BXBX NOVEL Chapter 222 - Proud Of You
"What happened?" John asked as soon as they gathered in the room and after making sure the room was well locked, Ethan took a resigned breath and began to walk around the room as if he was nervous to tell him.
"I.." his voice broke and he chucked for the nervosity, he cleared his voice and finally gazed up at John, "when I was younger..." Ethan changed his approach, he seemed not to be able to even look at John as if he was regretting and ashamed by what he was going to reveal or if he was scared of his brother\'s reaction.
John waited patiently in silence understanding he was having difficulty and giving him the time he needed to process what to say.
Ethan hinted a smile, he wasn\'t used to feeling that vulnerable and it only showed how much he cared about John and how much he needed to be accepted by him now. John blessed him by giving him a second chance and he didn\'t want to let it go up in smoke.
After a brief silence, Ethan used to recompose himself and finally reorganize his ideas, and plan a speech he finally took a deep breath. "Sharon appeared to me last night. She mentioned me doing something in the past that I couldn\'t remember but it may be correlated to all the events."
John shook his head, he smiled kindly, "you know how Sharon is. You shouldn\'t trust her, she manipulates and plays mind tricks with everyone." John said convinced of his answer.
Ethan on the contrary wasn\'t so positive about the entire situation, he was sure something odd happened and he knew he had done things in the past. If he didn\'t remember it only meant the situation could be even more dangerous than he may imagine.
"I have taken many lives, John..." Ethan continued murmuring.
"And so did I." John soon intervened offering another supportive smile.
Ethan\'s gaze remained concerned as he pulled his hair behind.
"I have met demons during my path, I allied with them, enter into agreements, made the deal, and even killed a few of them and stole their powers. That\'s why the snake said he thought I was by their side." Ethan said with a sad tone of voice, his gaze was fix on the ground like if he didn\'t want to look at him in the eyes when he revealed things like that. He was ashamed and if he could go back in time he probably wouldn\'t have done half of the things he did back then but he was desperate, he had no one and he was willing to do anything to grow stronger and seek his revenge against his family.
John sighed, he hesitated for few seconds before he reached his brother in few steps and placed his hand over his shoulder, "we all do mistakes, I am sure you did those things driven by anger. I did many things I regret too but those mistakes only help us in the future to improve and not repeat them." John said wisely and Ethan slowly gazed up meeting his gaze and smiling, "you can only improve from that person you were." John finished and Ethan nodded, he seemed more optimistic.
"There\'s no day I don\'t regret having killed our father or having never tried to talk to you when I was younger," Ethan confessed in a murmur, his eyes filled with tears but he gazed up to the ceiling to drive those tears away.
"That\'s past. We focus on the present now, and you helped me in the Kratez battle and are part of the family now. Everyone deserves a second chance after all." John walked even closed and stretched his hand to wrap his brother in a tight hug.
After a brief but intense embrace John departed and smiled at him, "don\'t worry." he murmured when Ethan turned around to glance at his brother one last time before opening the door and stepping outside.
Roselyn was still sat down at the table and as soon as they exited the room her gaze darted between them in search of answers.
"See you." John said cheerfully and Ethan smiled at his brother, "goodbye Rose, sorry for the intrusion," he said as he speeded toward the exit door and in few seconds the door opened to close right after.
Roselyn moved the quizzical gaze to John who exploded in a laugh, Roselyn rolled her eyes more relieved, if it was something serious John wouldn\'t laugh so somehow his reaction reassured her.
"Your curiosity will kill you one day," John joked as he regained his breath and reached her near the table.
"He was only worried about his past, and he doubted he had something to do with the snakes demons invasion," John explained to Roselyn who gave a breath of relief and stopped to hold her breath.
"Does he have something to do about it?" she asked, arching her eyebrow but John shrugged, digging his hands inside his pockets.
"I don\'t know. But I reassured him, he seemed very worried and I didn\'t want to cause him more distress."
Roselyn smiled genuinely almost not recognizing that new mature version of him, comprehensive and empathetic. He turned into a new person and maybe Roselyn was truly the cause behind his change.
"Why are you smiling?" John asked narrowing his eyes confused but Roselyn gestured with her hand, she walked closer to him and ran her hand through his long smooth hair.
"I am so proud of you." She whispered, the words she spoke slipped out her tongue uncontrollably like if they came right from the bottom of her heart.
"I am proud of the person you became." Roselyn rectified, her eyes sparkled in joy and gratitude, she saw the change and the growth John made during the months they spent together and she still remembered the first days she stayed in the castle, the only fixed thought and insane obsession he had was to avenge his father but if she looked at him now he could only see someone mature enough to forgive and comprehend others.. She couldn\'t be prouder of him.