Chapter 224

Michael visibly breathed a sigh of relief, his body sinking back into the sofa. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly as he said in a low voice, "Go on."

Cruz had been watching him from the corner of his eye. Seeing Michael's expression soften, he gradually grew bolder.

He cleared his throat. "I only found out after I got back that Mom had actually taken that photo. She mentioned wanting to send it to you, using your concern for Ms. Smith to..."

Cruz frowned, unable to finish the sentence.

"To threaten me into giving the shares back to you, right?" Michael took over in an even tone, his calm attitude making it seem like he was discussing something that had nothing to do with him.

Cruz wanted to nod, but then suddenly looked at Michael as if remembering something. "Michael, Mom did all this because of me. If you're upset about anything, just come at me. She's getting old now - there are some things she can't handle anymore."

Michael propped his face with one hand, his fingertips lightly rubbing his chin. His eyes curved slightly, a flash of helpless yet cold amusement crossing them.

Can't handle it?

The way he saw it, Fallon could not only handle these things - she probably enjoyed them immensely.

She was just hoping the Johnson family would fall into complete chaos, so this fake Fallon could grab what she wanted from the mess.

The more Michael acted this way, the more uneasy Cruz felt. His lips trembling, he asked softly, "Michael, what are you laughing at?"

Michael lifted his eyelids to look at him, his gaze much gentler than before. "Cruz, you're kind-hearted. You're a good kid."

"Even now, I sometimes remember when Father was still alive, how he said again and again that he hoped we'd be brothers who got along well, not fighting like other wealthy families do."

As Michael said this, there was a rare warmth in his expression.

For a moment, Cruz felt like they'd gone back to their childhood.

Back when he could openly call him brother, when Michael would stand in front of him no matter what happened.

Cruz's friends used to tease him about it, saying Michael protected him so well, no wonder he liked Michael so much.

Back then, he'd argue with them - what was wrong with being a brother-lover?

They were just jealous that he had Michael to protect him and they didn't.

He didn't know when that pure brotherly relationship had turned into this life-or-death struggle.

And now, sitting across from him, Michael's gentle expression had shed its usual sharpness, as if he'd become that person who used to stand in front of him again.

Cruz's nose tingled, his throat tightened, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "Michael."

He was almost choking up. "I don't want things to be like this either."

"I wish we could be like we used to be. Michael, you know - whatever you want from me, I'll give it to you."

Cruz hung his head like a child who'd done something wrong, his shoulders shaking, tears falling like broken beads. Where was any trace of the dignified second heir of the Johnson family?

Even Michael was amused by this, the corner of his mouth lifting as he shook his head with slight helplessness. "How can you still be like a little kid, crying at the drop of a hat?"

The more he said, the harder Cruz cried, until finally the tears seemed to flow like floodgates had opened, unstoppable.

Michael pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. "Cruz, even if you're willing to give me your things, what about your Fallon?"

Cruz froze, looking up, his fingers wrapping the tissue as he dabbed at his face.

His tear-reddened eyes were full of confusion. "Michael, what are you saying? Isn't my mom your mom too?"

There was something else Cruz found even stranger.

When they were young, Michael was good to him and very respectful toward Fallon.

But later, he not only stopped liking Cruz, he even became cold and harsh toward Fallon.

They said that even after Axel died, Fallon took him abroad because Michael couldn't tolerate them.

Cruz couldn't understand it.

Michael didn't like him because he would compete for the inheritance of the Johnson Group.

But what about Fallon?

Michael was so hostile toward Fallon - was that also just about the Johnson Group inheritance?

Deep down, he didn't want to believe Michael was that kind of person.

But everything that had happened over the years seemed to silently tell Cruz that Michael was exactly that vicious - someone who would drive Fallon out of the country for the company inheritance.

Like now, when he would directly refer to Fallon as "your mother."

Wasn't Fallon his mother too?

Cruz stared at Michael, his lips moving as if to say something more, when he heard Michael's detached voice drift over. "No."

Michael's response came out of nowhere, leaving Cruz's expression frozen in confusion. "Michael, what are you saying? What's 'no'?"

"She's not my mom." Michael answered lightly.

Cruz shot to his feet, his hands hanging at his sides trembling slightly, his eyes full of disbelief. "Michael, how can you say something like that?"

"I admit, Mom has done a lot of things to wrong you over the years. That's all because she wanted so badly to fight for something for me."

"If you're really angry, I can apologize to you on her behalf, but how can you say something like that?"

"If she's not your mom, then who is? Can blood relationships just be denied at will?"

After Cruz finished shouting, his hands clenched tight, his chest still heaving violently, his eyes staring straight at Michael without blinking.

He thought Michael would be moved, or at least respond to what he'd said.

But Michael remained expressionless, quietly looking at him, a barely-there curve at the corner of his mouth.

As if he'd expected Cruz to say all this.

Cruz felt stifled inside.

He hung his head and huffed. "Michael, I never thought you'd really become this kind of person. I'm so disappointed in you."

"What kind of person?" Michael asked, then answered himself. "The kind who disregards family ties for power and profit, who won't even acknowledge his own biological mother?"

Cruz shot back stubbornly, "Those aren't my words."

Michael wasn't annoyed, responding with a cold laugh. "Cruz, have you ever thought about why I became like this?"

Though Cruz didn't want to admit it, he had to mutter in response, "Because Mom was too biased."

Michael followed naturally, taking up his words. "Yes, because of bias. She treats you and me completely differently."

"Michael, I admit, Mom is sometimes better to me. That might be because I'm younger than you, and Dad was older when he had me - a son in his old age, so they doted on me more. That's why she wants to fight for more for me."

"Cruz, is she just fighting for a little more for you?" Michael asked back.

Cruz's lips moved. He was about to answer when he realized something was off, his brows furrowing as he looked at Michael.

Michael stared at him, slowly saying, "She wants to give you everything."

"She wants to take everything that belongs to me and give it to you."