Chapter 176 Why Pretend to Be Disabled?
Peter's words were heavy, but Jarod seemed indifferent, "You can say whatever you want about me. After all, you're the only one who knows my secret."
"The Jarod I used to know wasn't like this! His methods, his planning, his grand vision, they were no less impressive than those of Sebastian, who now holds power in the Lawrence family!"
Peter was a bit agitated, and his voice rose unconsciously.
"Keep your voice down," Jarod said. "Don't wake her up."
"She's already dead!"
"I know! You don't have to keep repeating it."
As he looked at him, Peter felt extremely frustrated, "When will you finally pull yourself together? When will you live up to the Jarod of the past? Do you really want to let Sebastian steal all the limelight and let everyone gradually forget you?"
"Is that so bad?" Jarod retorted, "To live a simple life, finish this lifetime, and then... go down to join her."
While speaking, his gaze remained fixed on the woman in the photo frame.
"I'm really about to die of anger because of you!"
"The Jarod of the past is actually dead," he finally looked up at Peter. "He died with her. What's left is just a shell."
"If she knew what you've become now, she'd probably think she was blind to have fallen in love with such an unambitious man!"
"I used to be too busy, too busy to spend time with her, and now I regret... it's already too late."
Peter was at a loss for words. He really wanted to snatch that photo frame and smash it to pieces.
That was what he thought, but he didn't dare to do it.
For Jarod, that wasn't just a photo anymore. It was his life; his only reason to keep living. He needed to look at it, touch it, and miss her to have the strength to carry on.
"So now, holding her photo every day counts as keeping her company?"
"You wouldn't understand, Peter," Jarod replied.
"Yes, I don't understand," Peter looked at him. "I don't understand how the decisive Lawrence of the past has completely lost his fighting spirit. When you held power, Sebastian was still in school."
"Sebastian is very capable, no less than me."
"Yes, I admit that. But you could have taken complete control of the Lawrence Group before he matured. And now? You prefer to step back and hand everything over to Sebastian."
Jarod replied, "I just did a small thing. The achievements of the Lawrence Group today are because of Sebastian."
"But you could have done it too! And now, Sebastian is on guard against you!" Peter said. "Look around the Lawrence Group, how many people still listen to you?"
Jarod just smiled, "Peter, fame, and wealth, these things can't follow me into the grave, so why should I see them as so important?"
"Was she that important?"
"Very important," Jarod said firmly. "She was the most important person in the world to me."
"She wouldn't like the person you are now!"
"How do you know?" Jarod countered. "Maybe she always wished I could put down my work and spend more time with her. But she was a gentle person; she understood my pursuit of my career."
But she was dead now.
So, what was the point of any grand career now?
Jarod polished the surface of the photo frame again and again, then placed it upright on the desk. While looking at her beautiful smiling face, he couldn't help but smile himself.
Peter sighed repeatedly beside him, appearing completely at a loss.
"Back in the day... you were something else. Now, you need canes to walk and a wheelchair to get around."
Jarod turned to face him, then walked over and patted his shoulder. "Peter, this is my life now. But you, you've got a bright future ahead. You can still fight for it, and if you want to come back to the Lawrence Group, I could..."
"I don't want to," Peter cut him off. "If I had wanted to fight for the business with you, I wouldn't be considering going to Sebastian now."
"He's not worse than me; in fact, he might even be doing a better job."
"Yeah, yeah, you always have your brother's back; singing his praises is basically your new job now. But the funny thing is, he guards against you as if you're a thief." Peter said. "I get what you're doing now, all of it. But there's one thing I don't understand."
"What's that?" Jarod asked.
Peter pointed at the wheelchair. "Your legs have been fine for years, so why keep up this disabled act?"
"Sitting in a wheelchair is quite comfortable."
"..."
"Alright," Jarod shrugged. "Looks like that joke didn't land at all."
"Can you be serious for a moment?"
Jarod walked to the window, his posture straight, the vestiges of his former authority still visible.
"Only a broken man can live life smoothly from here on out."
"You plan to play the broken man for the rest of your life?"
"It's not an act," Jarod said. "Right now, I am broken."
"Then it's a shame you're not acting to win an Oscar, what a waste of talent," Peter responded. "The highest art of deception is deceiving oneself."
Jarod sighed. "Have you ever thought that if I were fully able-bodied, even if I were the most ordinary and incompetent man ever, the Lawrence family would go out of their way to arrange a marriage for me? And the lady... would certainly be a distinguished heiress."
Peter had a realization. "So... you just don't want to get married?"
"Right. Having a wife is a huge hassle. I can't divorce her yet, I can't love her. It's not fair to her nor the kids."
"So, you've stayed single for her."
Jarod smiled. "I promised her I'd only love her, only marry her. I have to keep that promise. Otherwise, when I die, if by chance I see her, she would be upset."
Peter, frustrated, ran his fingers through his hair. "Fine, you're faithful, noble, great, you're practically the model boyfriend of our times..."
Jarod didn't reply; he just lifted the curtain and looked outside.
It was already dark, and the lights in the old house were coming on one by one.
"There's something I need your help with," Jarod pulled his gaze back inside. "And you're the only one who can do it."
Peter, sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips, said, "Go ahead."
"Look into Sebastian."
"Say that again?" Peter perked up. "Are you planning to make a move?"
"It's not about the company."
"Sure." Peter waved his hand dismissively. "What else is there to find out about Sebastian?"
Jarod asked, "Did you know he got married?"
"It was all over the entertainment papers, even the financial news covered it, how could I not know?" Peter said. "But, during college, wasn't he very close to that girl, what's her name, Lynda?"
"Yes."
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