The Russell family was prestigious and wealthy, with many rules to adhere to. Sophie was well aware of the kind of man her father was. As the head of the family, her father would never pervert the course of justice for personal gain, even for familial bonds, and certainly not for Perry.


    Perry was involved in gambling, which on the surface seemed like a personal issue, but it endangered the entire Russell family, and indeed, it did.


    The muscles in Perry''s cheeks twitched, a clear sign he had nothing more to say.


    Sophie said, "Perry, I''m asking you onest time. Did you kill my father?"


    "Yes! I killed him! He was so inflexible! He wanted to ruthlessly kick me out of the house just because he found out about my gambling!" Veins throbbed on Perry''s face, indicating extreme anger. "I am his brother! All I did was ask him for money to cover my gambling debts, and he berated me! Then he wanted to throw me out! The Russell family is my home, too. What right did he have!"


    "You got yourself involved in gambling! What''s wrong with my father enforcing family rules and kicking you out? Look at the shame you''ve brought the Russell family! You killed my father over this!" Hearing it from Perry himself was still quite shocking to Sophie. For years, Perry was like a second father to her. But she never imagined this father figure to harm her, let alone kill her parents! When Perry caught sight of Sophie''s gaze, he guiltily looked away. His eyes were bloodshot. He and his brother had grown up together, but it was easy to lose all reason when pushed to the brink. Grinding his teeth, Perry said, "I was hung up and beaten by my creditors for three days and nights. When I got home, he forced me to exin what had happened. I refused to say anything, but he guessed it anyway. I had racked up thirty million in debt! I couldn''t possibly repay it. Kicking me out was cutting off my only means of survival. How could I just let it go?"


    "But you shouldn''t have killed my parents over it! Do you realize that''s a crime? When has my dad ever wronged you? He gave you money and gave you a job. You could do anything you wanted! Why gamble away that money?"


    "It''s because he was too outstanding! Ever since we were kids, people only mentioned him when they talked about the son of the Russell family! He was the genius, and I was nothing! I grew up with your parents, but in the eyes of others, only your parents were considered as ''the Russells!'' They were the golden couple, a match made in heaven! And me? I was just a side character, never taken seriously by anyone! I loved your mother, too, but she never even looked at me!"


    Perry revealed the secret he had harbored for years. His aged face was streaked with tears, but his eyes still burned with jealousy and hatred. "I gambled simply wanting to make a fortune, to earn some respect! But your father belittled me to nothing! Yes, my brother was impressive, the pride of the Russell family! But what about me? Why did no one pity me? Did he ever consider what kicking me out would mean? I''d be faced with a huge debt, likely beaten to death by those I owed!"


    Sophie couldn''t listen anymore. She


    coldly said, "Perry, after all these


    years, have you not realized that


    those who led you into debt were aiming to drag the entire Russell family down?"


    At this, Perry was taken aback.


    Sophie continued, "You dragged the entire Russell family down with your stupidity and greed. I think my dad was absolutely right in kicking you out."


    "What right do you have to say that? How dare you!" Perry was enraged and stood up. He pped the table, but in the next second, Colby stood up and opened the door that separated the visiting rooms.


    As Colby walked in, Perry''s bluster died down immediately.


    Colby ced a hand on Perry''s shoulder, and Perry, terrified, sat down, too scared to resist.


    Colby spoke in a dangerous tone, "Just answer the questions."


    "Colby, I warn you, this is a prison. If you touch me, that''s breaking thew..."


    Before Perry could finish, Colby tightened his grip, causing Perry to grimace in pain and cry out for help.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "There are no cameras here, and without mymand, no one outside wille in. No one will save you. But don''t worry, I''ll cover your medical expenses," Colby said, his voice cold. Perry noticed the icy look in Colby''s eyes and gave up any idea of resistance.


    Sophie said, "I want to know the secret of the Russell family''s ancestral hall."


    Faced with Sophie''s inquiry about the ancestral hall, Perry hesitated. "That hall... contains something... I only heard bits and pieces and never got the full story. I just knew there was something valuable in there. To cover my debts, I had no choice but to steal my brother''s keys. That''s when I overheard him saying he was going to kick me out. I was so angry, I just left."