?Chapter 250:


    His relentless interrogation crushed Irene’s spirit entirely.


    “I…” She floundered, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly without producing a single coherent word.


    Heat zed across her face as she silently begged for the floor to open and swallow her whole. Had she anticipated Cole would defend Elliana with such ferocity, she would never have attempted to assert herself. She ducked her head, hoping her submission would persuade Cole to relent and spare her further humiliation.


    But Cole showed particr ruthlessness today, denying her even a shred of dignity.


    “Why aren’t you answering my questions, Irene?” Cole’s demand hung in the air as he fixed her with an unrelenting stare.


    Irene nced up at him before quickly lowering her gaze again.


    “You find yourself absurd now, don’t you?” Cole released a frigid chuckle, his voice dropping to cial temperatures. “You opted against condemning the perpetrators, yet you ragged on the victim,pounding their suffering. What depraved, contemptible reasoning is that?”


    For a younger family member like Cole to use an elder like Irene of possessing an inferior mentality struck with devastating force.


    Irene teetered on the edge of tears. She instinctively sought out Jason beside her, silently pleading for him to intervene and persuade Cole to cease his attack.


    Jason shifted ufortably, trapped in an impossible position. Catching Irene’s desperate look, he nced toward Cole.


    But Cole dismissed Jason entirely, wielding his authority to continue hammering Irene. “If this represents the extent of your understanding, Irene, you have no ce in family discussions. You might as well confine yourself to your room and twiddle your thumbs.”


    Atst, Irene’s tears spilled over. Never before had she endured such scathing criticism. Previously, she had always retaliated or at leastined when someone crossed her boundaries. But Cole’s onught rendered her as defenseless as a stray cat caught in a torrential downpour.


    Bertram, who had always harbored distaste for Irene, remained silent, offering no defense. He concluded she had brought embarrassment upon herself and him.


    ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????: ?????????ν????????????


    “Cole,” Jason shifted awkwardly as he spoke in hushed tones. “Could you show some mercy and let this matter rest?”


    Satisfied he had made his point, Cole acknowledged Jason’s request with a slight nod, withdrawing his icy re from Irene.


    Cole’smanding presence saturated every corner of the room like an impending storm.


    Silence descended, absolute and oppressive. Everyone sat ramrod straight, not daring to disturb the stillness.


    Trinity, who had earlier radiated smugness about her visit to the so-called Milena and her hopes of outshining Elliana, now kept her head bowed, utterly silent.


    The room’s previous energy evaporated beneath Cole’s frigid tirade, the atmosphere plummeting to subzero temperatures.


    Through the whole showdown with Irene, Ruben stayed mum.


    .


    .


    .