?<strong>Chapter 265:</strong>


    Shirley sneered at Jake. “You’re guilty, so you’re trying to lock me up. The so-called car ident was your doing. Once I’m better, I’ll expose you for how monstrous you really are!”


    Jake stared at Shirley, her eyes wild and unhinged. Thest flicker of hope within him died. The truth was, he had known exactly what Shirley and Dean had been up to for some time. He was always on guard. How would he get drugged? It was Shirley, his own mother, who’d slipped him the drugs.


    Since Shirley was his mother, Jake had looked everywhere else for the culprit, even suspecting Edgar, but never her. He had assumed they’d had their differences, but they were still mother and son. He never imagined she’d pull off something like drugging him, disregarding his well-being.


    Upon finding Shirley administering drugs to him, everything clicked. Jake then realized Shirley had long decided to favor Dean, acting like Dean was her only son.


    Jake exhaled a weary sigh before posing onest question. “Did my dad have a love child a few years back? What happened to that boy and his mistress?”


    Shirley’s tirade abruptly stopped. Her eyes shed with something sinister. “What nonsense are you talking about? Your dad and I had a perfect marriage. No love child ever existed!”


    Jake let out a bitterugh. “Is that so? Isn’t that child’s name Stan? It seemed my dad quite adored him and wanted to raise him well outside. But you found out and got furious. You even burned down their home in a huff. My dad’s mistress died on the spot, and half of Stan’s face was disfigured. Later on, Stan approached you demanding an exnation. After all, my dad’s will explicitly stated that Stan was disinherited and his presence in our lives was inconsequential.


    However, you concocted a tale that I wanted him and his mother gone, and you simply handled things for me, iming your actions were out of your indulgence of me. Essentially, you scapegoated me for your transgressions.


    Having fully believed your story, Stan’s hatred toward me has intensified over the years and somewhat became his drive for growth. Have you seen him again since you two met that year? Not only is he alive, but he’s thriving.


    I’m uncertain how he managed it, but he’s now ackey to some perverted noble in Ynd. Stan’s miserable existence has been fueled solely by his hatred for me and you.


    It’s toote to set things right. His resentment has distorted him, and the truth no longer concerns him. If he is going down, he will definitely drag me down with him. The crisis I’m facing is a direct consequence of your actions.”


    Jake’s narration was detached, as if he were recounting someone else’s story.


    Shirley’s eyes widened in shock as she absorbed the information. “Is Dean involved in this?” she asked nervously. “Will Stan seek revenge against Dean?”


    Jake scoffed. “Absolutely not.”


    Jake wasn’t beingpletely honest. Stan hadn’t plotted revenge against Dean solely because Dean was merely a pawn in his broader scheme.


    Jake saw no point in intervening. The inevitable confrontation between these few evil folks would be destructive.


    Guilt gnawed at Shirley, but the irrevocable nature of her rtionship with Jake rendered any exnation futile. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “If you’re finished, leave. I don’t want to see you anymore. Instead of interrogating me, you should focus on damage control. I’ll be transparent about the situation eventually,” she dered.


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