The moment Newton finished speaking, a heavy silence descended upon the room, pressing down on everyone''s hearts.


    Alyssa was deeply shaken. A surge of emotions rose within her, leaving her reeling for a long moment.


    Though she had never met Chester, Newton''s words painted a vivid picture of him— kind, generous, gentle, and deeply empathetic. In some ways, it almost felt as though Jasper resembled Chester more than Javier ever had.


    It was a cruel twist of fate that such a good man had died so young, never given the chance to live a full life.


    Then, a sudden thought struck her. Because of the twisted bond between Chester and Javier, it felt as though fate had yed a cruel joke on them all.


    Jasper, who had remained silent all this while, finally spoke. "Dad, I don''t understand you."


    He lifted his gaze to Javier, his eyes reddened with emotion. His voice trembled as he continued, "You and Uncle Chester grew up together. You lived under the same roof, attended the same school, and even studied abroad together. You were brothers by blood. Aside from Grandpa, Uncle Chester was your closest family member.


    "Were power and reputation from Beckett Group really that important to you? More important than a human life? Even if you gained tens or hundreds of billions, what would it matter? At that level, money is just a number.


    "In the eyes of the world, you already had everything-wealth, status, a life others could only dream of. You were born with every advantage. So why couldn''t you see what you already had? Why cling so desperately to things so superficial? You can''t take any of it with you when you die.


    "Even if you lost everything your wealth, your reputation you could still rebuild your life from nothing. But there could only ever be one Chester Beckett. You only had one younger brother.


    "Once you got rid of him, you lost the person who treated you with true sincerity. And there''s no way to ever bring him back.


    "Was it worth it? Tell me... was it worth it to you?"


    Alyssa''s eyes welled up with tears as she watched Jasper''s stern, grief-stricken expression. It had been a long time since she had heard him speak so much.


    Back when they had still been happy-before his illness-the moments before sleep were when he talked the most. As if tomorrow might nevere, he would whisper every tender thought and feeling to her before the night ended.


    On those countless intimate nights, she would feel the warmth of his skin against hers as his soft voice brushed her ears. It had all felt like a beautiful dream.


    Now, the sheer volume of his words spoke for his pain. He grieved for the uncle he had never met, and he burned with anger toward the father who had destroyed such


    a man.


    Javier remained slumped on the floor, his head hanging low like a lifeless statue. Though he still breathed, it was as if his soul had already withered away.


    Rory broke down in sobs, his face drained of color. "Mr. Jasper... It was my fault. This has nothing to do with Mr. Javier He only lost control of his emotions and said the wrong thing in anger."


    "At this point, I have no excuses," Javier said hoarsely. "I take full responsibility. I am


    willing to confess and ept whatever punishment thew demands."


    He closed his bloodshot eyes and bent forward until he was prostrated on the floor: His voice was filled with despair, as though he were uttering his final farewell. "D??, I was a foot and a horrible son to you. I''m not asking for your forgiveness. I only ask that you—"


    "You shouldn''t be apologizing to me." Newton''s voice trembled as tears streamed down his pale face. "You should go to Chester''s grave and repent before him.


    "Javier, I harbor no hatred toward you. Because to me... you''re no longer my son. Though Chester is gone, he will forever remain my most beloved son.


    "As for you... you''re nothing but a grave mistake in my life.


    "I will amend my will. You and Justin will no longer be part of the Beckett family will formally disown you both From this day forward Jasper and Beckett Group will have nothing to do with you. And when you''re sentenced, I''ll not be there. I wish you the best." Content bétongs


    In that instant, it felt as though every drop of blood in Javier''s body had turned to


    ice. He trembled violently, despair choking the life out of him.


    Without a doubt, Newton''s words were far more unbearable than any death


    sentence. It was a punishment more cruel than death itself.


    Suddenly, Newton''s eyes rolled back without warning. His lips turned a frightening shade of purple, and his body began to convulse.


    Alyssa was the first to notice. Her eyes widened in horror as she cried out, "Grandpa Newton! What''s happening to you? Grandpa Newton!"


    In the next moment, Newton''s tear-swollen eyes shutpletely as his body copsed heavily against Jasper.


    "Grandpa!"