It's Your Turn To Cry and Beg, Dear Uncle
Chapter 27: Villains Are Not Born, They Are Created

Chapter 27: Villains Are Not Born, They Are Created

On the first playback, James and Oliver watched closely but did not find anything strange. Their expressions darkened with anger when Kyra fell from the balcony, especially Oliver who had just witnessed the incident. He gritted his teeth while his fists clenched tightly.

Meanwhile, James appeared much more composed, but the rumbling in his heart said otherwise. His dark eyes were fixated on the screen, radiating a murderous intent. Though it was not the first time he had seen this, his heart still ached at the sight of Kyra in danger.

James closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, suppressing the anger that threatened to be unleashed. Then, he turned to his secretary.

"What is it that you really want to show us? I’m sure your intention isn’t just to flaunt your hard work, right?"

Even in the midst of his anger, James forced himself to stay rational. There had to be something they missed, something important, that someone as composed as Killian had to order the other to leave. James also couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had been haunting him since earlier.

Killian flashed a faint smile before nodding. "You are correct, Sir. I’m going to rewind the footage, please watch it more carefully this time. I will assist you by slowing down the recording."

Oliver, who was listening beside him, frowned. He shot Killian an intimidating glare as the secretary’s first sentence sounded like an accusation instead. Wasn’t it clear from the video what happened?

However, Killian responded with a polite nod, implying that Oliver should cooperate. Oliver snorted before returning his attention to the screen. Seeing that both of them were ready, Killian played the footage again, this time at a much slower pace.

Then, he pressed pause in the exact seconds before Kyra was pushed down. From there, he pressed forward, frame by frame, until the two men gradually widened their eyes.

At that moment, their minds went blank. Their breath came to a halt, and their bodies froze in place. A thick silence enveloped the room, filling the air with heavy tension.

The restaurant that had been closed since the incident and the workers who had left early only deepened the eerie stillness. The lights in every room had dimmed, leaving only the CCTV room illuminated. Yet, the darkness of that night seemed to overshadow the light within the room.

Oliver didn’t believe it. No, he couldn’t believe it. However, the shocking reality laid bare in front of him. All of the sudden, he remembered Kyra’s words this morning. The young woman had asked him with tears in her eyes.

"Will you hate me?"

At that time, he had answered, "I will always be on your side."

"Even if I turn bad?"

Could she have considered this far at the time? Had she finally succumbed to the taste of revenge, even if it meant sacrificing herself?

Oliver’s lips trembled, opening one moment and closing the next. Words seemed to elude him, but what could he possibly say at this juncture?

Yes, what Kyra did was crazy. Yes, it was wrong. But who pushed her into the flame of darkness? Who had driven her to the brink of madness?

Villains are not born, they are created by the people around them.

As for Lila herself, had she ever considered what it felt like to be the one at the end of a pointing finger? How it felt to be accused and unable to defend herself? Whatever came out of her mouth would only be considered a lie, an excuse to cover up her mistakes.

Then, what about Kyra who was accused of plagiarism? Even with the evidence so clearly displayed, she still had to fight hard, providing evidence and reasons after reasons. Even so, it was still not enough. Many still believed she was the one at fault.

Did Lila stop to consider the consequences of her action? What would happen to Kyra if she was ultimately convicted as the guilty party? Her name would not only be tarnished in the literary field, but also crushed into smithereens in the public eye, eventually ruining her reputation among the upper class.

Not to mention the fines and lawsuits that Kyra would have to face, not only from PrintScribes Ink but also from Wordsmith Wonders. Did Lila think the other shareholders would pass up the opportunity to make money? No one would refuse the profits that fell into their laps for free.

On the other hand, PrintScribes Ink would face public defamation for having collaborated with a literary thief. The damage wouldn’t affect just one party, it would also impact the employees of PrintScribes Ink, who would soon feel the repercussions of the scandal.

A tarnished reputation would lead to declining sales. Other writers would think twice before working with them. Ultimately, there would be massive layoffs.

But, did Lila ever consider all of this? The answer was no, not even for a second.

Much less reflecting on her wrongdoings, Lila had instead focused on controlling public opinion. She wanted to at least gain a strong momentum before the release of the second book because in the end the only thing that mattered was the public’s opinion. Even a lie could become the truth if the majority believed so.

Humans are naturally selfish. It is easy to be the villain and watch from above. But then Kyra turned the tables, letting Lila taste the feeling of being on the receiving end.

More than that, Kyra wanted to crush Lila’s arrogance for thinking that she even had a place in this family. She wanted Lila to see how fragile the trust and love she had so painstakingly earned, how everything crumbled into dust in one single moment with just a snap of her fingers.

She wanted Lila to understand that she was nothing from the beginning.

Even if it took an extreme sacrifice to do it.

Both Oliver and Killian somehow understood her way of thinking. It was crazy, but those who were familiar with Kyra’s hidden character would know that Kyra would always get even or double it back.

But had James ever seen this side of Kyra? Of course not. All this time, the young woman had only shown her best side to earn his praise.

’Love is strange,’ thought Killian.

He glanced at James who had not moved since earlier. Oliver pursed his lips. He understood that James must be shocked, but he had to ask.

"What are you going to do?"

James flinched. He turned his head and stared blankly at his best friend. What was he supposed to do? He asked himself. His heart was in turmoil. In that moment, it felt as if the belief he had held onto so strongly was crumbling, and he suddenly lost his footing.

He had been ready to defend Kyra on his way here. But, that feeling wavered after the crazy reality that was presented before his eyes.

However, Oliver looked him straight in the eye. Oddly enough, there was no sign of doubt in his best friend’s eyes. James was flabbergasted.

How much trust did Oliver have in Kyra?

James glanced at Killian who appeared unfettered. There was no sign of surprise or a look of scorn. It was hard to guess what the man was thinking.

However, for some reason, James suddenly felt like he was the only stranger here.

Unbeknownst to James, his every expression and move was being observed by his own secretary. Killian secretly pulled the corner of his lips. He sneered, witnessing how wrecked his boss became.

"Sir?" He opened his mouth while putting on his professional face. James looked at him with furrowed brows.

"If you want, I can edit this video."

James was stumped to silence. Of course, he knew... he knew that was one of the options.

"I can edit this part as if it never existed, even eliminate all traces of evidence. No one will know."

James pressed his lips. His heart raced at every word Killian uttered.

"If you want to sue Lila after that, we can use eyewitnesses. Didn’t many people see the incident?"

’That’s not the problem!’ James shouted in his heart.

Oliver continued to look at him. James directed his attention back to the scene on the monitor. He was afraid, he was really afraid that his current decision would spell another disaster.

He feared what Kyra would become.