Chapter 1711


    Chapter 1711


    Zavier stumbled backwards, his eyes staring nkly at the entrance of the emergency room. He


    opened his mouth to speak, but no words woulde out.


    Nora gave him another.shove. “What are you just standing there for? Go see your father already. What


    kind of a son are you? You’d be the reason he can’t rest in peace.”


    Her words were like boulders crushing down on Zavier, leaving him gasping for breath. It took a while


    before Zavier could gather his wits. With unsteady steps, he shuffled toward the emergency room.


    His fathery there, eyes shut, hisplexion devoid of any color. Kalene was on her knees beside the


    bed, clutching Samuel’s hand, her cries tearing through the silence.


    Approaching, Zavier saw not just his father’s pallid face but another face superimposed upon it.


    A year ago, upon receiving the news, he immediately rushed to the hospital. His elder brother, Brodie,


    was lying on a cold hospital bed, his handsome face pale and distorted. That face, once so familiar,


    now seemed like the face of a stranger, almost unrecognizable.


    Today felt like a cruel echo of that day.e2


    Pain crept from Zavier’s heart, spreading through his body, stiffening his limbs. He didn’t want to


    believe it, yet he couldn’t deny the truth.


    A few days ago, the person he could have had a good conversation with had died.


    Maybe, as everyone said, Zavier couldn’t measure up to Brodie. Maybe his father’s disappointment


    was so great that he couldn’t wait to join his favored son.


    The background noise of murmuring voices continued.


    “If Zavier was half as sensible as Brodie, Samuel might not have been so heartbroken after Brodie’s


    death.”


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    “Zavier’s well into his twenties, about to graduate college, yet he’s still loafing around.”


    “When Brodie was his age, he could already shoulder many responsibilities for Samuel and hold his


    own ground.”


    “It’s Zavier’s fault his dad was so eager to leave this world and join Brodie.”


    They all implied Samuel’s death was Zavier’s fault.


    He spun around, his gaze sharp and cold as he scanned the faces of his kin. These were his rtives,


    but as their father passed, they seemed eager to me him. They weren’t grieving. They wanted to


    crush him.


    Zavier wouldn’t let their malicious intent prevail. “Get out! Thest people my father would want to see


    are you soulless bastard. Do you even care about the bonds of family?”


    The rest of the Rivera n fell silent, except Nora. “Kalene, now that he’s gone, you need to rein in this


    wild child. You can’t let him. run amok.”


    “Get out!” Zavier shot back.


    Kalene, struggling to rise, tugged at Zavier’s sleeve. “Zavier…”


    He turned and slowly crouched beside her. After a moment, he murmured, “Mom…”


    Kalene copsed, her strength leaving her with a single utterance of “Zavier.”


    Zavier’s heart skipped a beat. “Mom.”


    Someone chimed in, “Look at that. Your whole family’s falling apart because of you. Are you happy


    now?”


    “Call the doctor!” Zavier demanded.


    Skyler received the news of Samuel’s passing two dayster. Samuel’s body had already been


    cremated at the funeral home, and his ashes brought back to Rivera Manor.