Temptation

Chapter 71

"Now we go live in Toronto, where things have been a little shaken up. Early this week, Xemina Shan Royale, daughter of the late passing billionaire, Roñi Shan Royale, had been attacked on her campus. The man responsible for the attack is none other than Shawn Perron. A former student at Trinity Fox Academy and Eddie Perron's son, a great entrepreneur. No reason has been indicated yet why Shawn Perron would commit such a heinous crime against Xemina Royale and if these two had a relationship. If there wasn't enough of a roller coaster, Julian De Elvero, the boyfriend of Xemina Royale and also future CEO of Elvero Corporation, was the one who found them, and he shot Shawn Perron. Shawn Perron has been transferred to California for further treatment. From what we know, Julian De Elvero would not be charged, as his girlfriend is in intensive care. We wish Xemina Shan Royal an excellent recovery.

Going down to California, we just received incoming news. With all due respect and condolences, we share that Shawn Perron has passed away this morning at 7 am. No cause of death has been shared, but confidential sources have released a few details that it had been suicide. The family has not published a statement yet nor confirmed it. We tell them our condolences."

"Xavier, why are you letting her watch that?" Julian turned off the TV.

"I had to fight her for the remote." Xavier raised his arms and shrugged. "She wouldn't give it to me."

Something was wrong. There was no absolutely fucking way Shawn killed himself. He was an obsessed psychopath and narcissist. I was alive, and that was enough will to live for him. He wouldn't give up that quickly. He was a shadow behind me. He. Wouldn't. Give. Up.

Or...

Perhaps he did it to escape jail. No... Shawn wouldn't do that. The guy was an egocentric coward. His ego was bruised; he missed his attempt. He would have tried to sneak his way out of Justice, not suicide. Should I feel content that he committed? Either way, he wasn't fucking remorseful. In all his cases, he managed to get out with minimal punishment. That would be a big fuck you served to my face. Even in the death, he would laugh at the trauma he caused me. Every shred of my being was furious. I was tired of everyone treating me like shit and getting away with it like I wasn't a fucking human being. I wanted to see his life torn apart. I wanted him dead, but not this way. I craved vengeance for once in my life, and it irritated me to the bones. Even in the valley of death, he still won.

I was praying it wasn't the truth. I glanced at Julian; he was folding the sheets and my clothes, near Xavier, on the sofa. His family left this morning. Leonel left me so many gifts. I kind of understood where Julian inherited his love language. Maria left me various pomade and natural remedies for the inflammations, discolorations, and pains. I couldn't complain; they worked perfectly. I was healing slowly. I still look like a truck U-turned on my face.

How strange, how quiet he was? Not once did he talk about Shawn. I never received a visit from the police. The investigation was weirdly closed. And the unspoken tension between Julian's family and him. As if...they were communicating without words. Even after they left, the pressure remained. I began to doubt the truth. The two days I was in a coma, something happened; it involved them, and I wasn't informed. As a matter of fact, no one felt told me shit about how I got here and what happened that night.

"Xavier, can you give us a minute alone, please?" I asked the boy chewing his hoodie's drawstring. He sighed and got up.

"Yeah, I'm hungry anyway." He strolled to the door.

I waited a few seconds and adjusted my sitting position. I couldn't sit properly yet, and it hurt like a bitch to do the slightest movement. I mused at the man casually folding the sheets while humming Hit 'Em Up by 2Pac. Bumping his head to the beat.