Chapter 325
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Tommy looked at Ethan in shock. He heard about what happened from his father but hearing it from Ethan in person felt different. He knew what his uncle had done in the past.
“Uncle Lars got what he deserved. As for my grandparents and mother, they just have to be. It’s fate.”
“Fate?” Ethan muttered. After a few rounds of questions, he got a general idea of Tommy’s personality. Unlike his father, the boy could still be saved.
“I won’t stop your father, but I can give you two pieces of advice.
“First, collect evidence of his crimes and give them to Stephen Quinn. Though you might not be able to fool your father and after today, you won’t get the chance to leave Stone Village again.”
Once Nico realized his son was missing, he would go looking for the boy. When he found out that his son went to Ethan’s place, Tommy would surely be grounded. It was not just because Tommy had met Ethan but also because Tommy knew too much.
“Second piece of advice: cut ties with your father and break up with your girlfriend. Study hard, and after you graduate, leave Riveria for someplace else. It’s the best advice I can give you now.”
Tommy fell into silence. He was not a fan of Ethan’s advice. No matter what his choice would be, his father would die and Hill City would pay a huge price.
Thump!
Tommy fell to his knees.
“Mr. Rivers, please, is there another way?”
Ethan nodded. “There’s actually a third piece of advice, which is also the worst for you.”
He did not comment on the first piece of advice and believed that the second piece of advice would be the best for the boy. He initially did not want to bring up the third piece of advice. If Tommy had not asked, he would not have said it.
The first two pieces of advice were built upon Tommy’s survival, but the third one was
different from the other two.
“The third piece of advice would be death.”
Tommy was shaken.
Ethan explained, “Use your death to wake your father up. If you die right in front of him, he might realize his mistake. If he can come to that realization, he and Hill City will be fine. However, this is a double–edged sword. It might also drive him mad and make things
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Chapter 325
worse.”
Tómmy finally understood why Ethan said the third piece of advice was the worst for him. He would have to sacrifice himself to save his father, and it contained uncertainty. It was basically taking a gamble to see if his father could realize his mistakes.
Compared to the third piece of advice, the first two sounded much better.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Tommy kowtowed to Ethan three times for the three pieces of advice. He was grateful for Ethan’s guidance. “Thank you, Mr. Rivers.”
The young man got up and his eyes showed resolve. He wanted to choose the third option: his death to save everyone.
Ethan looked into his determined eyes and knew what the boy had chosen. Tommy then
left.
When he arrived back home, one of the villagers said to him, “Your father is looking for you.”
Tommy recalled Ethan saying that once he returned, he might not leave the village
anymore.
When he returned home, Nico looked at him with furrowed brows. He asked, “Where have you been?”
“I met Mr. Rivers.”
Slap!
Nico slapped him in the face, almost knocking the boy to the floor. “You met him?! Do you realize that he’s our enemy?!”
Nico was furious but also scared. Tommy was still young and inexperienced, and he was no match for the cunning Ethan. If the boy fell for Ethan’s tricks and stood against Nico, it would be the worst outcome possible.
Nico recalled what Ethan had said earlier.
“You are walking on the same path as your brother, and you will end up in the same grave.” Lars had died because he killed him. What if Ethan instigated Tommy to kill him?
Then, Ethan’s words might come true.
Nico ended up in exactly the same situation as his brother. However, he could not afford to Het it happen!
“Mr. Rivers isn’t our enemy!” Tommy said, defending Ethan.
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“Shut your mouth!” Nico bellowed. He knew Ethan must have said something to the boy and tricked him.
He called the villagers in and then said, “Take him away and keep an eye on him. Don’t let him out of the village!”
The villagers took Tommy away and no
“Damn you, Ethan Rivers. You can’t “atter how Tommy shouted, Nico refused to listen.
Ethan Rivers. You can’t trick me but you tricked my son. My family is ruined
because of you and you still want to take my son away?!”
