CHAPTER 231: A ROTTEN CHOICE

As soon as Vivian left the room, Max felt his blood boiling. Rage, disbelief, and frustration twisted together into something hot and uncontrollable. There were too many emotions to unpack, all surging through him at once.

Strangely, Chad remained quiet. Completely silent. Not a single word from the usually smug and smooth-talking cousin.

One hundred and three million dollars? Max’s thoughts screamed. This idiot started with a billion, just like me, and now he’s over a hundred million in debt? What the hell did he even do?

No matter how much Max hated Chad, for the way he’d always looked down on him, for being behind Dipter and the bullying, and ultimately being part of the reason Sam had taken his own life, there was still a small part of him, deep down, that considered paying the debt.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

If it had just been a few million, Max reasoned, I could’ve taken the hit. Just to keep the Black Hounds off my back, especially with everything else already going on.

But this wasn’t a few million.

It was a hundred million. That kind of payment would take a serious toll on his vow. It wouldn’t just weaken him, it would leave him vulnerable. He’d be risking everything, including his ability to stand against the Chalkline Boys or the Rejected Corps if something broke out.

"Well, what can we do?" Chad finally spoke, breaking the tense silence. "The situation is what it is. We’re just going to have to give them the money."

Max turned sharply, his voice rising with pure fury.

"What the f did you just say?" he snapped. "We’re going to give them the money? Why are you acting like it’s yours?!"

He jumped to his feet, putting distance between himself and Chad. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. He wanted to hit him, badly. To punch him square in the face for everything. For Sam. For the pain. For dragging him into this.

But Max stopped himself. He knew that if he started, he might not stop. He might hit Chad so hard he wouldn’t get back up. And that wouldn’t help anything.

"I’m not giving them a single damn penny," Max shouted. "And it’s not your money to hand over either! You don’t get to throw me into this mess like it’s nothing!"

Under normal circumstances, Chad would’ve thrown back some smug remark, maybe tossed a drink in Max’s face just to rile him up. But now? The Chad in front of him was different. Beaten. Cornered.

Still, that didn’t stop his mouth from running.

"Aren’t you being a little foolish, Max?" Chad said calmly. "I know your situation. You have the money. One hundred million, it’s a lot, sure. But you can afford it. You’d be completely fine."

Max’s nostrils flared as he tried to breathe slowly, deliberately. He was trying to calm the storm inside.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"You really don’t get it," Max said through gritted teeth. "You’re right about one thing. If I could use that money to bring someone back, someone I cared about, I’d spend it in a heartbeat."

He took a step forward, his eyes burning with emotion.

"But this? This is to save you. And that is why it’s a big deal."

"You think I don’t know what you’ve done? You ordered Dipter and the others to torment me. Because of you, another student died for no reason!"

"You used Abby to try and manipulate me. You’re the one who blocked my access to my own funds. I know everything now. And out of every person in this world, you’re the last one I would ever help."

Chad leaned back in his seat and smiled, a hollow, bitter grin.

"So, you found out, huh?" he said. "No wonder you’ve been splashing your money around. Guess that confidence came from finally understanding the game."

"But here’s what you still don’t get," Chad continued. "The reason I don’t care whether you help me or not is simple: you’re already in it. They know you can pay. They’ll come after both of us now."

"It’s easier for me if I just convince you to pay up."

Max narrowed his eyes.

"And what if I tell the rest of the family?" he said. "Tell them how you lost all your money. How you’re mixed up with gangsters. What then? Do they get dragged into this too?"

He was trying to force Chad into another path, to make him rethink. Why Max? Why drag him into this mess, of all people?

Maybe it was because Max had always been the easiest target.

"You think our grandfather doesn’t already know?" Chad replied. "He sticks his nose into everything. He knows. And he’s decided to do nothing."

"And what about the others?" Max pressed. "You really think no one would help you if you asked?"

Chad scoffed, waving a hand.

"There might’ve been a few who would’ve lent me the money," he admitted. "But I’m not about to beg. I’m not going to grovel in front of my own family. Do you have any idea what that would make me look like?"

Max stared at him in disbelief.

"So instead... you’d rather steal it from me?" he asked, voice trembling with fury. "You’d rather put me in danger, drag me into this mess, instead of admitting how badly you screwed up?"

He stepped closer.

"What kind of warped world did you grow up in, Chad? Where stealing from your own family is somehow less shameful than asking for help?"

Max turned his back to him, walking toward the door.

He paused for a final moment.

"You can rot for all I care," he said coldly. "The only reason I’m not beating the life out of you right now is because I imagine the Black Hounds will make you suffer a hell of a lot more than I ever could."

With that, Max stepped out, leaving Chad in silence.

He had two days.

Two days to figure out the gruesome situation he’d been pulled into. Two days to decide what kind of person he was going to be.

And two days before the Black Hounds returned, with blades, with expectations, and with no more second chances.