Chapter 81: Choosing the Husband, or Choosing the Son
Under the overpass, the argunt between Butcher and Becca continued.
"Becca! Are you out of your mind? You’d rather stay with that psycho’s bastard spawn than leave with your legal husband?" Butcher asked. "And I’m serious, I can raise Ryan!"
The two were currently pulling at each other right beside the car’s trunk.
Just then—
Thud, thud...
The sound of footsteps approached.
"Let see... who exactly is putting on such a deeply moving family lodrama under this pitch-black overpass?"
Holander strode slowly out from the shadows with an elegant pace, his hands clasped behind his back. His lips wore that trademark fake smile. His gaze scanned back and forth between a terrified Becca and a highly vigilant Butcher.
Becca flinched, backing away several paces in fright.
As for Butcher, the mont he laid eyes on Holander, he didn’t back down an inch. He violently shielded Becca behind him, gun in hand.
Staring at Butcher, Holander applauded with extre appreciation.
Clap, clap, clap.
"William Butcher. I have to say, I’m genuinely seeing you in a new light more and more." Holander tilted his head, saying, "As a mortal with absolutely zero superpowers, you actually managed to bypass Vought’s tightest security and find your way all the way to this place that doesn’t even exist on a map. Your perseverance is honestly quite fascinating."
The smile on Holander’s face widened, turning even more smug.
"But unfortunately, Butcher, you fought with your life to investigate for eight years, suffering endless tornt. In the end, though, you’re still a step slower than ." Holander’s tone carried a gloating edge. "After all, a while back, I was the one who found this place before you did. I was the one who left the most noble bloodline inside the body of this woman you love. And I am the one who is now replacing you, playing the father to that lovely boy."
Faced with Holander’s intensely insulting provocation, Butcher didn’t say a word. Though rather than a provocation, it was more like gloating, and Butcher managed to catch a critical piece of information from it: Holander had only found out about this place recently. aning the original Vought corporation had kept Holander in the dark as well. Because of what? Because Soldier Boy had returned?
Having gloated at Butcher, Holander scrutinized him with interest once more. Then, he slightly tilted his head, his peripheral vision scanning over to Becca, who was trembling all over as she watched Butcher with deep worry.
Looking at this tragic pair of lovebirds who had finally reunited after eight years of "separation by life and death," the corners of Holander’s mouth stretched bit by bit, pulling into a grin.
"Butcher, to be honest, I really appreciate you." Holander kept his hands behind his back, taking two leisurely paces forward. "You’re like a cockroach that can’t be stepped to death. Honestly, I’d love to keep throwing down with you like this; it gives a lot of fun to my boring life. But..."
His tone sharply shifted, the smile vanishing from his face, replaced by pure irritation. Holander pointed at Becca. "I have to say, this lovely wife of yours is honestly too annoying. Especially when I co with a heart full of joy to visit my son, she always makes highly uncomfortable."
Saying this, Holander suddenly leaned in close to Butcher, lowering his voice. "So, William Butcher, since this whole thing started with that accidental one-night stand between and Becca, I am now, out of the goodness of my heart, giving you a choice."
"You take your dearly beloved Becca and get the absolute fuck out of this community right now, this instant. Get out of my sight, and never co back."
Holander spread his hands, continuing, "As for Ryan’s side, leave him to . I’ll take a little ti to tell my son, in a highly regretful tone, that his mother brutally abandoned him for a crude, wild man."
"This way, in this world, Ryan will only have ... only , his all-powerful father, and his grandfather. It’s practically a perfect ending, right?"
Hearing Holander’s casual words, a look of emotion surfaced on Butcher’s face, because Holander’s proposal happened to be exactly what he wanted.
Butcher’s breathing grew rapid.
For these eight years, he had lived like a rat in the sewers. The sole drive keeping him alive was to avenge Becca. And now, Becca was alive, and Holander was willing to give her back to him! To Butcher, this was an absolutely un-refusable temptation.
Butcher turned his head to stare at Becca. His aning couldn’t be more obvious.
However, facing her husband’s burning and expectant gaze, Becca’s body froze all over again. Her lips trembled as she looked at Butcher, shaking her head.
"No..." Becca’s voice carried a heavy plea. "No, William, no... Ryan can’t be without . He can’t be without a mother!"
Becca continued, "You know better than anyone, William! What becos of a Supe child raised without a mother’s guidance? He can’t grow up like Holander! And I am absolutely never abandoning my own flesh and blood!"
"Shut up!" The playfulness completely vanished from Holander’s face, and deep in his eyes, two pools of crimson light began to brew. He genuinely loathed Becca; every ti she spoke, she touched his deep-seated raw nerve.
"You bitch, you dare ntion that in front of ?" Holander glared dead at Becca. "I am commanding you right now, not negotiating with you!"
Holander threatened, "Becca, listen well: either you get the fuck out with Butcher right now, or I will stand right here, right in front of your face, crush his bones inch by inch, and burn his head to ashes! And don’t you dare forget, he’s the primary killer who murdered Translucent. taking care of him just happens to avenge Translucent of The Seven."
Butcher looked at Becca again. This usually iron-willed man’s gaze now rarely carried a trace of pleading.
This was an extrely cruel dilemma—a mother choosing between the husband she’d been separated from for eight years and the flesh and blood she carried for ten months.
Butcher clenched both fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. How he hoped Becca would choose to return to his side. This was just Holander’s son. Logically speaking, she ought to hate this son born from her rape.
However, fate seed to always love rubbing salt into Butcher’s wounds.
Becca closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her despairing gaze said everything. Once again, she let Butcher down.
"No, you can’t do this, please, don’t..." Becca shook her head in despair, her body collapsing uselessly onto the ground.
"Stop wasting your breath! Choose right now!!!" Holander closed in step by step, looking down from his imposing height. "Is it losing your husband, or losing your son?! Countdown starts now: three! Two!"
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A/N: Don’t forget to send Power Stones for more Chapters!!
Want to know what happens next? You can read up to 10 Chapters ahead on my p@tr~on:
/ForgottenDaoist (@ = a, link is in my profile).
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