Chapter 355 Robert and James Confront Each Other

Chapter 355 Robert and James Confront Each Other
“What facts?”
James’ eyes sharpened in an instant, the usual laid-back warmth gone. A cold pressure radiated from him, making the air tense. “I brought you here to end this—to clear up all the misunderstandings. So let’s start with this: What exactly is your relationship with Will?”
Robert visibly flinched. It was only for a second, but James caught it.
Then Robert composed himself and said evenly, “Do you remember that flute? And the song he always played?”
James didn’t react outwardly. He kept staring at Robert, his voice calm but probing. “Of course I remember. But what I want to know is—how do you know? Did you know Will? When did you meet him? Is he… really gone?”
A shadow crossed Robert’s eyes. He gripped the armrest tightly, fingers white from the pressure. Yet his voice stayed level. “Remember when you and Laura joked I was like a phoenix—reborn from ashes?”
James froze. Something flickered behind his eyes. He leaned forward and stared hard at Robert, searching. Hunting for something buried deep.
Robert didn’t blink. “Look at me. Really look. Don’t you see it?”
And suddenly—he did.
In a single breathless moment, the face in front of him blurred and shifted, aligning with the one from his memories. The eyes—those eyes—were the same.
James shot to his feet, voice breaking. “You’re not Robert. You’re… Will!”
Laura gasped, her body stiffening. She stared at Robert in stunned silence, unable to tear her eyes away.
Robert—no, Will—smiled faintly. “I’m surprised you remembered. Especially my eyes. You have no idea how long it took me to learn to hide them. I didn’t dare show myself until I could fully play the part.”
James just stared at him, stunned speechless. He scanned every line of Will’s face, desperate to reconcile the truth.
Will gave him a moment. “Hard to accept, isn’t it? This face isn’t the one you remember. But now, you can’t keep calling it a ‘misunderstanding.’ You saw what I went through. Do you really think any of it could be called that?”
James took a long, shaking breath. “You went through something—yes. But does that mean I did it to you?” He met Will’s gaze, firm and unflinching. “We were classmates for years. Do you really believe I would do something so cruel? That I’d hurt you?”
Will’s expression faltered, just for a beat. Then he laughed—bitter and cold. “Still denying it? Funny. I never even told you what happened. So how would you know what I’m referring to… unless you’re admitting it yourself?”
James gave a wry smile. “Laura told me. Everything. She confessed how she was manipulated into framing me. That’s why we set this whole trap—to bring the real mastermind out. I just didn’t expect that mastermind to be you.”
Will’s head snapped toward Laura. His eyes darkened. “You… you said you wouldn’t tell! I trusted you!”
His voice cracked with fury. “I should’ve known. You love him. How could you ever stay loyal to me?”
Laura didn’t flinch. She even laughed a little. “We knew you were eavesdropping. That’s why we used sign language. I teach at a school for the deaf. James learned sign from me. Every detail—our whole plan—we signed it. You didn’t hear a thing.”
Will went still.
“Sign language…” he muttered, then chuckled. “You left yourself an escape hatch. Impressive. But it doesn’t matter. We’re already here. You’re both under my control now. Trap or not—this ends the same.”
James exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm. “Will… I didn’t hurt you.”
Will cut him off with a cold smile. “Please. As if someone with your reputation would admit to something so ugly. You’ve always cared about how people see you. So don’t pretend to take the moral high ground now.”
“I do take responsibility for my actions,” James said. “But only for the ones I actually did. And I didn’t do this. So no—I won’t admit to something I didn’t do. Tell me, Will—what makes you so certain I’m guilty?”
Will’s smile twisted. “Are you afraid the truth will make Laura walk away from you?”
Then his tone turned mocking. “Fine. Let’s walk through it. I know Laura told you about the email. But that’s just the tip of it. It didn’t even scratch the surface.”
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Let’s talk about what really happened. The details. You up for that?”
James didn’t hesitate. “Go ahead. I’ll show you the truth—because I swear to you, I never hurt you. You were my friend.”
Will sneered. Then he began.
And with it, the past—rotten and raw—came crashing back.