“Since we were young, Dad has favored you and given you everything good. But each time I asked for his help, he'd retort that I was great and should figure it out on my own! Isn't my mother his rightful wife? Aren't I his son too?” Arnaud's tone became harsher as he thought of his father's bias. “But he doesn't love my mother or me!”
As a child, Arnaud frequently witnessed his father bringing a woman to the manor and lavishing her with love. He was met with silent tears when he asked his mother about the woman's identity.
No matter how obnoxious the woman was, including hurling objects at his father, his love for her only grew stronger. His father no longer cared about Arnaud or his mother as time passed.
When the woman got pregnant, Arnaud had never seen his father happier. He was told he would be getting a brother soon and innocently agreed to look after his sibling.
One day, his mother ended her life.
It was then that Arnaud realized what a fool he had been. Xandra and Jefferson were always his father's favorite, while he and his mother were treated like trash.
Arnaud took a deep breath and glared at Jefferson. “I've always thought of how I could end your life for the past twenty years, but I realized that giving you a quick instant death was the easy way out. I'm going to slowly torture you by drugging you. You'll soon plead in vain to be spared a horrible death!”
When Boniel and Sandy met in Norwal City, Arnaud had planned to send Stella to silence the latter. However, he decided to call off the plan as he was wary of Curtis' influence in the city.
Moreover, Sandy and Kenneth were still legally married. Arnaud was worried that Kenneth, who was in Jetroina, would interfere with his business when he found out his wife was dead.
Jefferson ignored Arnaud's displeasure and repeated his demands. “I'm willing to give up everything. Just return the child—”
The man hunched over, clutching at his chest. His face winced in pain as he tried to cover his mouth and suppress the cough.
When Arnaud noticed the pool of blood on Jefferson's palm, he sneered, “I heard Jeremy successfully developed the cure, but you gave the pill away for a woman!”
“You must have many spies in Norwal City to know such intel,” Jefferson said coldly. With each breath, he could feel his strength waning, but he refused to show weakness. He wiped the blood off his palm and continued, “Is the contract prepared? If it's not ready, hand me a pen and paper and I'll write the agreement.”
Arnaud locked his gaze on the man before turning to his butler and whispering to him.
After receiving his instructions, the butler nodded and left the room.
Arnaud sat at the dining table and continued eating his breakfast without saying another word. Five minutes later, he placed his cutleries on the table and wiped his mouth clean.
Arnaud handed Jefferson the contract that the butler had returned with. He dissed, “You aren't the biological father of her child. Are you certain you want to give up everything Father worked so hard to provide for you?”
Jefferson replied flatly, “Even if I accept the inheritance, there's no way in hell you're letting me off the hook.” He flipped to the last page of the contract and signed without reading through the content.
“I want to see the child,” he insisted. He knew Arnaud would not harm the child until his goal was met. He was concerned, however, that the newborn child might have been frightened by the rough treatment. Jefferson vowed that if anything bad happened to the child, he would not let Arnaud off.
Arnaud smirked at Jefferson's foolishness and turned to head upstairs.
Jefferson followed his brother and noticed two burly men standing guard in front of the bedroom. He knew well that Arnaud would not readily return the child. Given his current state, he had no chance of defeating Arnaud, let alone the powerful men. His only hope of surviving was to wait for Curtis to arrive.
After Jefferson and Arnaud entered the room, one of the burly men did as well.
There was a baby cradle placed by the window. Arnaud walked over and took the baby out, gently rocking it for a few moments as the infant's cries filled the air.
Jefferson heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the baby was safe and sound. He clutched the contract and said, “Hand over the baby.”
“She's so adorable. I'm reluctant to part ways with her. Shall I raise her so she can get rid of Rayna and Curtis for me?” Arnaud said, playing with the infant.
Jefferson's mouth twitched as he struggled to keep his cool. “She's Curtis' daughter, Arnaud. He'll hunt you down if you dare steal her away.”
Arnaud grabbed the baby's neck all of a sudden. “Why do you like to sabotage other people's relationships, just like your mother?”
The baby's cries grew louder and more frantic by the second.
Jefferson's heart sank as he saw the baby's face scrunched up in distress. He had to exercise every ounce of restraint to keep from lunging at his foe.
“She's just a child. Leave her alone.” Jefferson threw the contract near Arnaud's feet and raised his hands. He slowly approached the man and continued, “I've given you the contract. Give me the child.”
However, the man's grasp on the baby's neck remained firm. “Are you angry? I find it hard to believe that you could be so easily threatened with a newborn child,” he scoffed and gave Jefferson a scornful look.
“I can let her go.” Arnaud tightened his grip around the baby's neck. “Kneel and beg for my forgiveness. Once I'm satisfied, both of you can leave.”
As the baby's cries grew more intense, Jefferson had no choice but to abide by Arnaud's instructions. He clenched his jaw and sank to his knees, grudgingly prostrating himself before the man.
Arnaud let out a boisterous laugh and glared at Jefferson. “Your face reminds me of the evil woman who caused my mother's death. I wish I could murder all of you!”
Jefferson bowed once more. This time, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by violent bouts of cough. He did not even have time to clean the blood from his mouth.
“Please return the child to me,” the man pleaded.
“Okay. She's yours.” Arnaud smirked and threw the baby out of the window. “I never said I'd pass it to your hands.”
Jefferson immediately struggled to his feet and stumbled to the window, determined to get hold of the baby. He did not care about his safety as he leaped out of the window.
Finally, the baby was in his embrace.
Even though the ground was covered in thick layers of snow, the impact of falling from the second to the first level was still enormous. Despite successfully saving the child, Jefferson was left with a broken leg.
The chilly snow on his face caused him to cough uncontrollably.
He trudged through deep snow, bowed his head against the wind and sleet, and wrapped the baby in his jacket to keep her warm.
Because of his broken leg, he lost his balance and fell into the snow several times.
Cough! Cough!
Blood was oozing from his mouth and nose, seeping into the pristine white snow.
Arnaud walked out of the house, looking at Jefferson haughtily.
For the first time, he had won the fight against his brother.
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