?Chapter 672:


    “Hang in there.”


    Jules, who had been about to boast, winced as the antiseptic made contact with his wound. A sharp gasp escaped his lips.


    “Damn, Grandpa really didn’t hold back!”


    Without a word, Corrine continued her work, focused on cleaning the injuries. The antiseptic seeped into the gashes, and Jules’ forehead tightened with the effort of holding back the pain. He nced at Corrine and, with a hint of curiosity, asked, “Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious?”


    “Stop moving,” she replied, her tone icy.


    Julesplied, sitting up straighter and leaning against the chair’s backrest to make it easier for her to tend to him. Her motions were swift, efficient—almost mechanical—as though she had repeated this process countless times before.


    “You’ve really only epted a little favor from Nate?” she asked, her gaze flickering to the angry marks on his back, her frown deepening as she continued working.


    When Jules had been younger, he’d been headstrong, rebellious, a force that refused to be tamed. To curb his unruliness, Jayden had sent him to Carl for tough training. But Jules had stayed defiant, his spirit unbroken.


    Corrine remembered one particr moment—Jules had defended her honor in a fight with a rich kid, the result being that the boy’s leg never fully healed. Carl had lost his temper that day, delivering one of the harshest punishments Jules had ever faced. He hadshed Jules’ back without mercy. Jules had clenched his teeth, not uttering a sound, even though the pain must have been unbearable. He insisted he had done nothing wrong.


    That same evening, Corrine had snuck into his room with food, only to run into Jayden. It was the first time she had seen her usuallyposed uncle show any softness. Jayden had sighed deeply and said, “Don’t be fooled by Carl’s tough exterior. He knows exactly what he’s doing. The boy’s family needed a solution.”


    Th3n r34d th3 l3g1t v3rs10n: g4ln0v3ls.c0m.


    Looking at the wounds on Jules now, it was clear that Carl had shown no leniency this time.


    If this entire ordeal was merely about Jules epting Nate’s research team, it seemed like an overreaction from Carl, far beyond what such a minor thing would warrant.


    “I’m your blood cousin. No matter how messed up I am, I would never betray you!” Jules suddenly sat up, locking eyes with Corrine.


    “You actually think I would? Corrine, look me in the eye and tell me—have I ever done anything to hurt you?”


    Before he could finish his sentence, Corrine pressed him back down with an unyielding hand.


    “I just find it strange. Why would Grandpa be so enraged over something so trivial?”


    “That’s exactly what I’m wondering,” Jules admitted.


    “Everything points to Grandpa being dead-set against you being with Nate.”


    Corrine raised a single eyebrow, her expression calm as she nced at him.


    “And?”


    Jules hesitated before suggesting, “I think you should really reconsider…”


    But before he could finish, Corrine’s hand pressed harder against his wound. Jules broke out in a cold sweat, his breath sharp with pain.


    “Hey! Are you trying to kill me?”


    “Oops, my bad,” Corrine said, a faint, utterly insincere smile ying at the corner of her lips.


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