Chapter 162: Blazing anger

Lucas was talking to Zenith, his posture was too relaxed which annoyed Alex.

Then Lizzy walked into frame.

She stepped closer to them, said something, and just like that Zenith and Lucas burst with laughter.

Alex leaned closer to the screen, his breath slowing. The sound wasn’t there, but Alex could see him clearly. The tilt of his head, the way his shoulders moved, the ease in his expression. Like he was fine.

Like nothing was broken.

Alex’s chest tightened painfully.

His fingers curled into fists on the desk.

“Damn it…”

The chair screeched loudly as he shot to his feet.

“How dare you smile, Lucas?” he snapped, his voice echoing in the empty office. “After what you did?”

His breathing grew heavier as he stared at the screen, anger rising fast, too fast, and sharp.

“You don’t get to laugh,” he muttered bitterly. “You don’t get to act like everything is normal.”

But Lucas kept smiling and talking to Zenith and Lizzy like he was unaffected. And somehow, that hurt even more.

Alex was still staring at the screen, anger simmering just beneath the surface, when a knock came on the door.

He didn’t answer but the door opened anyway.

Jason stepped in, closing it behind him. “Alex…” He started.

“Look at this!” Alex snapped instantly, cutting him short. His voice was sharp as he turned the monitor toward him.

Jason frowned at his reaction and walked closer.

On the screen, Lucas was still there, talking, and still smiling. Zenith said something, and Lizzy laughed again. Lucas followed, his expression light and carefree.

Alex let out a bitter scoff. “You see that?” he said, pointing at the screen. “Look at him. Laughing.”

Jason’s gaze lingered on the footage, his expression unreadable.

“Isn’t he supposed to feel remorseful?” Alex continued, his voice rising. “After what he did? After everything, he dares to laugh like that when I'm hurting?”

Jason exhaled slowly. “Alex, you need to…”

“No, answer me!” Alex cut in, his temper flaring. “Does that look like someone who regrets anything?”

Jason turned to him, calmer but firm. “What if Lucas is innocent?”

Alex froze for a split second.

“What?” he said, his voice dropping dangerously.

“What if this is all a misunderstanding?” Jason continued carefully. “He said last night that they were attacked. Their drinks could’ve been tampered with…”

“Oh, come on!” Alex exploded, stepping back as if the idea itself offended him. “I saw them, Jason! I saw them entangled in bed! Very relaxed, sleeping soundly.”

Alex's chest rose and fell rapidly. The thought of the video footage annoyed him more. His fury built with every word.

“Jason, there is nothing like misunderstanding in that! Go back to the venue and check the footage  yourself."

Jason held his ground, though his expression tightened. “And what about you?”

Alex blinked. “What?”

“Didn’t you sleep with Nathan?” Jason shot back. “So why are you trying to crucify…”

“Stop!” Alex snapped, cutting him off instantly.

The room fell silent.

Alex’s jaw clenched, his hands trembling slightly as he struggled to contain the storm inside him.

“That is not the same thing,” he said, his voice low but burning with intensity.

Jason didn’t speak.

“I didn’t make any commitment with Nathan,” Alex continued, his words sharp and deliberate. “There were no promises. No such feelings compare to what I shared with Lucas. I gave Nathan my money and care based on our agreement.”

He stepped closer, his eyes blazing now. “But Lucas?” His voice cracked slightly, emotion slipping through the anger. “Lucas and I… we pledged our love to each other. I gave him my heart. Damn it, I gave him everything.”

The weight of those words hung heavy in the air.

“That’s a commitment,” Alex added, his voice tightening. “That should mean something to him but did it? No, he trashed it all. My heart is fucking aching, and he is there smiling. Is that fair?”

He shook his head, frustration and hurt colliding inside him.

“So don’t…” he pointed toward Jason, his breath uneven, “don’t you ever compare what I feel for Lucas… to some meaningless fling I had with someone else.”

The silence that followed was thick and heavy.

Because beneath all the anger,

Alex was hurting far more than he wanted to admit.

Jason went quiet for a moment, his eyes still on the frame of Lucas laughing.

Then he spoke, his voice lower and calmer, but more serious.

“Sorry to say this, big bro,  but I can tell, Lucas loves you.”

Alex didn’t respond.

“I don’t think what we’re seeing is the full picture,” Jason continued, his gaze shifting to him. “And I’ve got this feeling that something is wrong somewhere.”

A beat of silence.

“And I’m going to get to the bottom of it,” he added firmly. “I’ll go through that footage myself.”

Alex looked away, jaw tight. How he wished he was wrong that he didn't see well. However, he knew what he saw.

“There’s another thing,” Jason said.

That made Alex glance back.

“James is in town.”

Everything in Alex’s expression changed. The anger shifted, replaced instantly by something colder.

“You saw him too?” Alex asked, his voice quieter now, but a bit tense.

“No, I heard it.”

Alex ran a hand through his hair, pacing now.

“Alex, why didn’t you say anything?” His voice rose again, panic creeping in. “That animal shouldn’t be walking free in this town after everything he did!”

He stopped, turning sharply. “What if he tries something again?”

Alex stayed composed. “The guys are already keeping an eye out for him.”

“That’s not enough,” Jason shot back immediately. “You should involve the police. He’s a criminal, he should be arrested on sight.”

Alex didn’t argue.

Jason shifted slightly. “And this Mac Hunter, any leads?”

Alex shook his head, frustration creeping back in. “Nothing. His phone is untraceable. But he hasn’t contacted me in a month, so I figured…”

“It was a prank?” Jason cut in.

Alex nodded.

Jason exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t think so, Alex.”

That made Alex frown.

“I’m thinking the same thing Lucas was thinking,” Jason continued. “James and Mac… they might be working together. And if they are,” Jason added, his tone darkening, “then whatever they’re planning, it’s not good.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You need to get the police involved,” Jason pressed. “Seriously. This isn’t something to brush off.”

He paused, then added, “Who knows? They might even be behind what happened to Lucas and Nathan last night.”

For a second, Alex just stared at him. Then he let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

“I see,” he said slowly.

Jason frowned. “What?”

“So Lucas put you up to this?” Alex continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “To cover up his mess?”

Jason’s expression hardened. “That’s not what this is…”

“Of course it is,” Alex cut in sharply. “Defend him, twist the story, make him look like the victim.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” Jason said firmly.

But Alex wasn’t listening anymore. His walls were already back up.

“Alex, it's your Lucas we're talking about here. Didn't you trust him with your life? What happened, hmm?” Jason asked.