Hi Ex, Your Uncle Is My Hubby Now - Chapter 96: Chapter 96

"Mr. Barnes, you may be getting on in years, but you've still got some moves left in you. Pop a few pills, put in a little effort, and who knows—you might even snag yourself a couple of wealthy cougars to keep you."
Jeremy shot Mike a pointed look and said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "After all, seducing women like some second-rate gigolo has always been your specialty, isn't it, Mr. Barnes?"
Everyone in Eldraeth City's elite circles knew about the long-standing feud between the Tucker and Barnes families that dated back to the war years.
Who in Eldraeth City's elite circles didn't know about the scandalous affair between Mike and Sylvie?
Over thirty years ago, to wipe out the Tucker bloodline and claim their fortune, Mike employed every underhanded trick to lure Sylvie into the carefully woven web of seduction he had set for her.
Sylvie seemed to be under a spell—utterly bewitched by Mike and unable to break free from his allure.
Egged on by Mike, Sylvie deliberately slept with him during her father, Westin's birthday banquet to force her parents into approving the marriage.
Under Mike's orchestration, several guests "accidentally" barged into the lounge and caught the two of them in a compromising situation.
The scandal of their illicit affair spread like wildfire through Eldraeth City's high society.
Mike thought he had it all figured out—he was certain this move would force Westin and his wife to give in.
After all, their only daughter had already lost her virginity.
Under normal circumstances, they would have had to concede.
But Westin and his wife were never pushovers.
Not only did they refuse to give their blessing to Sylvie and Mike, they publicly disowned Sylvie on the spot—and then, defying all medical odds at their advanced age, went on to have Jeremy.
The birth of Jeremy completely shattered Mike's grand scheme.
Jeremy's birth carried a special significance.
In that pre-internet era, when letters traveled only by horse and carriage, Westin and his wife wrote a letter to the Barnes family.
The letter signified, "I respectfully present this letter, awaiting the recipient to open and read it."
Jeremy was that very letter—the Tuckers' message to the Barnes family and their wayward daughter Sylvie.
This letter was destined to crush Sylvie's arrogance and bring the Barnes family to its knees.
"Jeremy, cut the damn nonsense!" Mike snarled, his face contorted like a demon crawling out of hell.
After decades as the head of the Barnes family, how could Mike—a man of his stature and dignity—possibly stomach being insulted by Jeremy right in front of all these youngsters?
Mike blustered with empty threats, "Jeremy! Don't think I'll keep tolerating your insolence just because you're my kids' uncle and my wife's little brother!"
"This is Barnes territory, not Tucker turf! Don't push your luck!
"Just because I'm old doesn't mean I'm dead! Don't think for a second I won't make you pay for this!"
Upon hearing that, Jeremy abruptly extended his left hand toward Aiden.
Aiden cradled the gift boxes in one arm, deftly drew the combat knife from his waist with his free hand, and respectfully presented it to Jeremy.
Jeremy took the combat knife and strode right up to Mike, his gaze unwavering.
He turned the razor-sharp blade toward himself and handed the hilt to Mike, his tone deliberately casual. "I'm standing right here. One move from you is all it takes to end me."
Jeremy, with mock courtesy, pressed the knife into Mike's hand. "Here," he said, "do your worst—cut me up if you please."
But Mike's hands trembled so violently that he couldn't even grip the dagger.
His hands shook so violently that he was unable to steady them.
Watching Mike's pitiful struggle, Jeremy sneered, "Can't even hold a knife steady? You're well past your prime, Mr. Barnes.
"Looks like the gigolo route—seducing wealthy cougars for patronage—is a dead end for you, Mr. Barnes."
After being repeatedly mocked by Jeremy as a washed-up gigolo, Mike finally snapped.
"Jeremy, I'll fucking kill you today!" Mike roared, his face twisted with rage as he raised the dagger and thrust it at Jeremy.
Just then, a surge of blood rushed to Mike's head—his body stiffened and he collapsed straight to the ground!
"Dad!" Dorian swiftly caught Mike before he hit the ground.
Lily shrieked in terror, "Dad! What's happening to you?"
Mike collapsed into Dorian's arms, half his face grotesquely twisted.
Watching Mike's lips twitch, Jeremy calmly brushed off the nonexistent dust from his sleeve, a deliberate gesture of disdain.
With mock concern, Jeremy remarked to Dorian, "Your father's having a stroke. Better call 911 now, unless you want today's celebration to turn into a funeral."