Alyssa and Jasper exchanged a knowing glance. Though they could feel the sting of the truth, their compassion stopped them from pursuing that line of thought.
To them, Javier could hardly be considered a good husband. His performance at work was mediocre, and he lacked exceptional talent. Yet, in the end, he had still raised Jasper and pulled him out of a life steeped in darkness and uncertainty.
If not for Javier, Jasper might have perished in the slums as a child. In that case, he would never have met Alyssa-never known her, never married her, never shared such a deep and passionate bond with her.
Moreover, Javier had always been a devoted son to Newton. That alone proved he was not entirely devoid of conscience. So how could he have fallen so far as to harm his own brother? That was nothing short of monstrous.
Javier's face was as pale as a ghost, sweat pouring down his temples. The suit he had worn for over 24 hours was soaked through with cold perspiration.
Frantic, Rory stepped forward to defend him. "Mr. Beckett Senior, this had nothing to do with Mr. Javier. I was the one who "
"Shut up!" Newton roared, his entire body trembling. All color had drained from his deeply lined face. "Javier... I raised you to be an honest and honorable man. And now, at a moment like this, you don't even have the courage to confess your own crimes?
"You've spent your entire life hiding behind a polished facade. But beneath it all, you're nothing more than a rat crawling in the gutter!"
"You're right... In your eyes, I've always been nothing but a rat." Javier snapped his head up, his eyes reddened with decades of festering resentment. "Ever since I was a child, I've been the useless son who could never measure up to Chester. I was never good enough for you.
"That's why I killed him! That way, you will give me—your only remaining son—all your attention and care! No one would compete with me for power, for your attention, for your love... I would finally be your only son!"
Alyssa and Jasper were utterly stunned. They had weathered countless storms, yet Javier's confession shattered their composure, leaving their minds blank.
Even Ben staggered back a step in shock. Yet more than the truth itself, what terrified him was whether Newton could survive the blow.
Rory shut his eyes tightly, pain and helplessness etched across his face as he curled in on himself, as though his world had collapsed.
"Why... Why would you do such a thing?"
Though fury twisted Newton's features, his eyes were filled with despair, confusion, and anguish. "Why... loved you both equally when you were young. I gave you the same education, the same
opportunities, the same resources as you grew up.
"I had already decided long ago that you would lead the corporation, with Chester supporting you. So why... why would you still do that?"
"There could only ever be one of us." Javier let out a hollow laugh, an unsettling madness breaking through his usual restraint. "How could I live in peace, knowing there was someone constantly threatening my place?
"If you had chosen me, then why did you keep giving him opportunities? Why did you praise him in front of everyone in the company, again and again?
"Didn't you see how hard I worked? All the effort I put in?"
"When did I ever say I didn't see it? Are you saying I treated you poorly? Tell me— did I ever treat you poorly?"
Tears streamed down Newton's
face as he repeated the question in
agony.
"You are my eldest son... my
chosen heir, the president of the corporation. I never once thought of replacing you. So why did you do that? Why?"
Newton had never intended to replace him?
The revelation struck like a bolt of lightning. Javier's body went slack as he collapsed to the floor, his face drained of all color as he shook his head in disbelief.
"That can't be... No way..."
"Do you know why Chester volunteered to take the blame for me back then?"
was drenched in
Newton's face v
sweat and tears as he continued, voice trembling. "He told me he didn't care what happened to him He would be content just to earn a modest living in the company after serving his sentence.
"But... Beckett Group needed you. You were its president, its future. No matter what happened, you couldn't be the one to go to prison.
"He treated you—his own elder brother-with such sincerity. And yet, you sent your younger brother, who admired you so deeply, to hell with your very own hands!"