Chapter 672 - Zion's Decision II

"This problem here is not yours to fix, nor do I plan to recruit you in this operation. Whether or not I like you, you're still her brother. So, the least you can do is fix what you can do as her brother. Contact me once you've decided."

Matthew's words repeated in Zion's mind. Even now that he was being driven back to the Kwan Mansion, Zion didn't speak a word.

"Don't think too much about it." Zion snapped back upon hearing Ivan's words.

Slowly, Zion moved his gaze towards his side, the driver's seat where Ivan was. 

"Don't get me wrong. I still don't like you. But, this matter is just something you can't do anything about even if you start learning how to shoot a gun." Ivan uttered, his eyes on the road.

"I can cut people." Zion muttered under his breath. "I've killed people -- people who trust me with their lives but I failed to save them."

Ivan arched his brow as he glanced at Zion who was on the front passenger seat. "You want to join this operation?"

"I don't know." Zion shook his head lightly. "What I'm saying is, whenever I fail to save someone, it feels… awful."

"Ahh…" Ivan nodded in understanding. "It only feels awful at first. Don't worry. I never heard of Sis killing anyone. She passed the burden to me. What a heartless big sister."

Zion glanced at Ivan and studied his side profile. It may not look like it, but Ivan was far more reliable than he appeared.

A subtle smile resurfaced on Zion's lips. Ivan didn't like Zion, but the feeling was mutual. There's just this boundary that Zion couldn't like Ivan. But, Ivan earned Zion's respect.

"Thank you." Zion expressed.

Ivan's face immediately distorted at the center of his face. He gasped as he glanced at Zion in disdain, cringing at the sincerity in Zion's voice.

"Yuck." Ivan muttered under his breath. "Man, I'm straight and have a beautiful girlfriend. Don't be so cheesy, I might kick you out of here."

"Call it cheesy, but I'm glad you were there for her when I was not." Zion smiled and chuckled, resting his back against the leather upholstery seat.

"I can't imagine the life my sister had. She always smiles and acts cheerful around me. She always inspires and motivates people. It's my fault not to see what's behind those kind eyes. And it's my fault that I can't even protect her in our own household."

"Well, dwelling in the past is not my forte." Ivan shrugged. "I'm sure Sis does things which make her happy. She hid the truth from you because she cares for you. I'm no poet or hero, but I would dislike you even more if you remain a coward for life."

After Ivan dropped his last remarks, there was a long silence between them. Zion didn't speak anymore as he stared out on the window.

"A coward…" Zion whispered and a bitter smile resurfaced on his lips.

Zion never considered himself as a coward. He often found reasons and excuses why he did things that way he did them.

But now that he thought about it, he was actually one. He never confessed his feelings to Cora because he was afraid their friendship wouldn't be the same.

If only Zion had taken a leap of faith, Cora wouldn't be dating another man. But, regrets and realization only happened in the end.

He never asked Zoey about what had happened to her. Or rather, he never nagged or pried too much. Why? Because Zion had an inkling that he wouldn't be able to handle it. 

Therefore, he let things flow and turned a blind eye. The reason the truth was akin to a tight slap. No wonder… Zion was a loser in the end.

"Oh, we're here." Ivan announced as he drove towards the large gate. "I won't drop you at the doorstep, though."

Ivan turned to Zion. The latter glanced at Ivan and nodded. With that being said, Zion unbuckled his seat while a guard jogged his way towards the driver's window.

Ivan glanced at the guard who was knocking on the window. He only rolled his eyes as he didn't plan on engaging in a conversation.

"Thank you for the ride." Zion expressed as he placed his hand on the car's door.

"Go. Shoo." Ivan waved. Zion shook his head as he opened the door and hitched outside.

When Zion closed the door, Ivan unhesitatingly shifted his gear and moved in reverse. Zion watched the car move backward before it made a turn and sped away.

"Oh, Doctor Kwan!" The guard exclaimed upon recognizing Zion's face. "Do you need a shuttle ride?"

The guard offered to see that the car sped away. Zion just offered a subtle smile and shook his head.

"I'll walk." He said. "Thank you for the offer."

"Oh. Alright, sir." Puzzled, the guard didn't question him and watched Zion walk. 

For the guard, it was a bit weird that Zion would walk his way home because their mansion in this subdivision would take twenty minutes if he walked. Regardless, the guard didn't pry. Rich people were all weird in their own ways. Commoners like them must learn not to question them.

**

After the long walk, Zion finally reached the Kwan Mansion. From outside the gates, he stood in the middle and stared at the house he grew up in.

Zion never looked at their house like this. But now, he realized how huge this house was. Yet, no matter how huge it was, staring at it felt suffocating and gloomy.

"I wonder if this was how she felt when she came back to us…" Zion whispered, wondering how Zoey felt after coming back after years of her disappearance.

His hand slowly balled into a fist. Zoey returned, yet, she didn't have a family to return to. Not a welcoming father, or a real mother. Not even a reliable brother.

"No wonder you didn't bother us with anything." Zion let out a ridiculing scoff, directed at himself. "Because you can never rely on a family who never had a strong foundation."

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Author's Note:

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