Chapter 116 - CHAPTER 116: ULTIMATE REPAYMENT

"Thank you for everything, and I'm sorry that I have failed you many times."

Zion, along with Peter Black and the others were mourning because of the death of their dearly beloved friend. However, Zion is the most hurting one among them all. of course, who wouldn't be in pain when your savior dies without repaying his kindness. 

"Zion…" Old Peter taps the man's shoulder. He knows how painful it is for the young man to let go of the old man who saved him years ago. If it wasn't for him then Zion would have died when an unknown guy killed every member of his family. As a young boy, Zion's mother tried his best to hide him in the ceiling. The murderer failed to find the young boy and it was Mr. Ferlon who found him after three days.

FLASHBACK:

Mr. Ferlon was a detective that time who was ȧssigned to investigate the case. The whole family was wiped out and everyone knew that the dead couple has three children. However, they only found two dead bodies. They didn't find the youngest child so they ȧssumed that he was still alive. 

The motive of the murderer was also unknown but Mr. Ferlon decided to go back to the house three days after the killing incident. Although they already searched the house but at that moment, he felt the urge to go back for who knows why. It was then that he heard a faint cry somewhere in the house. 

He searched the whole house but he found nothing so he decided to speak in hope to reach whoever was inside. 

"Hello? Anybody here?" He voiced aloud but he heard no response. He was hoping that the youngest member of the family is still alive. Maybe he came back to the house but that is way too impossible for a six-year-old child to find his way back home. And if in any case that he really did came back home, where did he go? He couldn't justify the idea that came across his mind. Unless------

Now he's thinking when he heard a faint screeching. He stopped from his tracks and focused to where the noise came from. Slowly, he turned his head above him. 

The ceiling! How could he forget about it?

"Hello? Is there anybody here? This is Ferlon, a police detective. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. I'm here to help."

He didn't hear any response for a few seconds. But when he was about to speak again, he suddenly heard a faint knock not just once but thrice. And indeed, it's coming from the ceiling. The middle-aged man tried his best to get the trust of whoever it is. Then after a few more minutes of saying comforting words, a piece of the ceiling started to move.

Bingo! It was indeed a child! The youngest of the murdered family. He looked pale and weak and almost ready to faint anytime soon. Good thing, Ferlon was quick to help him come down. And as soon as he carried the child in his arms, the little kid started to cry before losing consciousness. 

It was Ferlon who paid all of the child's hospital bills and he even took him home and let him live with him. He doesn't have a family to feed so having little Zion was never a problem for him. He could have sent him to an orphanage and report him to his superiors but he feared for the child's life. The murder case is not as simple as the other case he looked into. It was intentional. It was well-planned and he knew that the life of the young man is in danger once the murderer discovers that one of the family member survived. 

He wanted to be careful. He doesn't want to trust anyone, not even his superiors. The murdered family is one of the well-off family in the country so the reason of their death could be political in nature. There was a rumor that the head of the family was planning to run for congressman and everyone knew that the percentage of winning the position is almost a hundred. His fellow aspirants were of no match and that's the main possible reason why they were all murdered as per the police investigations. 

He kept Zion for only five years. After that, he pleaded Peter Black to take the kid and take good care of him as his own. That night, when Ferlon talked him into taking Zion in his home, he knew something bad will happen. However, he doesn't have any idea what's going on. Not until Ferlon was caught in an obvious trap. He seemed to have obtain a very useful information about the family's murder case.  But then, in one unexpected night, he was found lying unconscious inside his house. 

----- END OF FLASHBACK----

"Be strong son, be strong." Peter Black comfortingly voice.

"I haven't repaid him yet…." He sobs. Pain is evident in his tone. "What am I going to do now? He's gone… for good." He lowered his head in disappointment. "How can I recompense his kindness now?"

"Zion, don't ever think that you haven't done anything for him. Being who you are right now makes him proud. You should know how happy he was when he heard all the things that you have achieved. He didn't die in vain. He died with dignity. Now he can face your parents with head held high."

"What will he say to them? That he failed to obtain justice for my family?"

"Still, he was able to protect you. Your mother's effort to hide you didn't go to waste."

"But still, I need to avenge Mr. Ferlon." Zion clenched his fist in anger. "All his efforts should not go to waste." 

Yes, Mr. Ferlon sacrificed a lot, even at the cost of his life only to protect a young lad who's not even a blood relative. Who is he to be protected? 

Peter Black wants to say something but he was taken aback. Should he tell him the truth? Is this the right time to shake his resolve? He deeply releases a sigh. Though it was a faint sigh but Zion felt it but didn't react to it. 

"Zion, the truth will expose itself someday. Trust me, destiny will surely correct its own in due time." Peter Black wanted to voice his thoughts out loud but he chooses not to. In the right time, he encouraged himself. 

"Son. Everything will fall into place sooner or later." It was the only word he managed to say before leaving the grieving young man. He just saw an old friend who enter the hall and the urge to talk to him strongly pushed the old man towards the new comer. 

"What the heck is this?" She yelped within her as soon as she read the front page's content. It is all about the event that took place last night. But what anger her more was the article she read about Marcus' ex-girlfriend, Rachelle. "Pregnant?! How could she be?" She's trying to suppress her anger towards the woman because she might cause an even bigger scandal towards the country's top model.

She clenched her teeth in annoyance before deciding to pick up her phone and dial Jade's number. She wants to confirm something or is it only her excuse to check on Jade? Maybe. Anyway, she wants to check the woman on how she is copping up with the recent news. She is certain that Jade accompanied Marcus at the Art symposium last night so whatever transpired that time, Jade should have known it. 

She waited for Jade's response after dialing her number, however, after a few failed attempts, she decided to call Sonny. But then even Sonny's number is on busy mode. 'They must be truly busy at the company.' She thought before giving up. 

Going back to the article, the old chairwoman tightens her grip on the newspaper. No, she must do everything in her power to prevent Marcus from divorcing his wife in exchange of his ex-lover, even at the cost of someone's life. It's the ultimate repayment for all the things she did in the past.