Chapter 447: When A Kid Saw His Parents Dying

"Colin Hartz, you have always been jealous of my father and obsessed with his status ever since you two were young," Aaron began, his voice cold, ready to sink each word he said into Colin’s mind. "He was the son of the most powerful mafia lord, while you were the son of a businessman. You could never accept the fact that the son of a mafia lord was excellent in everything—business, fights, planning and plotting—and he even got more attention than you.

"Every powerful person not just in the eastern country but even on foreign lands had started to recognize his excellence. But you—your jealousy turned into an obsession with taking him down and taking his place as the next powerful person. You were not satisfied being just a businessman; you wanted to rule over the mafia world as well.

"But then, even after he was gone, here you are, begging in front of his son. How pitiful. You went nowhere closer to your dream, Colin Hartz. You were always a failure and will always remain that."

As Colin heard it, each and every word felt like it pierced his heart. The pain from the past started to grip him.

Alexander Riverdale was everything he could never become.

Aaron observed his expressions and said, "Seems like you finally recalled the past."

"I agree I hated your father, but that didn’t mean I killed him," Colin said. "Do you think I would dare provoke Aeldric Riverdale by killing his sons and grandsons? Wouldn’t he know I did it? Why would he agree to marry my daughter into your family? I’m sure you are mistaken."

Aaron chuckled. "That old man is blinded by his powers to see anything clearly. But don’t worry—now that his power is gone, he’ll clearly see everything and might want to kill you with his own hands."

Colin felt speechless. Though Aeldric Riverdale was old, that very person was feared by everyone. He would surely kill him and his family.

Aaron chuckled. "I liked the fear in your eyes at the mention of the old man. But now think—how dangerous his son and grandson could be? But don’t worry, I won’t hand you over to that old man."

Though Colin didn’t show it, he was relieved to hear it, but then...

"That old man will shoot you right away, but I don’t want such an easy death for you. So, I won’t take you to him."

"I repeat myself, you are mistaken," Colin said again. "I didn’t kill anyone."

"Not a man enough to accept what you did," Aaron commented. "Alright, let’s get back to the past—the day when you killed my parents."

"I didn’t—"

"Shh!" Aaron shut him down coldly. "Disturb me again, and you’ll find yourself going to my father to apologize to him."

Colin sat quietly, while Aaron began, "That day, when my parents were leaving by the sea route with their two kids, a few boats surrounded their boat. Despite being only two of them, they defended against half of your people like they were dust.

"If not for your people finding the two kids hiding, my parents wouldn’t have stopped until they killed them all. For their kids’ sake, they backed down—and that’s how your people could even reach them. They even dared to mock them, hurt our father in front of two young kids and his helpless and wounded wife, and then threw both their kids into the sea right in front of them."

"It’s unfortunate what happened to you all, but they were not my people," Colin said.

Aaron chuckled and said, "Right, you weren’t there when your hired people were doing all this. You were such a coward, you only showed up after those people had left my parents half-dead. Do you think I didn’t see it?" Aaron asked.

"Your people threw us two brothers into the stormy sea, but only one of us fell into the water—while I was hanging somewhere, watching all you did to my parents before I lost strength and fell into the sea. I can’t forget how smug you looked when you stepped on our boat and saw my hurt parents."

Hearing it, Colin felt the floor beneath his feet give way. He hadn’t expected either of the kids to have seen him. That’s why he was so confident when meeting Aiden after his return to Riverdales.

"You hated my father and wanted to kill him—that, I can understand. It’s fine for a scum like you to get rid of your competition. But you made a mistake," Aaron said as he leaned forward over the table, folding both hands on top of it and looking straight into Colin’s eyes like a demon.

"You could have killed them in one bullet shot and left, but what you did was torture my father brutally, right in front of a hurt and helpless mother who was still in shock after seeing her sons thrown into the sea. That was your biggest mistake, and now you will face the same. You will face the most painful death—right in front of your family."

A shiver ran through Colin’s spine as he heard Aaron again. "A proud and powerful woman like my mother—you made her beg you not to torture her husband and to kill him right away. But you didn’t listen to her. You will pay for every scream that left her throat and every tear she shed that day, Colin Hartz. But the difference will be—your wife and daughter, no one in your family will beg for you. Mark my words."

"What happened in the past, let it stay in the past," Colin said. "Any grievances—we can solve them another way. You can have the entire Hartz Industries, as you are married to—"

"You wanted to use your daughter to take over Riverdales and fulfill your long-lost dream, but... you are truly an idiot to even dream it," Aaron interrupted, letting him know he was aware of everything.

"And one more thing. If you think this marriage happened because you wanted it, then you are mistaken. It happened because it was a part of a plan—a plan to use your daughter against you, just like you used the daughter of the Riverdale family against them. I hope you haven’t forgotten how you used my aunt, that pathetic woman, to take my parents down."

Another revelation from Aaron shocked Colin. "Listen..."

"Just shut up and leave, before I change my mind," Aaron stopped him. "I’m being generous and giving you some time to bid a proper goodbye to your family—before I come to take your life."

Colin was surprised to see he was allowed to leave. He didn’t wait a single moment and stood up, only to dash out of the door. He couldn’t wait to run away.

Once that man was gone, Aaron leaned back in his chair, his hands gripped the handrest as once more those painful memories were recalled. He closed his eyes, his lashes trembling with emotions.

"Aiden, I am glad you remember nothing at all. Those memories are truly painful. It’s alright for me alone to bear the weight of them. I wish you to never recover your memories."