?Chapter 495:


    No one in the room had believed Cole would regain consciousness, let alone appear now, at the very moment everything hung in the bnce. An uneasy hush nketed the hall.


    Carter and rence, who had strutted around moments ago full of pride, fell silent in an instant, frozen in ce and too afraid to lift a finger. The weight of Cole’s reputation pressed down—no one who had ever crossed him escaped unscathed.


    Carter and rence had only dared to pull off this stunt because Cole was out of the picture. But now that Cole was back on his feet, the weight of his presence bore down on them like a storm rolling in.


    Without wasting a second, Elliana rushed to Cole’s side, her fingers searching for his pulse. Relief washed over her as soon as she found it steady and strong.


    Seeing Cole alert and in control, Ruben, Bertram, and Emmanuel—who’d all braced for the worst—finally let themselves breathe.


    Cole’s cold eyes swept across the room, locking onto Carter and rence. “You thought you could hurt my wife?”


    Fear ran deep in rence’s bones. Since childhood, Cole had always been his greatest dread. Not a single word escaped him. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to meet Cole’s gaze.


    Carter, leaning on his seniority, refused to back down. “She overstepped her ce, Cole. It’s only right she faces the consequences!”


    “That’s not for you to decide. I will handle it if my wife really steps out of line,” Cole retorted, every syble sharp as ss. An iron fury shed in his re, the sound of his voice sending chills up every spine.


    No one dared to move or speak. Even Carter took a step back, unable to hold hisposure.


    Then, in a voice that carried like thunder, Cole issued an order that shocked the whole family.


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    Cole dered, his voice cutting through the room, unyielding, “In this family, anyone bold enough to challenge authority or stir up chaos faces the harshest consequences. Carter. rence. You saw my injury as an opportunity to seize the family head’s seat and tried to harm Elliana on top of it. Today, your actions demand a lesson—one that serves as a warning to everyone in the family.”


    All traces of swagger disappeared from rence. His hands shook, his confidence shattered.


    Trying to save face, Carter forced himself to stand tall. “I’m your great-uncle, Cole! Where’s your respect? How dare you speak to me like this?”


    A cold, humorless chuckle escaped Cole. “Carter, that you have designs on the leadership has never been a secret. Everyone here knows how you’ve schemed for it since you were young. My grandfather only let you off again and again for the sake of the family peace. But you’ve crossed a line today, and I won’t be held back.”


    Panic crept into Carter’s voice. “What… What are you nning to do?”


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