Stronger Every Time I Die

Chapter 265 The High-Stakes Gamble

Hearing Maris’s words, the Gibson family couldn’t stay calm anymore. They exchanged glances, their eyes landing on Arthur, silently questioning him. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust him, but they wanted to know—what exactly was going on? Ivan was so frustrated he almost laughed. Unlike Arthur, he wasn’t the type to sit back and keep his cool in moments like this. Instead, he fired back without hesitation. “Maris, are you really friends with the owner of this estate?” Maris froze for a moment before swallowing hard. Straightening his posture, he forced a composed expression and said, “Yes, Mr. Ivan. I had the privilege of meeting him and becoming friends in the past,” Maris said, trying to sound humble. Ivan let out a short, mocking laugh. “Oh? Then tell me—what’s the owner’s name?” Maris stiffened completely. He only knew that the estate’s owner had left the country years ago and had never returned. As for their name? No one had ever heard it. His mind raced—he was stuck! Noticing Maris struggling to answer, Stephen quickly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Maris, what’s wrong with you? Just yesterday, you told me the estate owner's name. Didn’t he specifically ask you not to reveal it?” Maris’s eyes lit up! “Yes!” He quickly nodded. Realizing he had reacted too eagerly, he immediately composed himself and put on a regretful expression. Looking at Ivan, he said apologetically, “Mr. Ivan, I’m sorry. My friend specifically asked me not to disclose his name. I truly regret that I can’t share it.” Zane pressed his lips tightly together, his palms already damp with sweat. This was an incredibly risky move. They were betting everything on this! If they pulled it off, Arthur and the Gibson family would be publicly humiliated. Once Ivan saw Arthur for what he really was, he would cut ties immediately. And when that happened, the Yarbrough family’s future would be set—they would be the ones everyone wanted to align with. But if they lost this gamble…Zane didn’t dare think about it. He couldn’t. Ivan studied Maris and Stephen with a look of amusement. These two… truly something else. “Hah.” Ivan suddenly chuckled. His laughter carried an unmistakable hint of mockery. Ivan's laughter made them tense up. Suddenly, he leaned in toward Maris and said, “You don’t actually know the estate owner’s name, do you?” Just as Maris had started to relax, his breath hitched again. Ivan’s gaze was piercing, his presence commanding and suffocating. Under that piercing stare, Maris didn’t dare move an inch. Even his voice wavered as he stammered, “N-no, I—I…” “What is it?” Ivan pressed. Zane panicked. He quickly stepped in front of Maris, subtly shielding him. This kid lacked the experience to handle this kind of pressure. Zane forced a polite smile. “Mr. Ivan, my son is still recovering from the injuries Arthur gave him—both his hands were broken. Please excuse his state.” With those words, he skillfully deflected the pressure from Maris while subtly emphasizing Arthur’s violent nature. He was far more cunning—his words were precise, calculated, and much smoother than Maris’s. But Ivan wasn’t that easy to fool. He immediately followed up, “Then, do you know the name of the estate’s owner?” The moment those words left his mouth, the entire room fell silent. Cold sweat began to form on Zane’s back. He couldn’t quite read Ivan’s intent. Was he just testing us, or…? If it was only Maris claiming to know the owner, then even if they got exposed, he could easily dismiss it as youthful arrogance. But if Zane made that claim, and it turned out to be a lie, there would be no easy way to talk his way out of it. Did Ivan actually know the truth, or was he just bluffing? The two men locked eyes, tension thick in the air. Silence stretched across the room, yet the cold sweat trickling down Zane’s back betrayed his unease. This was a gamble—one with incredibly high stakes. But it was also the Yarbrough family’s only chance to turn the tables. He couldn’t afford to lose. He had no choice but to bet everything on this. After a brief pause, Zane clenched his jaw and nodded. “Of course I do.” The estate’s owner had always remained a mystery. If he claimed his son was a friend of the owner yet couldn’t even name him, it would be impossible to explain. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and admit it. Ivan suddenly let out a low chuckle. Taking two steps back, he casually reached into his jacket. Everyone watched in confusion. In the next moment, Ivan pulled his hand from his jacket, revealing a red booklet. The bold, unmistakable words on the cover stood out clearly—Title Deed.

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