Chapter 180 Chapter 180
He really didn't care.
Marcus realized, with a bitter taste in his mouth, that their fifteen-year bond was worthless. Nicholas was completely spellbound by Caroline. His friends, his “brothers in arms,” meant nothing anymore.
Right now, Caroline was his universe. And no one was allowed to orbit outside her rules.
Marcus Drews' heart hardened, turning pain into cynicism.
He kept his gaze fixed on Nicholas for a moment, then suddenly let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Very well, Nicholas. I finally understand. So that's what it means to ‘value a woman above brotherhood.’” Marcus spat the blood from his mouth. “In fact, it took me more than ten years to realize who you really are.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“I must have been completely blind to be friends with such a cruel and fickle person for so long.”
Marcus straightened his posture, regaining what little dignity he had left.
“All right. Since you've made it clear that you no longer consider us friends, let's end this charade here. As of today, we are strangers.”
“Marcus, don't be hasty...” Sheila tried to intervene, panic evident in her voice. She grabbed his arm.
Marcus gave her a wry smile.
“Rash? Sheila, wake up. Can't you see? He's not the Nick we used to know. Look at him! Besides this woman, who else does he care about?”
Marcus pointed accusingly at Nicholas.
“We thought our bond was unbreakable, but it seems that means nothing to him. He discarded us like trash at the first opportunity.”
“He trampled on your dignity, Sheila. And he was violent with me. All because of her. Do you really think there's any need to grovel for the friendship of a man like that?”
Sheila's eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip silently, unable to refute Marcus's logic.
That's right.
The Nicholas in front of her was a stranger. His coldness cut like a knife.
Part of her—the proud part—wanted to turn her back and leave him for good. Send him to hell.
But... how could she?
He was the man she had been in love with for over two decades. He had become her center of gravity. How could she just give up on him?
And worse, if she gave up now, she would be handing victory to Caroline on a silver platter. She would be admitting defeat to an “intruder.”
Pride and obsession spoke louder.
“Nick... do you really have to do this?” Sheila's voice sounded hurt, almost childish. “We've always been so close. Why have you changed so much? Why did you become like this after... she showed up?”
There was a poisonous subtext to her question.
Before, Caroline might not have noticed it. But now, aware that Sheila saw her as a mortal rival, Caroline decoded the message instantly.
Sheila was saying, “You're to blame. You destroyed our perfect friendship. If it weren't for you, we'd be happy.”
In the past, Caroline would have felt guilty. She would have thought she was a burden, an unwanted divider.
But now...
Caroline looked at Marcus's swollen face and Sheila's manipulative tears.
The guilt disappeared.
After all, she wasn't wrong. Why should she feel bad?
She never started fights. She never sabotaged anyone. She never asked Nicholas to hit anyone.
If Marcus and Sheila were losing Nicholas's friendship, it was entirely their fault.
Caroline sighed inwardly. Any normal person, any true friend, would do their best to respect their best friend's partner, right? Even if they didn't like her, they would tolerate her out of respect for him.
But these two? They did the opposite. They disrespected, humiliated, and attacked her.
They weren't victims. They were toxic.
If anyone spoke ill of Tania in front of Caroline, she would also cut ties immediately. Nicholas was just acting like a loyal husband and a friend who demands respect.
Caroline lifted her chin, feeling light. She owed those people nothing.
Nicholas said nothing in response to Sheila's emotional appeal.
He just looked at her. And that empty gaze, devoid of any warmth or nostalgia, was the most devastating response he could give.
“Sheila, let's go. Have some dignity.”
Marcus Drews grabbed Sheila's hand tightly, pulling her away. He smiled, a mocking and bitter smile.
“What's the point of asking him? Are you blind or deaf? He's already made his choice. It was loud and clear. Why are you still clinging to that pathetic hope?”
Sheila ignored Marcus. She looked at Nicholas with eyes brimming with tears and denial.
“Nick... I know you didn't mean what you said.”
Her voice trembled, desperately trying to rebuild the reality that had just been destroyed.
“I'm not going to take this seriously. Neither is Marcus. You're in a fit of rage right now, you're confused. Nothing we say will affect you in this state.”
She forced a shaky, painful smile.
“When all this is over, when the dust settles... we'll talk. We'll work it out calmly, like we always have.”
Marcus Drews let out an incredulous laugh. He opened his mouth to say that this was crazy, that their friendship was over.
But Sheila squeezed his arm and shook her head in silent pleading. Please don't take this away from me.
Marcus saw the desperation in her eyes and felt his own anger wilt. He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to swallow the words burning in his throat.
He could never say “no” to Sheila. Never.
Especially when she looked at him like that, like a broken doll.
Since she didn't want him to tell her the cruel truth, he remained silent. Once again, he would be an accomplice to her delusion.
“Marcus, please... let's go,” Sheila whispered, pulling him gently.
She needed to get out of there. Now.
She couldn't bear to watch Nicholas being so protective of Caroline for another second. Every gesture of affection from him was a stab in her chest. It hurt. It hurt so much that she could barely breathe.
“All right. Let's go.”
Marcus Drews cast one last icy glance at Nicholas, then glared at Caroline with hatred in his eyes before turning and leaving, taking Sheila with him.
Silence fell over the group.
But Victor didn't go with them.
He stood motionless, like an abandoned marble statue.
He looked at Sara. His eyes, usually bright and arrogant, were swollen and red.