly, you should do it yourself.”

Mandy's eyes flared with rage. This was the first time I wasn't being the perfect son she had spent years creating.

“What did you just say?” Mandy demanded.

“You heard me right, Mother.” I replied, brushing past her. “If you would excuse me, I have a career to work towards.”

“Don't walk out on me, Zane!” Mandy yelled at the top of her voice. “Don't even think about it?”

But I was already disappearing into the hallway, tears clouding my eyes. I hadn't gone far when I stumbled onto Rhys. The sharp, irritated gaze in his eyes was replaced with something almost like pity.