?Chapter 474:


    “He carries the seeds of madness!” Irene dered with venomous triumph. “His mother suffers from a gic curse called psychephrenia, which breeds mental chaos, and Cole inherits this poisoned legacy. When he loses control, the destruction bes catastrophic!”


    Pausing, she added, “Twenty-four years ago, I witnessed his mother’s descent into madness firsthand. She nearly demolished the estate in her rage, and Jarrett and Cole barely escaped with their lives. If your grandfather hadn’t arrived with his…”


    Bodyguards in time, the carnage would have been unthinkable! Lanny has already informed me that Cole showed dangerous instability upon reaching Podgend. Andter, Cole erupted without warning, injuring all of you and even turning violence upon himself. I believe he’s experiencing another episode!”


    The revtion struck Jason like a physical blow.


    When Cole was three years old, his mother Sophie had suffered her breakdown. Jason, barely two at the time, had been absent during the incident, and Ruben had buried the truth so deeply that Jason had been ignorant of its existence until now.


    Hearing Irene’s words now, Jason struggled to reconcile the image of his brilliantly gifted cousin with that of a carrier of such a devastating condition.


    As Jason wrestled with this earth-shattering information, Irene pressed on. “Jason, your talents shine so brightly. Are you truly content to serve beneath a madman’s shadow?”


    Lanny chimed in, “Mr. Evans, your cousincks the stability to lead the Evans family. Your grandfather has treated you unfairly. You should honor your mother’s expectations and im the position that rightfully belongs to you!”


    Silence descended upon the room like a shroud.


    Jason lowered his gaze, his mind churning, while Irene and Lanny held their breath, waiting for his response with their hearts hammering against their ribs.


    The stillness of the midnight wilderness felt suffocating, a heavy weight draped over the world.


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    Jason remained silent, locked in thought, before finally lifting his head. Irene’s and Lanny’s eyes snapped to him in perfect sync, tension crackling like static.


    Without a word, Jason took the phone from Lanny’s trembling grasp and hooked it onto a nearby branch. Now, both he and Lanny stood clearly in view, framed for Irene to see through the screen.


    “Mr. Evans?” Lanny’s voice was a brittle whisper, frayed with fear. He had no idea what Jason intended, only that dread was coiling tighter in his gut.


    Irene, too, was stunned—Jason’s face was a mask she’d never seen before, a void of intent she couldn’t decipher.


    After tilting the camera for a better angle, Jason lifted his arm with chilling precision, the pistol once again pointed at Lanny’s skull.


    Recognition hit both Irene and Lanny like a thunderp.


    “Jason!” Irene’s scream from the other end shattered the silence, raw and ragged. “Lanny was trained by me—his loyalty is unshakable! You can’t do this!”


    Lanny was quivering, eyes brimming with tears. “I don’t want to die!” he said, barely audible.


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