The Heart System Chapter 600

Jack’s pleas continued, his father’s tirade about religion, sin, shame, and family honor droning on. Meanwhile, Robert lay bleeding, the conversation a bizarre argument about biblical acceptance of same-sex relationships.

It was a truly horrific situation.

"Father," Jack managed to whisper, his voice strained, "please… he’s dying."

"Then let him die," the old man retorted without a second thought.

An unnerving silence descended upon the hallway once more, the tension palpable even among the suited guards.

Jack lowered his head completely, his hands shaking as they rested on the floor.

And me?

I remained concealed behind the slightly ajar door, my grip tightening on the hidden camera as my mind raced through every conceivable course of action.

Despite my deep dislike for Jack, I couldn't stand by and watch someone bleed to death.

Screw it.

For reasons I couldn't quite articulate, instead of simply opening the door like a rational person, I decided to kick it in with extreme prejudice.

The doorframe splintered with a loud groan as the door swung inwards violently, crashing against the wall.

Every man in the hallway startled, their attention snapping towards me instantly. A guard reacted with startling speed, drawing his handgun and aiming it directly at my head before I could even fully emerge from the room.

My heart hammered against my ribs, threatening to escape, but I willed myself to remain composed.

I lifted the hidden camera into the air. "I have the footage," I declared, my voice ringing out. "And it's already been uploaded to the cloud."

"Who the hell are you?" the father demanded, his voice sharp.

"E-Evan?" Jack stammered, staring at me with utter disbelief as he pushed himself back to his feet. "What are you doing here?"

His father’s gaze shifted between us, a look of growing disdain crossing his features. "Who is he? Another one of your… boyfriends, Jack?"

"Father, no!"

"I planted a bug in the bedroom to blackmail Jack," I explained, striving for a calm tone despite the weapon leveled at my temple. "My intention was to make him stop harassing my friend Nala. But instead, I stumbled upon… whatever this is."

The old man’s jaw clenched. "You," he growled menacingly.

"If you don’t get Robert help," I pressed on, angling the camera towards them, "and if your son doesn’t leave Nala alone, I’m releasing everything online. Every second of this conversation."

The father remained conspicuously silent this time.

"Save Robert," I reiterated firmly. "And we can consider this incident forgotten."

"You’re bluffing," he stated coldly. "That tiny device couldn't possibly upload anything to the cloud."

Precisely at that moment, my phone vibrated insistently in my pocket.

The sheer comedic timing almost made me laugh. I pulled it out to see Cora’s name illuminated on the screen. Unbelievable. She must have been monitoring through the hidden camera feed. Which meant she had witnessed absolutely everything.

God, I absolutely adored that girl.

I answered without hesitation, activating the speakerphone.

"If you hurt Evan, I’ll fucking kill all of you!" Cora’s voice boomed from the speaker, so loud it seemed to reverberate through the entire hallway. "DID YOU HEAR ME?!"

The silver-haired man’s eyes widened slightly in confusion.

"Who exactly—"

"She's my partner in this… uh, this little operation," I interjected smoothly. "So, let’s try this again. You save Robert. Your son leaves Nala alone. And this footage disappears without a trace."

The father narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me.

"And why," he inquired slowly, his voice laced with skepticism, "should I believe you?"

"Because I genuinely don’t give a damn if your son is gay," I replied, my gaze steady. "Your wealth means nothing to me either. My sole objective is to ensure my friend stops being blackmailed for intimate photos."

The old man’s expression underwent a dramatic shift.

He turned to face Jack, his previous anger replaced by genuine bewilderment. "You were requesting nude photos from a woman?" he asked, a hint of relief in his tone. "So you're not actually gay? Thank go—"

"What the hell?" I cut him off abruptly. "That is absolutely not the priority right now."

Jack buried his face in his hands, overcome with embarrassment. "Father, please…"

I terminated the call before Cora could unleash another torrent of threats.

The guard’s firearm remained fixed on me, yet an eerie stillness settled over the hallway; nobody made a move.

"So," I began, projecting a confidence I didn't entirely feel, my legs threatening to buckle, "are we accepting the deal or not?"

For a tense moment, silence reigned.

Then, the jarring system notification materialized directly before my eyes.

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Evan Marlowe [Level 21]

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EXP: 0 / 31500

[░░░░░░░░░]

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Current Credits: 0

Current SC: 0

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Damn it.

Everything was gone. All because I had acted with altruism. A frustrated scream threatened to escape me.

That accursed tag was truly punishing me for helping others. If I wanted to prevent such situations from arising again, I desperately needed to rid myself of it and somehow return to a neutral state.

Still…

It had been worth it.

At least Robert wouldn't be bleeding out on the floor while these fanatics debated religious dogma.

"I-I accept," Jack stammered quickly, tears still streaming down his face. "Please. Please save him."

His father offered no immediate response.

He remained there, motionless, one hand stroking his chin as his thoughts swirled. His gaze moved from Jack to me, then lingered on the armed guard.

The silence in the hallway was absolute.

At last, the elder let out a slow breath.

"Are you choosing to make an enemy of me, Mr. Evan?" he inquired.

I promptly shook my head. "I truly wish to avoid that. My only desire is a tranquil existence. Leave Nala in peace and ensure Robert is saved. That is my sole request."

"And what if this video were to be exposed?"

"It will not be," I stated with conviction. "You have my solemn word."

The man scrutinized my expression for another prolonged moment. He then turned to the guard, gesturing for him to lower the firearm. After a slight hesitation, the guard complied, his weapon no longer aimed at my head.

To be perfectly honest, I nearly buckled with relief right then and there.

The father figure rubbed his forehead, fatigue etched upon his features. "Youngsters," he grumbled with a touch of bitterness. "Always bringing trouble in their wake."

His attention then shifted to two of the men in suits.

"Summon a physician," he commanded, his voice devoid of warmth. "A private one. No one is to utter a word about tonight's events."

The two guards acknowledged his order with immediate nods and descended the stairs.

Jack appeared on the verge of tears once more, though this time, the emotion stemmed from relief rather than sheer panic.

"Thank you," he stammered quietly.

"Do not thank me," I retorted. "Just cease your relentless pursuit of Nala."

"I will," he responded swiftly. "I give you my word."

The man with silver hair still radiated anger, yet it was the subdued fury of exhaustion, a stark contrast to his earlier explosive temper.

"Should my family's name be tarnished due to this incident," he issued a warning, "you will deeply regret your interference."

I offered a careful shrug. "Then I suppose we both must honor our commitments."

For a few more heartbeats, silence reigned. Then, the elder man shifted slightly, stepping aside and indicating the direction of the hallway.

"It would be best if you departed now, Mr. Evan."

Believe me, I was more than eager to oblige.

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