Chapter 194 Who am I talking to?

Chapter 194 Who am I talking to?
Rhys's POV

My breath hitched, trying to process the words written on Zane's phone.

“Should I answer it?” Mark asked but the words had barely left his lips when the phone stopped ringing.

I stretched forward and snatched the phone from Mark's hand. I stared at Zane's locked screen trying to understand why his mother suddenly called but nothing was really coming clearly to my mind.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt it wasn't just a coincidence.

I waited a few seconds and when Mandy didn't call back, I began trying different passcode combinations to unlock it. My fingers moved too fast and I soon found myself absolved in it.

“Rhys, what are you doing?” Arthur's voice dragged me back to reality.

I turned to face him and his brows were pulled together.

“Something doesn't feel right.” I blurted the first words that came to my mind.

Mark crossed the distance between us and sat down beside me. “You can be honest with me, Rhys. It's going to hurt for a while but that's a reality I have to face one day and besides it's your life.”

The pain in his voice was obvious and anger surged through me when I understood what he was trying to say.

“Take those thoughts out of your mind, Mark.” I hissed, my voice low. “I’m a man of my words.”

Mark chuckled. “When you care about someone, your words mean nothing as you'll go to any length to protect them.”

“Mark—”

“It's fine if you want your family, Rhys. I know how long you searched and how many nights you stayed awake. You celebrated both of their birthdays every year over the past years so you can't possibly hate them right?” Mark said, inhaling deeply.

I stared at him, not sure what I was going to say. How long am I going to explain where that DNA test report stand in my life. Seems like I'll talk less and use my actions more.

I only celebrated their birthday because I had prayed and hoped they would be back. Sadly, they came back but not as the people I remember and prayed for. That was when I realized Zane had changed his birthday as the dates I had didn't match the dates he celebrated his birthdays.

I turned towards Mark. “If that line of reasoning lets you sleep at night. I wouldn't mind letting you believe that.”

“Don't give me that attitude, Rhys. I'm being honest right now. I've been watching you and I'm afraid that's the reality. You're the one that's afraid to face it.” He added.

My jaw tightened but I kept my expression neutral. That was exactly what Mark was looking for, a crack in my perfect armour.”

I regarded him thoughtfully for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Mark repeated, his voice heavy with irritation. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

I didn't spare him a glance. “Mark, how long are we going to drag this on? Am I the one afraid or is it you?”

Mark took a step back, pressing down on his lower lips.

I slowly placed Zane's phone down. My thoughts drifted back to the reason why Mandy had called. Just as my mind spiralled, something hit me. I was thinking about this in the wrong direction.

The question shouldn't be why Mandy called. Instead it should be why Zane had broken into my room, trashed it and attacked me.

“If you really don't care, why did you get worked up when you found out it was Zane's mother that was on the line?” Mark cut through my thoughts.

I ignored him completely, focusing on my thoughts.

“You know Zane is a pawn. She obviously doesn't love him because he was a… failure as he couldn't make a name in sports but you had a higher chance of curling her favour you had missed over the years since you are so good at hockey.”

I wanted to ignore him again when something suddenly clicked in my mind and just like that I started getting a vivid image of a high probability answer to my question.

Zane was her pawn, he was angry about it but couldn't lose the one person that mattered to him. So he had to bend his will. Someone as manipulative as Mandy took that opportunity to exploit him.

I turned to face Mark. “Have you ever thought about why Zane came directly to my room and trashed it? We have had clashes for years now and he never tried to destroy my room.”

“Someone put him up to it.” Mark replied.

He snapped his gaze towards me, realization dawning on him.

“Mandy put him up to it. But…” his voice cracked. “But why would he do that?”

“She needed a distraction. She knew I would come running to my room if it got scattered. But why does she need me distracted?” I asked.

Silence thickened in the air as we were both lost in thoughts. I evaluated what I thought Mandy would gain from me and when the instant I put away hockey, the answer hit me, Clare.

My eyes met Mark's and it seemed like he already made the same realization. I staggered to my feet ignoring the pains that came from my stomach. Clare was in danger and the pains really didn't matter.

I had barely taken a step forward when Zane's phone suddenly rang.

Mark picked it up before me and I knew Mandy was the caller from his expression.

“Pick it up,” I whispered.

Mark hesitated before he answered it and put it in a loud speaker.

Mandy's voice flooded into the room the next second, anger written boldly on it.

“Where the hell are you, Zane? Didn't you agree to come to the hospital the instant I called you?”

Silence stretched for half a second.

“Zane! It's been more than thirty minutes. Where are you? Don't tell me you have already backed down? Oh yeah! You will obviously back down. Why aren'
t you saying anything?”

She paused. “Zane? I'm not talking to Zane. Who am I talking to?!”