Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 2035

Raiden sneered with contempt, "Save your excuses for someone else! You once accused Bernard of betrayal. What about you?" "Wolf."

"Don't call me Wolf!" Raiden's eyes blazed with fury as he cut Estelle off, "Wolf is dead, and you don't have the right to use that name anymore!" Xavier's voice was ice as he interjected, "Her name is Stella, and we are teammates, always have been. How is she not worthy?"

"Don't ask me!" Raiden's face twisted with anger, "You should be asking Tyrannosaurus, asking Bat, asking Shadow if they can forgive her!"

"It wasn't her fault!" Xavier's voice was deep and resolute, "She knew nothing!"

"Knew nothing?" Raiden mocked bitterly, "Then why did she survive? How did she manage to break free from the organization and transform into the darling daughter of the Jarvis family, and married into the Lamonts, living a life of luxury? All that, bought with the blood of Tyrannosaurus and the others, while she basks in it without a shred of guilt!"

Xavier's eyes were livid, "So, you hate Stella for having a good life these past years?"

"Yes! While she was enjoying her peace and wealth in J City, do you have any idea where I was?"

Raiden's gaze was sharp as a blade as it swept over them, slowly peeling away the mask on his face.

Scars upon scars ran across his face, starting from his forehead, slicing his visage in half - grotesque, terrifying, yet heart-wrenchingly painful.

What kind of injury had left such scars?

Tears sprang suddenly to Estelle's eyes as she looked at the familiar yet estranged face.

Xavier was stunned too, his eyes reddening gradually.

Raiden smirked coldly, "Shocked by this? No, this scar is nothing compared to the torture I endured!"

Xavier managed to choke out, "What happened back then?"

"I don't know what happened. I clearly remember dying, but when I woke up, I was in Wolverine's clutches!"

Raiden's voice was menacing, "Wolverine's men were our sworn enemies. I was tortured and humiliated beyond imagination in his captivity - you can't possibly understand! During those dark years, I wished for death every single day, but even death was a luxury I couldn't afford! Years without a glimpse of daylight, I survived, day by day. After she killed Wolverine, I took over his remnants and finally started living like a human again!"

"All of this!" Raiden pointed at Estelle, his eyes cold and accusing, "is thanks to her. And of course, to Gab. Gab knew all along that Lexi was bought by Wolverine, but he turned a blind eye to create a chance for Stella to escape. After we all fell, he came too late, saving only her!"

"It's not like that!" Xavier shook his head, "Gab isn't that kind of person!"

"That's the truth!" Raiden's eyes burned with hatred as he continued, "In Gab's eyes, we were just disposable tools, nothing more!"

"If I had died, maybe I could have rested. But I didn't, and I saw the filthy truth of human nature!"

Raiden's gaze was full of venomous resentment, "The belief that has kept me alive all these years is revenge! I don't care about microwave weapons, or cobalt bombs. What I care about is killing you with my own hands!"

He looked at Estelle with loathing, "To let you feel the pain of near-death over and over, and to let you and Gab understand that betrayal is never forgivable!"

"Who told you Gab knew in advance about Lexi's betrayal?" Xavier's tone was icy as he confronted Wolf, "Someone from Wolverine's crew? And did you just believe it?"

"Of course, I verified it!" Raiden yelled, "Gab had Lexi's calls bugged; he had to know about the betrayal. And after our mission failed, Gab quickly found a way to kill the man he sent to eavesdrop, obviously covering his tracks!"