Jason and Nydia stared at lvan with a mix of shock and deep emotion etching their faces
Pressured by the mounting difficulties <b>that </b>seemed <b>to </b>suffocate their young love, the couple was moved beyond words to find an ally in the Dempsey family, willing to extend a helping hand in their time of need. This act of kindness, a beacon in the storm, held more value and poignancy than ever
“Ivan! How dare you speak to your mother like that?”
Dave couldn’t hold back his fury any longer. He rose abruptly, pointing an usatory finger at Ivan’s stern face “Your mother has ved away her whole life, working her fingers to the bone to raise you three boys into men. And this is how you repay her? Disappointment? Are you and Jason trying to drive us to death?
Cedric, seizing the opportunity, yed the victim to absolve hemself, his words dripping with exaggerated pathos Mom! Dad! Look at this. Do they even cate about us anymore? We always say ‘Save for a rainy day I’m the only one who truly has your backs. Then two have always turned away from us!
Remembering how <b>Jason </b>and Iran had teamed up against him in court, Gedric <b>was </b>entaged Ivan! If you have a problem,e at me! Both of you, juste at met Mom’s health can’t withstand this burrage of attacks?
Ivan couldn’t help but let out a coldugh, his gaze filled with contempt and disgust as he stared at his older brother: “You thi I’m not here for you? You thank you can get away with it??
Cedric shuddered violently!
“For years, under my very nose, you’ve done unspeakable things You think I’m <b>unaware</b><b>? </b>Your constant belittling and bullying of Jason–de you think I’m blind to 1177
lean took a deep breath, his heart aching as regret fitted his reddened eyes. Tregret not exposing your venomous and deceitful nature sooner, not reporting your misdeeds over the years. You should have known there’s always a higher power, that there’s still such a thing as justice in this world!”
“Ivan! Cedric’s face turned the color of fresh liver
Ivan, usually so quiet and detached now unrelentingly pinned him to the pir of shame with his words
Mrs. Dempsey was equally stunned by her normally calm sons outburst, her mouth hanging open in shock as she looked at Cedric
“What report? What misdeeds?
Dave stepped forward, his eyes wide with shock. “Cedric, is what van saying true? What the hell is going on here?
Ivan coldly regarded Cedric “Oh, so even now, you’ve told our parents nothing. You, the so–called dutiful son, still deceiving them. No wonder you can stand there so self–righteously, spinning your best You probably don’t even realize that just half an hour ago, you were denounced by a group ofwyers from your own firm. You’re suspected of embezzlingpany funds, bribery<b>, </b>and even moneyundering. Your firm has been sealed off!”
“Sealed off? Denounced? Who who dares? Cedric’s panic broke through <b>his </b>defenses, his outburst revealing his true colors
Just then, his phone vibrated.
With trembling hands, <b>he </b>read the message, and his mind reeled with fresh agony.
Ivan wasn’t bluffing. His firm had indeed been shut down. The photo sent by his assistant showed the office doors sealed with official notices, a <b>stark </b><b>and </b>public humiliation.
To add insult to injury, the assistant’s message was a final blow.
Mr. Cedric, consider this my official resignation. I’ve had enough of your tyranny. You’ve brought this upon yourself with your arrogance. I refuse to be yourckey any longer. If it weren’t for thew, I’d have dealt with you myself! Farewell, and good riddance!]
Clenching his phone, Cedric’s hand shook uncontrobly with rage.
The world had turned on him, and he felt like a fallen king mocked by his subjects.
“Thaven’t wronged you with a single word. You brought this upon yourself” Ivan’s voice was thick with disgust.
“But even now, yo
now, you show no remorse. You can’t stand to see our youngest brother happy, so you manipte our parents, who don’t know the full story, to sabotage Jason and ruin the happiness he has worked so hard for! Cedric, when did you be such a monster? Or have you never considered me and Jason as family, just pawns in your game? Jealous of anyone who outshines you, you crush them just to satisfy your dark ego. Do you really need us to fail to feel good about yourself?”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Eve neont thought that way Cedic will tried to deny
“You’re envious of Jason finding such a wonderful girl like Ms Men, whores frenating family and has the oppo
from of Ms. Evadne and Mr Thaddeus fo you spread bien tener parents and slunder.
Ivan then tumed, his gaze interne, to twem, tad, enganting the uncedent with hynny way rented marming with tow prosecutoes and the police. Byeon was prong Clean to Ms tylia as Ceder clumnest
to secure a union with the Ashbroome family Conngured with his sister sportha
intent of taking advantage of her and fracing fhiostrian Emintic tagg
The wave of
noce again. She closed her eye
Even though Byron was gone, thin scars remained, etched into her sout the had fought so hard to h reopened than wounds, using her past as a weapon against her
Her b*dy trembled like a leaf in the wind, and Jason, with reflexes as quick as his hand gently patted her quivering back dis eyes, reddened with a mur of anger. words jammed in his throat, leaving hire choked up, and the utter a serge stin
His heartache for her shimmered like fears unshed in his hyes:
The Byron case was handled by our Court I was
pidge assigned to his si
inside and out. Unfortunately, that bustard died before the trial beguncandi judged Elspeth?
Mr. and Mrs Dempsey wore bbergastorf Ivan’s anent
seismis jolt to thei
Cedric had always portrayed the image of a protective elder brother, a pir of strength and piety to their partits, fun in t world, he was the undefeated superstar attorning their pride and joy.
Even though he defended the unforgivable Elspeth, they believed it was merely his dutyany they domissed the people ndering him an ignorant fools, even suspecting that Exanne and Thaddeus.
But <b>Ivans </b>revtion had them staring at Gedric’s quilty gave, their eyes swirling with confusion and hesitation
Could it be they truly misjudged Nydia?
Was Cedric’s conduct solely aimed at hurting Jasse
“Dad Mom! Don’t listen to his nonsense, it’s not like he says!!
Cedric, desperate to clear his namn, interjected in court, Ivan was just
defending Jason and ndering me! I bet they’ve both been bought by Evadon and Thaddeus! They’re onthing butpdogs for the Ashbourne family, barts of a feather Uh
Before he could finish, Ivan, who was typically the epitome of grace, lost
was even more ferocious than Jason’s might have been sending Gedric staggering ber
“You’ll never change, Ivan muttered, shaking out his sore hand, fury zing in his eyes if you say i
so be it. We’ve conspired to take down a scoundrel like you What of in
Cedric, clutching his bleeding and aching nose, trembled as he parted at luan’s stern face, “You
With a meaningful nce at the grateful couple in each other’s armis, Ivan bent down to retrieve a fallen briefcase. He pulled out a stack of envelopes and solemnly approached Dave, handing them over
“These are?” Dave epted them, puzzled
These are the letters ofint I’ve received from the public during my three years as the presiding judge. This stack is all about the cases Cedric has defended. These ordinary folks, without the power or wealth to influence justice, couldn’t
pleas to the court, reporting
ters kept me
His voice breaking, Ivan continued. These three years, I’ve been a judge with a guilty conscTICA
<b>up </b>
well what Cedric
to behind the scenes, but I chose to keep quiet for the sake of what we call family, to preserve the feelings of you, my parents.
to protect his image as the eldest brother I kept those letters locked away out of sight Now I regret it deeply and me myself I wasplicit in tyranny and I have failed the very robe I wear So, once this is all over, I will resign.
Dave’s pupils dted with shock, the room spun, and he faltered
“Resign? My boy! Have you lost your mind? What are you talking about?
Mrs. Dempsey’s heart ached unbearably, and she burst into tears again. “How hard y
you’ve worked to get
where you are today
watch of Meanse
You’re the only one in the Dempsey family who’s followed in your father’s footsteps don’t you realize how proud he is of you? How could you tesign?”
Nydia <b>ever </b>perceptive noticed Dave’s distress and quickly moved to support him. “Sir, please sit down
She carefully helped Dave to a <b>seat</b>, then softly instructed Jason, “Jason, get Uncle Dave a ss of <b>warm </b>water, would you?”
“Right away” Jason, ever obedient to his wife, hurned off to fetch the water:
Dave nced at Nydia <b>with </b>a barely perceptible nod, catching his breath
Somehow, at this moment, hearing the young woman call him “Uncle Dave: he felt an unexpectedck of resentment, perhaps
even a touch of pleasure
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