Chapter 673 - Zion's Decision III

As soon as Zion headed inside the Kwan Mansion, he saw his father drinking in silence in the living area. Zachery was staring at the table, his mind was traveling elsewhere as he didn't even notice his son's return.

"Tch," Zion clicked his tongue as he hissed. 

Without a word, Zion walked in and perched on the settee. Yet, Zachery was still not reacting to him. Surely, Zachery was thinking something else which Zion didn't care about.

Zion grabbed the empty glass and poured himself a shot of rum. He never used to drink aside from wine and champagne. However, he thought he should join his father tonight.

As Zion poured himself a glass, Zachery slowly raised his shaking eyes towards his son.

"Zion," Zachery called out weakly, sporting a subtle smile. Zion glanced at his father and could tell that he had already had  a few drinks with how Zachery's eyes were drooping and his beet red face.

"You seem like you've been drinking, Dad." Zion uttered as he picked up his glass and drew back. His arms were over his leg, a glass of rum in his hand, while his gaze was fixed on Zachery.

"Well," Zachery chuckled as he shook his head. "I heard some funny news today."

"How funny?" Zion tonelessly asked. His father glanced at him, taking notice of Zion's coldness.

"It's ridiculous." Zachery huffed. "It's ridiculous to the point I wish it's not real."

"Why?"

Zachery gazed down, keeping his silence for a little while. "Because… if it is, I won't forgive myself."

Zion noticed the bitter glint that flickered across Zachery's eyes. In retrospect, Zion never saw his father so defeated.

But now… 

"Pathetic." Zion muttered as he let out a scoff before chugging down the rum in his hand.

Although Zion uttered it in a low tone, Zachery still heard him. The latter furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes as if it would help him get the confirmation if he had heard what he just heard.

"Dad, would you rather not know the truth if the truth is just too painful to accept?" Zion raised his gaze as he questioned his father with a conflicted expression.

"Would you rather avoid it or just turn a blind eye to it if the truth will make you doubt all your beliefs or yourself? You'd just do that instead of facing it and taking responsibility?"

"Zion, son, there's things that should remain as a mystery." Puzzled at his son's sudden query, Zachery still gave his son an indirect answer.

"Because sometimes, a mystery has different truths. Not every question requires an answer; sometimes, one question has hundreds of answers. It's complex and complicated. Why complicate things?"

Zion lightly rocked his head back and forth. But, he couldn't hide the mocking smirk on his lips as he figured where he got his genes from.

"So, instead of owning responsibility, you tried to keep her existence as a mystery? A secret?"

"Huh?" Zachery furrowed his brow because this time, he couldn't keep up with his son.

"Zoey." Zion scoffed. "She's your daughter, your own."

As soon as Zachery heard Zion, he instantly sobered up. He blinked his eyes, speechless as his words clogged in his throat.

"She's my sister all along. Hah… Now, I wonder what else you are hiding from me?" Zion ground his teeth, smiling to hide the pain that had been tormenting him since hours ago.

"Son, how did you…" Zachery trailed off as Zion threw another question. He could not help but pinch the space between his brows.

"Does Mom know?" 

"Son."

"I see…" Even without an answer, Zion was quick to understand his father's reaction. "Mom knows too."

Zion stretched his lips broader, biting his lower lip as he ran his fingers through his hair. He had suspicions. He did have suspicion on the way back here in this mansion.

After that long walk, Zion had enough time to rethink everything. From the time how his parents couldn't find Zoey or how it was possible that she disappeared.

Zion leaned back. He couldn't articulate his dismay and utter dismay that condensed into one potent emotion. 

"We're all…" Zion chuckled as he shook his head. "We don't deserve her."

"Zion?" Just then, Sarah's voice came in. As she walked down the stairs, Sarah darted her eyes from her husband to her son.

She heard that Zion was back. Hence, no matter how tough it was for her, she wanted to welcome her son. Maybe, tell him the truth about having a twin sister.

But, when Sarah sensed the atmosphere in the living area, she instantly knew something was wrong. She treaded carefully, furrowed brows as she called out softly, 

"Zion, son?"

Slowly, Zion raised his gaze at his mother. The ever perfect and sweet Sarah who had always cared and loved him. But now, Zion wondered if the mother he knew was just also a character she had been playing.

"Son, what's going on?" Sarah inquired as she approached them. The closer she got, the clearer she noticed the dismay in her son's eyes.

"Mom," Zion sported a bitter smirk as he slowly rose from his seat. "Who are you?"

"Son? What are you asking?" Puzzled, Sarah chuckled weakly as she tried to approach him.

However, before she could, Zion raised both his hands as he took a step back.

"Zion?"

"How dare you?" Zion mocked through his gritted teeth. Sarah and Zachery's expression immediately died down.

"Zion!" Enraged at Zion's lack of respect, Zachery's voice thundered. "How dare you talk to your mother like that?! I didn't raise you --"

"You didn't raise me with what?" Zion chuckled as he stared at his father. "Since childhood, I always wanted to please you and Mom. I did everything, worked hard more than anyone, afraid that if I didn't, I'd disappoint my supportive and kind parents. But you know what? The only person who truly understands and genuinely sees me for who I am is my sister."

"Zion, what…"

"Mom, Zoey  cares about you and loves you, honestly. She knew everything -- everything about being Dad's child. But she didn't tell you nor did she ever hint me about it. Do you know why?" Zion darted his eyes full of dismay from his mother and father.

"Zoey?" Sarah muttered, her bottom lip trembling. "She -- she knows?"

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Author's Note:

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