720 DAYS IN PRISON, HE RETURNED INVINCIBLE

Chapter twenty: Jack's desperation

Everyone in the room stared at Jack, waiting to hear what he had to say, while his heart raced through every bit of lies his mind could produce, auditing them in the space of five seconds to make it convincing.

"I went to the Bar to discuss a business Deal with some investors." He started, and the room listened. "They chose the Bar for the meeting, and while the meeting was going on, Killian stormed into the Bar with ten thugs to beat me up and disrupt our discussion. But they couldn't even touch me." His voice strengthened slightly, heavy with pride. "I singlehandedly beat nine of the thugs—" he paused, allowing his lie to sink, and the effect was obvious from the gentle murmuring of admiration while some nodded their heads. Jack's pride flared. "I was dealing with the last thug when Killian took the chance and smashed a chair on my head...but I still fought him back not until he called in another set of Morgrels."

The room shifted.

Cassandra's fist curled at the side, trembling in anger.

Mr. Moore's expression went from subtle impression to anger that was slightly evidence beneath his stoic mask, Mrs. Moore's expression was a mix of concern and both anger.

"You fought the nine men alone?" Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and disbelief.

"That is below my capability, mum." Jack waved it off in casual dismissal, his heart swelling with pride inside as the murmuring grew around him. "They are no match for me. I could have dealt with all of them all by myself if not that that ex-con bastard took me unaware and called in reinforcement."

"Killian did this to you?" Cassandra's voice trembled with restrained anger. Seeing the swell on Jack's face increased her anger. "That ungrateful bastard had the gut to lay his filthy hands on you!"

"He's got mad because you divorced him and chose to be with me."

The room hummed with comments as the few family members gathered in the room exchanged conversations.

"Ten men against one? Jack is a survivor!"

"No, he's a fighter."

"His fighting skills had increased drastically." Another person said in amazement. "joining the family martial art group was the right decision."

"That ex-con must be crippled by now."

Jack flinched.

But his smirk returned again, his pride swelling like an air filling balloon at the impressive and proud comments from the family member.

Mr. Moore's voice cut through the chatter, filled with authority no one had ever disrespected as the patriarch of the family. "This," he said, "is ridiculous." His hand crossed behind his back in calm composure despite the anger bubbling inside.

Silence fell inside the room.

Confused.

The patriarch's eyes were fixed on Jack. He swallowed hard, his mind scrambling in fear and for another cover-up if perhaps his father had seen through his lies.

"You couldn't handle ten men?" His voice was low and berating like a professor scolding a failed student. "despite training for five years in the martial class, and you still ended up like this— beaten beyond recognition like a common thief. If you're deceiving everyone, you can't deceive me."

Jack's heart sank to his stomach.

"Honey..." Mariam Moore wanted to protest. "..ten men? Most people can't even take on one man. Ten is a crowd and impressive."

The room nodded, murmuring in approval.

"And he could have also died in that Crowd," Mr. Moore snapped. The room fell into silence again. "The heir of the Moore's family died in a Bar? Beaten to Death by an ex-con and common street thugs? That is very disrespectful to the reputation of this family."

Jack's cheek flushed in embarrassment mixed with anger that was directed at Killian which further increased his contempt for him. His face had become an angry shade of crimson behind the bandage.

"Mr. Moore," Cassandra chipped in, her voice firm. "Jack might not have met up with your expectations, but he did well. One man fighting against ten men is an odd challenge and moreover it's unexpected. You should leave this to me to handle properly."

Mr. Moore let out a smile that was barely a smile. It was tight.

"You have spoken well, my daughter-in-law. But he needs to do better because he could have died there and this gathering could have been a funeral." He said. " What makes you a good fighter isn't readiness but fighting when you aren't prepared for it."

The room listened.

"And you went to that place all alone without any protection." His voice dropped slightly into an edge of concern and scolding.

"Dad," Jack called, his jaw tight. "I will make up for this."

"You should rather spend that time on recovering quickly before your wedding ceremony." He countered. "I'll handle this on my own."

"Dad," Jack protested, pride warring with embarrassment. He didn't want them to see him as a coward. He didn't want anyone to look at him like someone who couldn't fight for himself, and Cassandra needed to see he is strong enough to protect her. "this is my fight. Allow me to fight for myself. You didn't bring me to be a weakling or someone who stayed behind and watch a fight." His voice was too confident, even though in reality, him and his thugs were singlehandedly defeated by Killian, but his pride and shame won't allow him to admit it in front of his family.

"Both of you need to prepare for your wedding. I won't allow you to bother about something so insignificant." Mr. Moore said, his voice firm.

"Killian will think of me as a coward." Jack's voice had shifted from convince to desperate insistence. "Allow me to handle this my way, and when I am finished, Killian will regret his decision and freedom and the only thing he'll think about is running back into that prison because it'll be his only safe place when i start my torment."

Some nodded, whispering in approval while someone like Mrs. Moore had concern plastered over her face even though she didn't protest.

Mr. Moore stared at Jack for a few seconds then nodded curtly.

"Alright," he finally said, "have it your way."

A slow smirk curled at the side of Jack's lips—cruel, already making plans to get back at Killian to restore his father's doubt and reform his pride in front of his family and Cassandra.

"Cassandra you should inform your family we need to sit and make arrangements for the upcoming wedding ceremony." Mrs. Moore said as they stepped out of the ward.

"I will, Ma." Cassandra smiled lightly, her mind reeling with excitement.

Mrs Moore nodded with a sharp smile, the corridor light casting over her Crimson gown.

"What about the dresses you imported from Milan? How are the fittings?"

"They're too big for my size. I'll send it over to my tailor for minor adjustment."

"Maybe it's better if it's big," Mrs. Moore winked at her playfully. Her eyes went to her stomach. "So there will be enough space for Jack Junior to kick."

Cassandra chuckled. Mrs. Moore giggled, gold stud jangling slightly in the light.

The hallway was filled with laughter and preparation for the upcoming wedding ceremony while they had forgotten the man they buried his innocence for two years and Killian had just started in making them realize that every act has a cost.