The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 583 Psychological Warfare

Chapter 583 Psychological Warfare

Cedrick scoffed and raised his boot to deliver a harsh kick to Xander’s knee.

“Ahh!”

Caught off guard, Xander fell to his knees in pain.

With the gun still pressed against Xander’s temple, Cedrick emanated an absolute aura of oppressionand intimidation.

“Grandpa loves and cares for you the most, and you actually have the audacity to gamble with his lifeand health for the sake of your own ambitions? You have no idea how much I want to put a bulletthrough you right now, Xander.”

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the gun, seemingly about to pull the trigger.

Realizing that he had let the cat out of the bag, Xander broke out in a cold sweat. He was genuinelyterrified now that the situation had spiraled out of control.

He grabbed onto Cedrick’s military trousers and pleaded, “Cedrick, I was wrong! I was foolishly ledastray and shouldn’t have listened to others‘ instigation. I truly didn’t intend to harm Grandpa. I onlydared to do it because I knew this wouldn’t take his life. I promise I won’t oppose you anymore, soplease just let me go.

With the gun pressed against his head, he was experiencing what true, unadulterated fear felt like.

Especially since Cedrick was visibly angry and seemed to be losing his temper, he was afraid that theman might accidentally fire the gun..

Guns are not sentient beings. It would be the end of my life if he really pulled the trigger!

“Please, Cedrick! You can send me to a lower–level position in the district or county. I promise I won’treturn to Salinsburgh for the next ten years!”

The raging gloom in Cedrick’s eyes settled, and he holstered the gun.

Thinking that he was off the hook, Xander was about to heave a sigh of relief when the other man said,“A demotion wouldn’t mean much to you. I think spending the next ten years in a high–security prisonfor rehabilitation would be more fitting. I’ll handle this matter justly and submit the documents andevidence to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That’s where you’ll replace your chance at redemption.”

The mention of a high–security prison struck Xander like a bolt from the blue.

Although he wouldn’t be facing death, he was well aware that life in a high–security prison would be aliving hell. The fact that Cedrick intended for him to serve a ten–year sentence was beyond his worstfears.

“Don’t send me there! Please spare me, Cedrick. Besides…” He wracked his brain to come up withsomething and refused to admit to his wrongdoings. “Besides, giving Grandpa the grapes andgrapefruits was an accident on my part, I didn’t do it on purpose. Ignorance shouldn’t be punished soharshly, right?”

Cedrick sneered. “I’m well aware of your innocence, or rather the lack thereof. I’m sure you know howefficient the Federal Bureau of Investigation is. Obtaining all the evidence against you will be a piece ofcake.”

Xander slumped to the ground with a defeated expression. His entire body quivered as the thought ofserving time in a high–security prison struck him.

“Cedrick! If you’re going to send me to a high–security prison, you might as well just shoot me deadinstead! At least that would be a quicker and more merciful end for me!”

Thud!

As soon as he finished his words, Cedrick threw the gun down in front of him.

“Go ahead, then. End it yourself.””

Xander stared at the gun blankly, and a wicked thought suddenly arose in his mind.

Cedrick gazed at him with a mocking look in his eyes. “It’s your choice whether to serve a ten–yearsentence in a high–level prison or put an end to your miserable life.”

Xander stared at the gun by his feet. A growing sense of resentment filled his eyes.

Instead of going to a high–level prison and being tortured to death, I should take a certain someonedown first!

Beneath the golden–rimmed glasses, his eyes flashed with hatred. Trembling, he picked up the gunfrom the ground and got to his feet swiftly before pointing the muzzle at Cedrick.

“Since I’m dead either way, I’ll send you to hell first, Cedrick!”

Cedrick remained as calm as ever in the face of such a threat, even showing a hint of disdain in hisexpression.

He spread his arms lazily, seemingly not taking Xander seriously at all. “Come at me, then. I’ll give youcredit for having courage and guts if you actually dare to shoot me.”

“Do you really think I won’t? Your life is worth more than mine. It’s a bargain to take you down withme!“,

Arching a brow, Cedrick taunted, “Since that’s the case, go ahead and shoot, then. Do you know howto pull the trigger? Do I need to teach you how?”

“Of course I know how to pull the trigger!”

Xander’s right hand trembled violently as he held the gun, forcing him to support it with his left hand inorder to maintain his composure.

Nico stood on the side, silently capturing the scene of him pointing the gun at Cedrick.

The sound of the camera clicking awakened Xander’s rationality.

He looked at Nico in confusion, then turned his gaze back to Cedrick.

Nico smiled. “Xander, you might not have been sentenced to ten years originally, but now that you’vethreatened the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and even pointed a gun at him, theseverity of the situation has increased. I’m afraid your sentence will be more than ten years.”

Xander fell into deep despair when he heard that. “Cedrick, you tricked me again! Don’t you know thatby doing this, you’re only forcing me to shoot you?”

Wearing the same deadpan expression, Cedrick showed no signs of fear, which made Xander evenmore uneasy.

Xander couldn’t believe that someone could remain unfazed when faced with the barrel of a gun. “Didyou remove the bullets? There are no bullets in the gun, right? You tricked me by giving me anunloaded gun!”

“Since you’re too afraid to pull the trigger, let me give it a try.”

Feeling extremely disappointed, Cedrick swiftly moved in front of Xander. Before Xander could evenreact, he grabbed the hand holding the gun, pointed the muzzle downward, and fired a shot intoXander’s thigh.

A deafening bang rang out, echoing in the air.

The bullet went through Xander’s thigh, and blood started gushing out of the wound. Agonizingscreams of pain soon filled the ancestral hall.

Driven by intense resentment and hatred, Xander decisively aimed the gun at Cedrick this time andpulled the trigger.

However, the gun in his hand merely made a hollow click sound.

There are no bullets left… Cedrick only loaded one bullet.

Xander was furious. He felt that he was on the verge of losing his sanity. I had the chance to endCedrick’s life all along!

The psychological warfare that Cedrick had waged against him throughout the night had left him in astate of despair and hopelessness.

Relishing in the man’s futile struggle, Cedrick uttered coldly. “The high–level prison awaits you, Xander.Nico, take him away.”

Nico stepped forward immediately to pull Xander up.

Just then, a sudden commotion erupted outside the ancestral hall, and the doors were forcefullypushed open by someone.

Yael–who was supposed to be working in a small county–had unexpectedly returned to Salinsburgh.

“Xander!”

He rushed forward and pushed Nico aside before pulling his son into his arms and looking at his leginjury with concern.

As though he had found his savior, Xander’s eyes lit up. “Dad, he’s going to send me to that hellishhigh- level prison! Please save me. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to die!”

Yael suppressed the hatred he felt toward Cedrick and softened his tone as he persuaded, “Cedrick, nomatter what, Xander is still a part of the Jenson family. How can you bear to send him to such a placeand ruin his life? Yes, he made a mistake, but it doesn’t warrant such a severe punishment! If you wantto discipline him, you can give him a good whipping. But please don’t send him to a high–level prison.Let’s handle this matter within the family, behind closed doors!”

Cedrick was adamant in his decision. He said, “Did he ever consider the consequences of the truthcoming to light when he conspired with outsiders and caused harm to Grandpa? Since he chose thispath, he should have been prepared to bear the responsibility for his actions, Nico, cuff him and takehim away.”

“Sure thing, Cedrick.”

Nico took out a pair of handcuffs and approached Xander, but Yael blocked his path, preventing himfrom touching his son.

“Cedrick, you’re being too ruthless. He is your cousin! Your grandpa only has a few descendants left,yet you’re willing to witness one of them suffer?”

Cedrick lost his patience and insisted, “Sending him to a high–level prison is already the most lenientcourse of action I can offer. Although his days there won’t be easy, he’ll at least have food and shelter.If he dies, it will be because he cannot bear the hardship and chooses to end his life himself. Now takehim away!”

“No! You can’t!”

Chaos erupted at the ancestral hall as cries, shouts, pleas for mercy, and screams of agony blendedtogether, creating a terrifying and chilling atmosphere.

It wasn’t until Logan’s arrival that the fiasco at the ancestral hall was put to an end. He exclaimed, “Mr.Cedrick, Old Mr. Jenson’s awake! Let’s hold off on dealing with Mr. Xander for now and go see himfirst!”