Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 267: Why Don’t You Go Compete with Them?
Gideon Sheffield shuddered violently when he heard Vera Underwood’s voice. He swallowed, but his throat was unusually dry.
On the other end of the line, Vera Underwood didn’t hear a response, and asked again. Gideon Sheffield closed his eyes. How could he believe what Zane Thorne had just said?
His Vivi was so wonderful, how could she... how could she betray him like this? He didn’t want to believe it. Yet, Zane Thorne’s words perfectly explained his doubts.
Why, after so many years of love, could Vera Underwood cruelly leave him without hesitation after his incident?
Vera Underwood finally sensed something was wrong and asked cautiously.
"Is that you?"
After that, her voice trembled, and she asked again in a panic.
"Is that you, Jay? Is it you?"
Jay.
Gideon Sheffield laughed sarcastically. How could she still have the nerve to call him Jay? He snatched the phone and slammed it on the ground.
Zane Thorne glanced over. The screen was shattered, but the call was still connected.
"Do you think it was worth it? To ruin yourself abroad for five years for a woman like her? She might not even care about your past relationship anymore."
Gideon Sheffield slapped the ground frantically, laughing at his own stupidity, at the past five years, and at his own obsession.
"Vera Underwood, you were really my good Vera."
"I treated you so well, how could you dare betray me."
"The child, hahaha, even the child isn’t mine. Good, good, Vera, hahaha, do you even have a heart, hahaha!"
"I kept thinking about the child for so long, and it turns out you were carrying someone else’s bastard."
"..."
At this point, Zane Thorne stepped forward and hung up the phone. He hoisted Gideon Sheffield back into his wheelchair. He didn’t continue speaking; what had been said was enough to make Gideon reflect for a long time.
He stayed with him in the yard, letting the cold wind blow, and when it seemed enough, Zane Thorne finally brought Gideon Sheffield back inside.
Gideon Sheffield locked himself in his room.
"Zane, was what you said... all true?"
Zane Thorne knew that although his parents hated Vera Underwood for abandoning Gideon Sheffield, they still felt somewhat guilty. The matter of the child was a significant blow to them.
"The child has been his Heart Demon for years. Knowing the truth will do him good and wake him up."
Zane Thorne glanced at the tightly closed door.
"Uncle, Aunt, don’t worry, give him some time."
Gideon Sheffield’s reaction showed he could still listen to reason. Leo Chandler had once said that both physical and psychological disabilities required a pivotal moment to release the resentment and hatred towards fate.
Without that moment...
Zane Thorne hoped that Gideon Sheffield could wake up completely and think carefully about whether the rest of his life should be wasted on a woman who wasn’t worth it.
The two didn’t stay at the Sheffield Family for dinner. On the way back, Natalie Vaughn received a call from Vera Underwood.
She didn’t answer.
Zane Thorne seemed to know who it was, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
"How does she have the nerve?"
The phone rang again, and Natalie Vaughn simply turned it off.
"You say Gideon Sheffield’s Heart Demon was that child. Now that he knows the child isn’t his, will he get better?"
"Not sure."
"When he had his episodes in the past, it was the same."
Zane Thorne pressed his brow, suppressing his emotions.
"Hmm."
Natalie Vaughn started to feel sorry for Zane Thorne. She didn’t know how often Gideon Sheffield had his episodes over the past five years, but he frequently flew to Altara, and it seemed these five years had been a torment for both of them.
She once thought of starting with Vera Underwood to help Gideon Sheffield let go, but she didn’t expect it to be in this manner.
"He’ll get better."
Everything will get better.
Gideon Sheffield will eventually find a way to continue living.
...
The day before departure, Zane Thorne took Natalie Vaughn to the ROX Club.
Huan Yuan’s contract issue with the rival team had been resolved, and he had long since joined the club for training.
Just arriving at the training ground, there was already a racket coming from inside.
"Coach, why do you hover around Huan Yuan as soon as he arrives, can’t you pay attention to me?"
Jay Sterling was quite upset.
Before Huan Yuan arrived, Jay, although the youngest player in the club, had a lot of talent, and the club prioritized him. But now, with Huan Yuan coming, everyone wanted to spar with him, and even the coach seemed to want to focus more on Huan Yuan.
Huan Yuan had just joined two years earlier. Given another two years, Jay thought he could definitely bring home a championship, so what’s the fuss?
Jay Sterling chattered on the side, whereas Huan Yuan appeared much quieter in comparison. He didn’t understand Jay’s hostility. At ROX, what he cherished wasn’t the coach’s attention but the chance to meet God Thorne.
If he dared to be greedy, it would be to receive guidance from God Thorne.
Natalie Vaughn found it interesting watching the noisy and quiet pair, even their clothes were black and white.
"You weren’t so diligent during previous trainings."
Zane Thorne, holding Natalie Vaughn’s hand with one and tucking the other in his pocket, raised an eyebrow at the boisterous Jay Sterling.
Upon hearing the voice, Huan Yuan immediately stood up straight and silently took off his hoodie. Jay Sterling, on the other hand, ran towards Zane Thorne.
"Mr. Thorne, can’t I decide to work hard now? In the March match, I’ll definitely win the championship!"
"Championship?"
Zane Thorne’s eyes moved slightly, glancing at Huan Yuan standing not far away.
"Good luck."
Jay Sterling: ...Encouraging me is fine, but why did he have to look at Huan Yuan? Does he think I can’t possibly beat Huan Yuan? How unfair!
"Mr. Thorne, since you’re here, I’m going to challenge Huan Yuan to a match."
The coach chuckled from behind.
"Don’t cry and fuss if you lose later."
Jay Sterling: ???????? Do I look like someone who can’t handle losing?
"Who says I’ll lose? Old Wang, don’t underestimate me!"
With that, Jay Sterling walked over to Huan Yuan, full of momentum, and grabbed his hand.
"Let’s have a match."
Huan Yuan looked at Zane Thorne, and seeing the smile on his lips, agreed.
He had intended to impress God Thorne, and this was the perfect opportunity.
The two sat in their cars, getting ready.
Natalie Vaughn leaned her head gently against Zane Thorne’s shoulder.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Huan Yuan."
"I think it’s Huan Yuan too."
"Why?"
"Everyone says Huan Yuan is the second you, so naturally, aside from you, no one can beat him."
Hearing this, Zane Thorne was somewhat surprised. He looked down at Natalie Vaughn, seeing her complete and unreserved trust in him.
A feeling stirred in his heart.
"I haven’t trained for five years. My hand is rusty, so I might not necessarily beat him now."
"But didn’t you also beat everyone at the club last time?"
Zane Thorne smiled and patted Natalie Vaughn’s head.
"As you said, he’s the second me. It’s not that easy to beat him."
Natalie Vaughn straightened up, rolled her eyes, and suddenly had an idea.
"Why don’t you go over and challenge them too?"
Zane Thorne looked down at the cleverness in her eyes, chuckled, and playfully pinched her nose.
"What if I lose? We can’t lose face in front of our Nina."
Natalie Vaughn slapped his hand away.
"Stop pretending, are you the kind of person who fears losing?"
The man’s eyebrows arched high.
Indeed, he wasn’t.
Losing was never an option for him.
"Do you really want me to compete?"
