Chapter 226

"No matter who she is, she's still my biological mother." Cruz stared at Michael, forcing each word through gritted teeth.

He didn't understand why Michael was telling him all this.

Since Michael hadn't told him the whole truth right away when he first learned what happened, why was he laying everything out now?

All these years, Opal had done everything she could to suppress Michael, trying to make him hand over everything.

More importantly, if the information Michael had was true, then even the matter of Michael's biological mother Fallon was likely orchestrated or carried out by Opal herself.

To Michael, Opal was an enemy.

But to Cruz, Opal was his mother.

She carried him for ten months and gave birth to him. Everything she did was for him.

Even the Porter family had given him everything they had.

Cruz still couldn't forget how, as a child, whenever he returned to the Porter family, his grandparents would always hold him on their laps and play with him, giving him all the best food and drinks first.

But they were noticeably cold toward Michael.

Cruz used to think his grandparents were extra kind to him because he was so young and they felt sorry for him.

Now it seemed they probably thought of Fallon, whom they had abandoned like trash, whenever they saw Michael.

They didn't dare face Michael, so they chose to distance themselves from him coldly.

The Porter family really hadn't treated Michael well.

But to him, they were truly his family.

Cruz didn't understand why Michael was telling him everything.

Wasn't he afraid Cruz would side with the Porter family?

Or maybe Cruz already knew everything and had already reached an understanding with the Porter family, and was part of their scheme against him?

Cruz stared at Michael, countless words stuck in his chest, but when they reached his lips, they became just one light question: "Why?"

"Because you're Father's son," Michael answered firmly. "You're a Johnson family member."

Michael looked at Cruz, each word crystal clear: "Cruz, even though you're a few years younger than me, I know you understand very clearly what's right and what's wrong."

"The Porter family coveted the Johnson family assets. To get the Johnson Group, they didn't hesitate to swap their younger daughter for my mother to enter the Johnson family. What other dirty tricks they've used against the Johnson family and Father, I don't need to spell out—you should know."

"Today I'm telling you everything. You can choose to go back right now and tell that fake Fallon that I know everything."

"With her abilities and the Porter family's resources, they'll definitely find ways to take me down. Then you'll be the rightful heir to the Johnson Group."

"She and the Porter family will do everything in their power to help you smoothly take over the Johnson Group. As for those people at the shareholders' meeting, you don't need to worry about them—they're just opportunists. As long as there's enough benefit, they won't say a word against it."

Cruz frowned and looked up sharply at Michael, shaking his head slightly.

Before he could speak, Michael continued: "Or you can choose to pretend you know nothing and safely remain the Johnson family's second heir. Just wait until this fake Fallon and I fight to the death, then come out and reap the benefits."

Cruz couldn't help but stand up: "Michael, what are you saying? What benefits? You know perfectly well I'm not that kind of person."

"Good." Michael picked up on his words. "Then there's the last option—join forces with me and make the Porter family, make her, pay the price they deserve."

"You're the fake Fallon's son. For your sake, I promise to go easy on her."

"I..." Cruz's brow twitched. His lips moved, but in the end he sank back onto the sofa, covering his face with both hands, sobbing sounds coming from his throat. He couldn't answer.

Seeing him like this, Michael said nothing more. He just patted his shoulder and said in a low voice: "Cruz, you decide how to choose."

"No matter what you do, you're Father's son, you're my brother. I respect your choice."

With that, Michael went upstairs without looking back.

Cruz sat dazed on the sofa.

After who knows how long, the space beside him suddenly sank. Cruz turned his head numbly to see a pair of deep eyes looking at him with a smile.

The person next to him didn't look well—very thin, with sunken cheeks and no energy.

Cruz didn't recognize him: "Who are you?"

"Mr. Cruz Johnson," the person beside him—Aaron—spoke in a low, hoarse voice. "I heard everything you just said."

"No wonder Mr. Axel Johnson gave the Johnson Group to him back then. When it comes to scheming, you're really no match for him."

"With just a few words, he's driven a wedge between you and your own mother. Don't forget—you and he don't share the same mother after all."

Cruz's heart jumped. He stood up, hands clenched tight, his voice rising involuntarily: "Who the hell are you? Our Johnson family business is none of your concern."

Aaron slowly raised his head, his gloomy eyes staring straight at him: "Mr. Cruz Johnson, your mother wouldn't talk to me like that."

At these words, Cruz suddenly realized something.

He frowned and looked around, then bent down close to Aaron: "You're the hacker who helped my mother send those photos, aren't you?"

Aaron neither confirmed nor denied it.

Cruz grabbed his shoulder, as if to pull him up from the sofa: "You dare show up here? Do you know what would happen if I handed you over to Michael right now?"

Aaron turned his head and glanced at Cruz's hands, responding unhurriedly: "You won't."

He raised his hand and gripped Cruz's wrist, prying his fingers open one by one: "Michael got one thing right—as long as your mother and the Porter family make their move, you'll be the rightful heir to the Johnson Group."

"And I'm the key piece that can help you become the Johnson Group's heir."

With that, Aaron had already pushed Cruz's hand away.

He slowly stood up, a smile on his lips, staring intently at Cruz: "Mr. Cruz Johnson, instead of struggling with those three choices here, why don't you come with me somewhere? I'll tell you how to choose."

Without waiting for Cruz to answer, Aaron turned and walked out first.

He didn't even look back, as if completely certain Cruz would follow.

In fact, after standing in place for a few seconds, Cruz's legs seemed to move beyond his control, and he actually followed him out.

Third floor study.

Michael watched the surveillance footage, his expression uncertain.

Byron stood behind him, brow furrowed: "Mr. Johnson, aren't you afraid Mr. Cruz Johnson will be swayed by him?"

Michael didn't answer his question. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Olivia beside him.

She had also seen the footage just now, and was now frowning, deep in thought.

After a long while, Michael finally said slowly: "He'll definitely sway Cruz, because he's facing the same problem as Cruz."