Why Are You Doing This To Me

Sebastian let out a low, humorless laugh. His voice was utterly devoid of emotion. "Don't concern yourself. The situation is handled."

The overweight man stared, his curiosity piqued. "What exactly are you planning?"

Sebastian turned, his command sharp and clear. "Take him. And the other one on the floor. Deliver them both to the police station immediately."

The man stood frozen, his mind struggling to catch up. Disbelief colored his stammer. "Mr. Hayes... what does this mean? You're having us arrested? Why are you doing this to me?"

Sebastian watched the man's desperation with visible amusement. He spoke slowly, deliberately. "I entrusted you with the final project. You betrayed that trust. You stole the funds I allocated for the orphanage. Worse, you used my name to conduct illegal operations. You dragged my family's reputation through the mud."

His eyes turned to ice as they locked onto the portly man. "Did you truly believe I was that foolish? That I would allow the two of you to make a mockery of me?"

Before the man or his scarred companion could form a reply, Sebastian dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

These two fools had confronted Alexander and Evelyn in his name.

That orphanage was where Evelyn grew up. Had it been demolished, Alexander would have torn him apart without a second thought.

The reality of the situation finally hit the portly man. Sebastian was not bluffing. This was real.

Panic set in. He struggled against the men holding him, his thoughts racing wildly.

"Mr. Hayes!" he shouted, desperation clawing at his voice. "Did Alexander and Evelyn say something? This is a trick! A plot by the Blackwood family! They're trying to destroy you! You must believe me!"

Sebastian chuckled softly, his tone unnervingly calm. "The Blackwoods have their own issues, I'll grant you. But this? This was Alexander's idea. And I am, of course, cooperating with him."

The portly man was stunned into silence. Sebastian was listening to Alexander? The cripple? How was that possible?

Everyone in Crestwood knew Alexander Blackwood. The wheelchair-bound heir, rejected by his own family. A man with no real power.

Sebastian Hayes was the sole successor to the powerful Hayes empire. Why would he take orders from someone like Alexander?

The thought tumbled out before he could stop it. "Mr. Hayes, you can't be serious. Alexander... he's just a cripple. He has no authority over you!"

As the words left his mouth, a cold dread washed over him.

Had Alexander been hiding his true power all along?

What was Alexander's real game?

Sebastian observed the dawning panic. His voice was chillingly quiet. "You don't need to know the details. You embezzled funds under my authority. The evidence is conclusive. You will have plenty of time to reflect on your actions in prison."

The man was utterly defeated. As he was dragged away, the day's events replayed in his mind with crushing clarity.

He realized, too late, that Alexander was not a man to be crossed.

There was no room for regret now.

Once the scene was clear, Sebastian immediately called Alexander.

"It's finished," Sebastian said, his tone almost breezy. "Are you satisfied?"

The whole mess was a result of his own lax oversight. He had given his subordinates too much leash.

Alexander's voice was flat, detached. "It wasn't my home that was nearly destroyed. Why would I be satisfied?"