Chapter 140: Jack’s Honest Confession

Michael came before Nick Fury and said, “This is going to be difficult to clean up.”

Nick Fury nodded. “Indeed. Those officials will definitely cause trouble. But what’s even more troublesome is that Hydra survived.”

“Exactly. If you find anyone you can’t deal with yourselves, tell me. I’ll handle them when the time comes.”

Nick Fury nodded again. He understood what Michael meant.

From now on, Michael probably would not be able to remain in the Avengers as a hero. By withdrawing from the Avengers, taking all the blame upon himself, and putting on a show of misery, he could wait for the incident to cool down and let the matter pass.

Perhaps, in the future, Michael would move through the darkness, bearing some kind of criminal reputation.

When Michael returned to his company, he discovered that people had already gone to Angel International to protest.

Many of them knew nothing about Michael’s newly established Umbrella Corporation. Angel International, on the other hand, was far more familiar to the public.

Moreover, Umbrella’s headquarters stood on a small island that was entirely private property. The protesters did not dare go there and cause trouble.

Quite apart from how many people they could gather on the sea, the moment they landed on the island, they would be trespassing on private property. They might even face gunfire, criminal charges, and other consequences.

As a result, Angel International became the main target of the protests. In any case, Michael was no longer in charge, and he could not be bothered to concern himself with it.

Back at Jack’s home, Jack suggested, “It’s been a long time since our family had a meal together. Let’s eat together.”

“Sounds good,” Susie replied happily.

After the four of them finished dinner, they went to an amusement park and a shopping mall, where they bought a great many gifts for Michael and Susie.

Michael felt that Jack was acting strangely that day. He kept declaring his love for Martha and constantly teaching his daughter about how to conduct herself in the world.

It was almost as though this were the last day of his life, which aroused Michael’s suspicions.

After shopping, they went to see a movie. It was the newly released Spider-Man, and Michael watched it with great interest.

Michael had personally written the screenplay. The plot was essentially the same as that of the original Spider-Man, though it also dragged the Green Goblin out once more to beat him while he was down. The result, however, was quite good, and many people thought highly of it.

For the second film, Michael had decided that the young Green Goblin would seek revenge for his father and ally himself with Electro. In the end, Spider-Man would win Electro over, and the two of them would join forces to defeat the young Green Goblin.

Peter was not particularly pleased with the idea, whereas Electro thought it was rather good.

In any case, Peter had no authority to alter the screenplay. Michael could write it however he pleased.

Spider-Girl was also preparing to begin filming. While defeating the Lizard, it would also revisit the beginnings of Michael and Gwen’s romance.

Michael planned to have Gwen star in the film so that their feelings for each other would grow warm once again.

Jack asked Michael, “Did you and Gwen have a falling-out?”

“Yes.”

Jack smiled. “She’s a girl. Just coax her a little and say some sweet things. If she still refuses to change her mind, Susie is quite pretty too.”

Michael glanced at Susie. She was watching the movie with complete concentration, though her face was slightly flushed. Perhaps the film was simply too good.

“I understand.”

Jack continued, “Take good care of Susie for me. She is the most precious treasure Martha and I have.”

Michael fell silent for a moment. Somehow, those words sounded like a final farewell.

“All right.”

Soon, the movie ended. The four of them decided to take a shortcut and entered a narrow alley.

Jack suddenly said, “Susie, I left my phone at the cinema. Go back and help me find it.”

“Ah?” Susie had not yet grasped what was happening.

“Go quickly,” Jack urged. “Don’t let the next audience find it and take it.”

“Oh.”

In this way, Susie returned to the cinema in a daze to look for Jack’s phone.

Michael gazed at the couple before him with complicated emotions.

“If you have something to say, say it here. I can take it.”

Martha and Jack exchanged a glance and discussed the matter briefly. Then Jack began.

“The truth is, we were assigned to watch you from the very beginning.”

Michael was silent for a moment before saying hoarsely, “I guessed as much. Apart from the two of you, no one else could have monitored me twenty-four hours a day.”

Jack looked ashamed and began to explain. “From the moment we adopted you, we were acting under their orders. At the time, I was on the verge of bankruptcy. He gave me money—an enormous amount of money—and that allowed me to revive Jack Pharmaceuticals.”

Michael finally understood what Loxias had meant. Loxias truly had controlled his entire life from behind the scenes.

Jack continued, “From the moment you began studying advanced knowledge, to your joining Osborn Industries to research the serum for Osborn, to that cage of bats—everything was arranged by him. Even this kidnapping was connected to him. We were the ones who provided them with the bodyguards’ positions.”

Michael’s expression turned bitter, and he could not help sighing.

“So that’s how it was. No wonder Loxias was so arrogant. I was merely a pawn in his hands.”

Seeing Michael lose heart, Jack hurriedly said, “You might have been his most important pawn. After all, you suffer from a blood disorder and possess a superhuman intellect. He needed you, which is why he did all this.”

Jack’s words of comfort helped Michael regain some balance.

Even so, he still sighed. “I would rather not be needed by him.”

Jack patted him on the shoulder. “Take good care of Susie for us. She knows nothing about any of this, and she doesn’t know anything about Hydra.”

“You know about Hydra?” Michael asked, unable to hide his surprise.

Jack and Martha exchanged another glance before saying, “Knowing about them is not all. We were members of Hydra ourselves. Not long after adopting you, we were forced to join.”

“I know very little about that organization, but I do know how powerful the force behind it is. They collude with government officials and possess an extensive network of influence throughout America.”

“Michael, we cannot stay by your side forever, and neither can Susie. We are nothing but burdens to you. After what happened, we understand that the only way Susie can remain safe and avoid being dragged into this is for us to sever all ties with you and with Hydra.”

“Please, Michael.”

Martha pleaded with him once more.

“I understand.”

With a heavy heart, Michael walked out of the alley and sank despondently onto the roadside. Again and again, he asked himself whose fault this truly was.

Suddenly, two gunshots rang out behind him, frightening two crows from the street corner.

Susie ran into the alley, only to see two bodies lying on the ground.

She broke down sobbing, picked up a gun, walked out of the alley, and pointed it at Michael.

“What have you done? What have you done?”

Michael’s throat felt as though something were lodged in it, and he could not speak.

Seeing Michael remain silent, Susie suddenly screamed. Her emotions completely out of control, she fired several shots at him.

“You must have done something! You must have done something! You must have done something! You jinx…”

The police arrived in a hurry. After investigating, they determined that Jack and Martha had committed suicide.

For one thing, the only fingerprints on the gun belonged to Jack, Martha, and Susie. For another, the police found a suicide note, along with a property-division agreement that had been prepared recently.

It was as though the couple had already made preparations for their deaths.