The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 274

Before Mango could react, Nathaniel had covered her nose as he struck down the drone. With a bang, both of them were covered in a cloud of tear gas.

"Ahem, ahem!”

It was the first time that Nathaniel had been hit so hard by a tear gas bomb.

"Zion!"

He gritted his teeth as he cried out, but then he inhaled too much tear gas. His striking onyx eyes filled with tears, and Nathaniel looked rather disheveled at that moment.

Mango fared better than Nathaniel as he had covered her nose, but Nathaniel stopped her when she wanted to help him.

"Don't worry about me, hurry and hide in somewhere that has water."

After he said that, Nathaniel pushed Mango out of the tear gas cloud.

However, Mango felt that it wasn't the best time to leave as she couldn't differentiate between her own men and Zack’s men. Then, she covered her nose with her arm before she ran back into the tear gas.

"Let's go!"

Mango grabbed Nathaniel's arm and turned to run.

Zion pursed his lips as he saw this from his control room behind the scenes.

"Oh no, when will Mommy realize that she’s gotten the wrong person?"

Zion's brows furrowed deeply.

He had just wanted to prank Nathaniel because he was annoyed at Nathaniel's high and mighty appearance. However, he had not expected his mother to go inside and pull Nathaniel out because she felt bad for her husband.

But now, his mother had taken the wrong person with her.

Thus, Zion was absolutely flabbergasted.

He felt like crying the moment he saw who Mango had pulled out of the gas.

He quickly called Nathaniel's walkie-talkie.

"Mr. Ye!" Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

"You little brat, you’d better be ready for the punishment I'm going to give you when I get home!"

It had been a long time since Nathaniel had been in such a difficult position.

Furthermore, Zion had previously caused Nathaniel to lose his dignity in front of the people of Ocean City, and now that little brat had caused him to cough his lungs out.

Other people's sons were all so well-behaved, but why was his own son so mischievous?

However, Zion was not in the mood for Nathaniel's threats and he cried as he said, “Mr. Ye, mommy came back to rescue you from the smoke but she accidentally brought someone else out with her, and that might've been Mr. Yan."

Nathaniel was stunned.

After Nathaniel processed what Zion told him, his expression became frightening.

"If anything happens to your mommy, I'll skin you alive."

Nathaniel shut off the walkie-talkie angrily and the scene in front of him was a total mess because of the smoke bombs. Thus, he couldn’t even tell where he was, let alone try to look for Mango.

Right now, he was so anxious.

Zack was by his side?

Why didn't he notice it just now?

Had Zack discovered them and he was just waiting for them to show up?

Nathaniel was very uneasy, and he didn't know what to do at that moment.

Meanwhile, Mango had no idea that she had brought the wrong person with her and she ran quite some distance away. Then, she stopped after she found a body of water and panted for breath as she said, "Hurry up and wash your face, it’s embarrassing if anyone else sees you like this."

She turned around with a smile, but she was astonished when she saw Zack’s face.

How had she brought Zack along with her?

When did Zack find them?

At the thought of this, Mango's expression immediately changed.

"You were by Nathaniel’s side the whole time, so what's your plan? You two were comrades and best friends. It’s enough that you betrayed him, but now you want to sneak up on him as well?"

Mango broke out in a cold sweat.

If she hadn't pulled Zack out with her, what would he have done to Nathaniel?

Zack's expression remained stony.

Ever since Mango escaped, Zack knew that he had ruined the relationship between him and Nathaniel forever. Furthermore, Zack knew that he would never be able to face them ever again, but he had no choice but to protect his children.

Zack's expression turned cold.

"I have my own problems to deal with. I can guarantee that no harm will come to you, but don't even think of escaping."

"No harm will come to me? Zack, do you really think that I won't be hurt just because you choose not to harm me?"

Mango's words pierced Zack's heart and it caused his expression to become even more bitter.

"I’m sorry, I have to do this."

"Where are your principles, loyalty, and conscience? Zack, I would've never imagined that you would betray Nathaniel."

In fact, Mango felt sorry for Nathaniel.

Zack seemed to have held back his emotions for a long time, but he snapped as soon as Mango said that.

"Do you know what you're talking about? I used to think that I had to uphold all these rules for the rest of my life, but I was powerless when I saw my wife and children being tortured. Where were my principles then? What was the point of being loyal? All of these things are just flimsy and unreliable

ideals, as the only person I can rely on is myself. You have children too, and you know the feeling of discovering that your child has disappeared, so why can’t you empathize with me? I was forced into doing this! I have only one son! My wife was young and beautiful when I married her, but I neglected her and I haven’t been a good father to my son either. You should ask Nathaniel how he felt when he realized that his children were still alive. As for me, I know that my child is alive but he is being tortured every day, so what else can I do?"

Mango was speechless at Zack's sudden outburst.

Frankly, she didn't know the answer.

If it were her, what should she do? What could she have done?

Mango's silence agitated Zack further.

"Did you ever think about what my family was suffering through when both of you were reunited? Nanny Zhang is Nathaniel's biological mother, so what does the Ye Family’s internal conflict have to do with my family? Nathaniel and I are best friends and comrades, but look at where that has gotten me! He has brought me nothing but pain and suffering! My wife and son are miserable because of him! So, do you think I should thank him? I can't just pretend like nothing ever happened!"

Right now, Zack acted like a raging wolf, as if he wanted to attack everything and everyone around him.

Mango looked at him and was speechless as she stood opposite him.

Then, Mango replied softly only after Zack calmed down.

"Do you think that Nathaniel is the cause of everything that is happening to you right now? Do you really believe that if you weren't friends and comrades with him, then perhaps your family wouldn't be in this situation?"

"Yes!"

Zack's answer was quick and straightforward.

"If it wasn't for him, I might've had a more relaxed job at a different department after I left the military. Although I may have divorced my wife earlier on, I would've been able to live a normal life and even see my son occasionally. I could have enjoyed the time I had with my son. However, I was recruited here after I left the military because I was friends with him. Others may think that I was lucky as I didn' t need to look for a job elsewhere and I would live worry- free because Nathaniel paid me well. But what have my family become? Hostages!"

Zack's expression was vicious.

Mango had never seen Zack like this before.

In the past, she had thought that Zack was a very capable coach and he treated Zion and Wisdom very well. Furthermore, he had put a lot of effort into coaching her as well. But when she looked at him now, Mango saw nothing but a defeated madman.

Mango remained silent as he vented his feelings.

Zack continued, "I would give up the high salary and Nathaniel's friendship in a heartbeat if it meant that my family would be okay. But now, I can only see my family through a computer screen, and I can only hear the pitiful screams of my son calling for me because Nanny Zhang wouldn't let me see him. In fact, she promised me that she would let my family go if I brought you to her. Furthermore, she already arranged the documents to allow me and my family to migrate overseas and start a new life."

With this, Mango finally found out the truth.

However, she was not angry nor did she have the moral conscience to judge Zack.

Everyone has the right to choose between family, love, and friendship.

She couldn't blame Zack just because he had chosen family and love over Nathaniel's friendship.

However, Mango did not know what Nathaniel would have thought, nor did she have the right to decide whether or not to forgive Zack in Nathaniel’s stead as that matter was between the both of them.

The only thing she could and wanted to do was what Zack told her to. Perhaps Zack would be able to have what he wanted if she went to see Nanny Zhang.

Mango looked at Zack and she asked softly, "When Zion went missing, were you sincere in your efforts to find him?"

"Back then, I was sincere. I didn't do it for you or Nathaniel, but I did it because Zion was a child just like my own son back then. My son was kidnapped when he was roughly the same age as Zion and I know I would have risked my life to save him if I was by his side. I would have even sacrificed my life for my son if that could guarantee his safety.”

"So you were sincere to both Wisdom and Zion, right?"

Mango looked at Zack as she asked him the question.

However, Zack turned his head away as he said, "Is there a point in asking me these questions?”

"Yes, there is!"

Then, Mango cleared her throat and said, "I won't interfere in the matter between you and Nathaniel as I don' t have the right to judge both of you. However, I have to thank you for your sincerity towards Zion and Wisdom when you took care of them and you never hurt them. Although I don't

know if you were involved in Wisdom's poisoning, I'll do as you ask just because you helped to look for Zion."

Zack paused suddenly and he said firmly, "I had nothing to do with Wisdom’s poisoning as I'll never hurt a child! I'm a father too!"

"That’s enough, Zack. This will be the last time I'll address you as Mr. Yan and I won't blame you for what you did to me because I know that you' re doing this for your family. As Zion's mother, I'll repay the debt he owes to you, so I'll go with you to see Nanny Zhang. My only wish is that she keeps her promise so you can reunite with your family, and all the efforts you've done throughout the years wouldn’ t be in vain.”

Zack was astonished at Mango's words.