Chapter 1670 Your performance was amazing.
"Michael, if you had said this earlier, I would have been very relieved."
Julia stood three feet away from him, her clear eyes fixed on Michael for a long moment before she finally spoke.
Michael was stunned. If he weren't tied up, he would have stood up. As it was, he could only struggle, "Julia, what do you mean? I'm your brother, your real brother. Are you really not going to let this go? Yes, I shouldn't have gone against Carl, but think about how I feel. Derek took my wife and kids. I have nothing left. I'm a man; how could I not fight back?"
Even now, he refused to admit his mistakes.
A trace of disappointment, helplessness, and sorrow welled up in Julia's deep eyes.
The more silent she was, the more panicked Michael became.
He lost his earlier composure and his voice grew agitated, "Julia, get this straight. I never wanted to take anything from you. My only target is Derek. You're my sister, and I've always respected and loved you. Derek may be close to you, but he's not your real brother. Besides, Derek is cunning. If he can go after me today, he can go after you tomorrow."
"Enough."
Julia couldn't listen anymore. How had Michael become such a despicable person?
"Michael, I regret it deeply. As your sister, I thought making you happy was enough. Because of that, you grew up without any responsibilities, living too freely and recklessly, which made you so selfish."
"Who's selfish?" Michael felt increasingly uneasy. "Julia, don't make it sound so noble. Call Mom and Dad over; I have something to say to them."
"They're not coming. They're already very disappointed in you."
"Is it them who are disappointed, or have you been sowing discord all along?" Michael struggled fiercely. "Julia, I'll say it again: I'm not trying to take anything from you. You don't need to see me as a thorn in your side."
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Julia's eyes. "Do you think I need to see you as a thorn in my side? Michael, you're not even qualified."
Taking over the Jude Group would be easy for her. With her abilities, she could have done it years ago, but she hadn't. She didn't want to go against their parents. She had come this far out of sheer necessity.
Michael didn't believe it at all. "Julia, stop pretending. You've been eyeing the Jude Group's position for years. You've been nice to me on the surface just to lull me into a false sense of security. I don't get it. I have nothing left. Why won't you let me go? Do you have any humanity left? You're the sister I care about the most. We're family. Is power really so important that it makes you turn your back on everyone?"
By the end, his eyes were red with sorrow.
Suddenly, there was the sound of clapping from outside the door.
"Michael, your performance is quite impressive."
Derek walked in slowly, clapping, followed by two men in work uniforms.
Michael's pupils contracted, and a sense of dread grew stronger in his heart.
Derek stared at him intently. "See, Michael, you're actually quite smart. At a critical moment, you try to anger Julia while also playing the victim, hoping to soften her heart. It's a pity you don't use your intelligence for the right things."
"Julia, are you really colluding with Derek? What are you planning? Do you want to murder your own brother?" Michael shouted angrily, struggling against the tight ropes. "Let me go! Derek, you despicable person."
"We never intended to kill you," Derek said calmly.
Hearing this, Michael felt a sudden sense of relief.
He didn't want to die.
"So, you're afraid of death after all," Derek observed with a hint of mockery. "I thought you were braver than that."
Michael trembled with humiliation. "I'm not afraid of death. I just don't want to die unjustly at your hands. Derek, don't you pride yourself on being fair and just? You should be taking me to the police, not abusing your power here."
He had thought it through.
His crime, at most, was slandering the White House. At worst, he would only spend a few months in jail.
Derek rubbed his temples. "Michael, it didn't have to come to this between us. You shouldn't have incited Rolf to seek outside forces."
Michael's heart skipped a beat. How did he know?
"Derek, don't frame me. I have no idea what you're talking about." Even a fool would know not to admit to such things. But Michael couldn't understand how Derek had found out.
Was it Rolf who told him?
But weren't they sworn enemies?
"Rolf said it himself," Julia said weakly.
"Are you all crazy? Rolf and the Jude family are sworn enemies. You believe him but not me?" Michael shouted angrily. "Rolf is trying to drive a wedge between us, to create a rift between Dad and Carl. This is all Rolf's scheme."
Derek remained expressionless. "I've had several private confrontations with Rolf. He wants to compete for the presidency, but he has his limits. Outside forces have approached him several times, but he always refused. Behind closed doors, he and my dad can be at each other's throats, but he would never allow the public's interests to be compromised. You inciting him to contact outside forces crossed his line. Even if you tarnish my dad's reputation, Rolf won't let you off."
Michael was shaken.
He lowered his eyes in regret.
He didn't know Rolf well enough. If he had known, he wouldn't have approached Rolf first.
"Michael, if you dared to do it, is it so hard to admit?" Julia hoped he would at least own up to it. "You used to be brave enough to face the consequences. Now you can't even admit what you've done? If you're so afraid of death, why do you keep causing trouble?"
Michael's temples throbbed violently. Julia's words felt like slaps to his face, filling him with intense humiliation.
Finally, Michael looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred. "Yes, I did it. So what? I was born into the Jude family, where I was taught to do whatever it takes. I was too stupid before to succeed, but now that I have, you want to blame me?"
"We won't blame you because you're beyond redemption."
Derek shook his head calmly. "The Jude family's teachings aren't about doing whatever it takes. It's about using any means necessary while always maintaining a bottom line. Michael, let me guess. Were you planning to pretend to be compliant, have your parents send you abroad to start a new life, and then, once abroad, contact outside forces to betray the Jude family, maybe even betray Madison?"
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