Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 173: Yesterday’s Honey, Today’s Arsenic

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Yesterday’s Honey, Today’s Arsenic

Ezra Ford’s face was grim as he coldly said to Julian Ford, "Come with me."

Without giving Julian any chance to negotiate, he strode out with an imposing air.

As Julian reached the door of the ward, Ethan Ford stopped him and gently reminded, "Julian, you know your father’s temper. Sometimes you have to give in; there’s no need to be stubborn."

Julian did not respond, only saying, "Please take care of my mother."

Ezra entered an empty ward next door, and Julian followed, closing the door behind him.

With one hand in his trouser pocket, Ezra, his expression cold and harsh, scolded, "Do you not know the time and place to speak anymore? Do you really think your uncle is a good person, and started talking carelessly in front of him?!"

Julian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and replied casually, "If you hadn’t done such things, why worry about what I say."

Ezra squinted his eyes.

In high society, it wasn’t unusual for men of Ezra’s status to have mistresses.

However, having his past affairs brought up by his own son in front of his brother was quite a blow to his dignity.

More so because his son was never the kind of person to speak indiscreetly and disregard the bigger picture.

The early summer rain brought a sticky warmth, drizzling against the window, creating a blur.

The room was stuffy with humid air.

Though Ezra lost his composure earlier, his years of experience had made him swiftly regain his calm demeanor, now looking as serene as a still pond.

Looking at his son, cold-eyed before him, he wasted no time continuing the conversation about himself and instead changed the subject, saying:

"Your mother is lying there now, and when she wakes up, do you still plan to tell her you’re going to continue seeing Scarlett Shaw?"

"You don’t need to use my mother’s health as a bargaining chip with me; the real reason she’s lying there is because of you, not me."

Julian enunciated clearly, his tone cold and detached.

"You and mother grew up together and were in love for so many years, but you still cheated on her after marriage. Of course, it’s possible you behaved this way before marriage, just without being caught."

"You know more than anyone how devastating your betrayal was to her, especially after so many years of deep love. Moreover, if my brother hadn’t had an accident, you would have continued to gaslight her with the excuse ’men are like this,’ making her think she was making a big deal out of nothing, or wasn’t generous enough, wouldn’t you?"

"Do you really think that by making me, her son, completely obedient to her, it will compensate for the hurt you’ve caused her?"

The most excruciating and hopeless feeling in love is when one person remains deeply in love, while the other has become entirely worldly.

Ezra’s betrayal of Freya Pierce had no shocking or compelling reasons.

It was simply the basest nature of men.

The simplest things tend to be the most hurtful.

This meant Ezra didn’t see himself as wrong, feeling neither guilt toward his family nor anything but annoyance at Freya’s hysteria.

Therefore, Ezra felt no turmoil in response to Julian’s accusations.

Instead, he smiled, calmly saying, "Since you see even a childhood love like that between your mother and me can end, how long do you think you and Scarlett, who are worlds apart in family background, can last?"

Julian: "Whatever becomes of Scarlett and me is our business, not for you to worry about."

"Your future with her?"

Ezra laughed as if he’d heard the most ridiculous joke, his smile unfaltering.

"Julian, connections between people are fundamentally about interests. Simply put, you’re attached to Scarlett now because of the unique feelings she gives you. Once you get used to these feelings, can you guarantee you’ll treat her the same way? You are also a man, and the inherent failings of men are present in you too; don’t think you’re the exception."

"What was once sweet as honey can turn to poison in relationships. What you once saw as her strengths could very well become weaknesses by the end; that’s reality."

"If you don’t believe me, go ahead and continue seeing her; I won’t stop you as long as you can handle your mother’s emotional issues. But I’ll put this out there now: if you break up, you must immediately proceed with the family’s arranged marriage."

Julian raised his eyes nonchalantly, giving him a glance.

He neither agreed nor disagreed.

Ezra’s expression grew more loaded with meaning, "Of course, for this marriage, put away any tricks like those you’ve used in the past with the Sutton and Walsh daughters; you think I don’t know you’ve previously tricked them into withdrawing from engagements?"

Ezra was an extreme, polished egoist.

And his shrewdness ensured his emotions rarely clouded his judgment.

From prior conversations with Julian, he realized belittling Scarlett wouldn’t work, only fueling Julian’s rebelliousness.

Better to let Julian and Scarlett tire of each other on their own.

In his mind, an infatuated Julian would soon come to his senses, and in doing so, he would inevitably hurt Scarlett the most.

Julian’s deep, dark gaze met Ezra’s face, and his cold, austere expression suddenly broke into a smile.

A mocking smile.

Ezra furrowed his brows.

Julian: "You haven’t changed; you’re still a master of deflecting issues."

Ezra’s brows knitted deeper.

Julian paid no mind to his father’s barely suppressed emotion and continued:

"After my brother passed, you kept telling me I failed in my duties as a brother, which led to his tragic death, and that it was my fault mother ended up like this."

"You are my father; when I was a child, I never doubted your words. I tried to live up to my brother’s image without complaint."

"But now, using the same tactics to transfer the conflict between you and mother onto Scarlett and me, do you really think I’ll fall for it?"

Against Ezra’s composure, though young, Julian’s calmness and rationality were no less than his father’s.

Blood ties meant that even in arguments, their natures were aligned.

If not for meeting Scarlett, Julian believed he would have turned into someone like Ezra, indifferent and driven solely by interests.

Though dissatisfied with his son’s defiance, Ezra felt more intrigued and surprised.

He suddenly had a thought, chuckling lowly, with a deep, teasing tone, said: "Julian, have you really stirred up this much trouble at home solely for Scarlett?"