He was trying to incite hatred in Yancy Shaw. What he wanted most was to see Yancy Shaw’s anger—to see him so enraged he’d want to kill, yet unable to do so.

Yet Yancy Shaw remained calm and composed, his emotions unwavering.

He waited until he’d finished venting every word, then finally spoke, unhurried, "And here I thought you might at least have something worthwhile to say. Turns out, you’re just like this."

These were the only words Xue Wenchang could manage now. He had hoped to provoke Yancy Shaw, but failed.

"Regret it, don’t you? Not killing me back then, leaving someone like me to be a ticking time bomb." Yancy Shaw’s smile held a subtle, unsettling undertone—a look equal parts mockery and threat.

"The best way to deal with an enemy isn’t with empty words, but by seizing on their weakness."

He fixed his gaze on Xue Wenchang’s face. The paler Xue Wenchang became, the more satisfied Yancy Shaw looked, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You’ve committed so many crimes—ever wonder why you weren’t sentenced to death? Want to know the reason?" Yancy Shaw’s tone was light, laced with ridicule.

Something seemed to occur to Xue Wenchang and he suddenly raised his head, looking at Yancy Shaw with a complicated expression. "What are you trying to do?"

"Death would be letting you off easy. I’d much rather make you wish you were dead, but find no escape. Neither life nor death at your command."

Xue Wenchang stared at him in alarm.

That reaction made Yancy Shaw all the more satisfied.

"Did you ever imagine a day like this, back when you schemed against our Shen family? Since entering prison, your son, Sean Snow, hasn’t visited you once, has he?"

The mention of Sean Snow sent a jolt of terror through Xue Wenchang.

"What are you planning? Please, I beg you, leave Zeyang out of this. He’s innocent—he knows nothing of any of this. It was all me, he had nothing to do with it..."

"Why would I spare him?" Yancy Shaw’s voice turned deep and cold, with a ruthless edge that sent chills down Xue Wenchang’s spine.

Everyone had a weakness. For Xue Wenchang, his was his son, Sean Snow. When it came to scheming, Sean Snow was no match for someone like Yancy Shaw.

Xue Wenchang leapt to his feet, roaring, "Whatever you want—come at me. Leave my son alone!"

He glared and smashed his hands against the glass, screaming fit to burst.

Yancy Shaw watched him unravel, lips curled into an audacious smile. However loud Xue Wenchang raged, it was like water off a duck’s back.

A prison guard came over and restrained him, brandishing a stun baton.

But Xue Wenchang couldn’t calm down. He kept shouting, "Don’t touch him! Or I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!"

"Pipe down," the guard snapped.

While Xue Wenchang lost all control, Yancy Shaw simply folded his arms and watched with a detached, mocking smile.

The calmer Yancy Shaw remained, the more Xue Wenchang’s panic spiraled—so much so that, when a jolt of electricity ran through his body, his consciousness flickered out.

A short while later, Yancy Shaw exited the visitation room. Lu Chaoran was waiting outside, regarding him thoughtfully.

"I heard Xue Wenchang got very agitated just now. What did you say to him?"

"Nothing much," Yancy Shaw replied, voice even, not a single crack in his composure.

He wasn’t inclined to elaborate, and Lu Chaoran let the matter drop, remembering the real reason for his visit today.

"The Snow family plans to appeal Xue Wenchang’s sentence. They’re hiring a lawyer."

"Who?"

"Mandy Snow."

—

"Attorney Xiao, is there really nothing you can do?" Today, Mandy Snow had arranged to meet the most renowned lawyer in Ancheng, hoping he could help win a retrial for Xue Wenchang.

Attorney Xiao shook his head. "I’ve reviewed the case already. Even if you did get a second trial, the odds of overturning the original verdict are slim to none."

The Shen family’s mercy in not pushing for the death penalty was already noteworthy. To hope for even a reduced sentence on appeal? Daydreaming. Who would risk offending the Shen family for something so futile?

Mandy Snow’s expression went cold. "So you’re saying my brother’s doomed to rot in prison?"

Attorney Xiao pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I’m sorry, Miss Xue. You should probably look elsewhere for counsel. I can do nothing for you."

With that, the lawyer opened the door to leave, brushing past Shen Sylvia Shaw, who had been waiting outside.

Shen Sylvia Shaw stepped aside to give him room. After the lawyer left, she entered the study.

Mandy Snow’s face was clouded with gloom. She couldn’t understand how things had gotten so bad for the Snow family.

Her father had died not long ago, her eldest brother was behind bars, and Sean Snow and her sister-in-law had left the country overnight, dumping the whole mess on her. The company’s stock had plummeted. The Shen family seemed determined to crush them, snatching away multiple major projects.

Most business partners no longer dared to work with the Snow family; some even paid hefty breach-of-contract fees just to withdraw. It all left Mandy Snow with deep worry etched on her brow.

Shen Sylvia Shaw entered, her face tear-streaked. "Mom, I don’t want to go to school anymore. Everyone knows I’m not really the Shen family’s daughter. They all laugh at me—it’s so humiliating."

She rambled on, oblivious to the stormy look in Mandy Snow’s eyes.

She had once been the pampered heiress of a wealthy family, always enjoying the spotlight. Now, stripped of everything, she hardly wanted to go on living.

"Pathetic! Is a little thing like this really worth making such a scene over?"

A sneer flashed across Mandy Snow’s face. She had a mountain of problems to deal with—she had no patience left for Shen Sylvia Shaw’s outbursts.

Shen Sylvia Shaw stifled her tears. She had only wanted a shoulder to cry on, never expecting such harshness from Mandy Snow. Hurt, she ran out of the study.

Mandy Snow had no time or energy for her now. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to visit Xue Wenchang.

Ancheng Detention Center.

Mandy Snow sat alone in the visitation room, watching as the guard brought Xue Wenchang in. Her eyes were dull with exhaustion.

"Big brother... are you managing in here?"

Xue Wenchang’s hair was much grayer now, deep lines fanned from the corners of his eyes, and his whole demeanor seemed weathered—a man aged by more than ten years. The sight stung Mandy Snow’s heart.

He said nothing, only stared quietly at her.

"Dad’s gone, and you know what Second Brother’s like—there’s no way he can run the company..."

"Zeyang, my Zeyang..." Xue Wenchang seemed not to hear, mumbling only his son’s name over and over.

Mandy Snow let out a long, resigned sigh. "Zeyang and my sister-in-law left for abroad as soon as trouble hit. He hasn’t lifted a finger to help at home..."

Just thinking about Sean Snow made her angry—ungrateful brat. She forced the thought aside.

Xue Wenchang seemed lost to the world, muttering to himself, not responding to her at all. Concerned, Mandy Snow called his name several times, but he showed no sign he’d heard.

Has he lost his mind?

Distressed, Mandy Snow tried again and again. Suddenly, as though some dreadful thought struck him, Xue Wenchang’s expression twisted. "Don’t hurt Zeyang, I beg you. If you’ve got a grudge, take it out on me. Just leave my son alone..."

Seeing him grow hysterical, the guard quickly subdued him, pressed the stun baton to his side, and Xue Wenchang slumped, unconscious.

Mandy Snow stared in shock, clamping a hand over her mouth as Xue Wenchang was dragged away. Overcome, she shouted at the guards, "Why are you treating him like this? What right do you have to do this to him?"