Chapter 217 Goodbye II (1/2)

Derek had stopped Samantha from seeking comfort from Kyle as he was getting worried. Would Samantha do what was needed to be done? They already had the talk, and she appeared to have agreed then but now ... he wasn't so sure anymore.

He could see how much the kid meant to her and it appeared as if he was the oasis to calm her after the death of her father.

He got lost in the memories of when he had just arrived.

The plane landed just at the break of dawn. Immediately upon disembarking, he tried to call Richard but there was no answer. He hoped he wasn't too late, but he knew he was.

When he finally reached the Mansion, he had to go through that insane security before finally being let through. Even though he was Richard's brother, he was not spared from the usual procedure. Richard was that paranoid ... and that distrustful of his own sibling.

Derek had just reached outside Richard's bedroom door when he heard the wailing inside. He sighed then stopped the bodyguards who were outside, from going in. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he entered. His heart clenched to see the girl that was crying in despair at the side of the bed.

His eyes roamed the entire room before taking a step inside.

Nothing seemed out of place. The windows were closed. The furniture was all in place. The blanket near the sofa was on the floor. Then, his eyes narrowed as he saw the tell-tale black card on the table. He walked there first, and stood there for a while as he studied what was on the table.

A plane ticket and a torn -up picture. He took a brief glance at it before stuffing it all in his pocket. He then made his way to Samantha, while looking around the room. He had to make sure that there was nothing in the room that could implicate the Greene's in any matter, as the police would soon have to be called.

Once he got near, he noted the card on Richard's chest.

He took it, as well as putting on hand on Samantha's shoulder.

When she looked up at him, he steeled himself. As much as he wanted to comfort her, what was needed was a firm control over the situation. Right now, damage control was needed. He had to make sure Samantha would not say the wrong thing.

Still, he spared her a soft glance and continued patting her shoulder. The Greene's were never into the showing of any intimacy and love, so just this small act was already a big deal. Samantha understood, and she steadied herself, cherishing this small act of kindness and warmth from her uncle.

”Samantha, we have to talk,” Derek said, ”I know the grief is there but we have to make sure our stories are straight before calling the police.”

”What stories?!” Samantha hissed, standing up, ”It was Ice! From Black Dragon!! Just sic those police on them!!”

Derek looked at Samantha in the eyes, noting the anger and grief there and sighed.

”That is an area that we cannot afford to tread, Samantha,” Derek cautioned, ”They are an existence that should not be messed with.”

”NONSENSE. They are evil. What are the police for then?! They must pay for what they did to my father! My poor, innocent father ...” Samantha sobbed, wiping her eyes.

Derek shut his eyes in sorrow and pain, then opened them again.

”Samantha, this is the worst timing ever, but ... you need to know the truth about your father,” Derek said.

He had to reveal everything to Samantha, even though she was consumed by grief. It was because she was so consumed, that she would most likely do something stupid that would seal her fate.

Worse, their fates.

His instructions and the ticket Samantha got were clear indications that the Black Dragons would leave Samantha alone. So long as she left this life behind and lived a normal life with him. She was to stay out of the family business while he took over.

However, if she was intent on revenge, or to have Black Dragon 'pay the price', she would end up paying the ultimate price. Worse, she may drag the entire Greene family into the war.

He couldn't have that.

So even though what he was going to tell her would hit her bad, at a time when she was already in so much pain, it had to be done.

Samatha just sat there as she listened to her uncle. After a while, she felt like the words just went in one ear and out the next. Who is this person her uncle was talking about? Surely it couldn't be her father. Yes, he was a distant father but he wasn't bad. Not really.

He was hardly around, but he cared.

Samantha shook her head, putting up her hands to close her ears and said, ”No no no no ... you're lying! LYING! My father was not like that!!”

Derek took her hands firmly, forcing them apart. Unlike Richard, who tended to pamper his daughter and would never do anything to hurt her, Derek had no such qualms. Sometimes, one had to be cruel to be kind.

”I can show you pictures, if you want,” Derek said uncaringly, ”I have plenty, and some even have Richard right next to the victims.”

Why did Derek have such pictures? Courtesy of Black Dragon. Nitocris's style of rule was simple. He always gave a reason for all the things that he did. He wasn't a dictator but he was neither a pushover nor a negotiator. He lay the law and enforced it.

Richard was a dictator and thus, could not understand Nitocris's style - brandishing him as a weak leader. Hence, the cause of his downfall.