At this point, she glanced at Jethro. "Do you remember that time after school, you were angry I didn't wait for you? It wasn't that I didn't want to. I had been kidnapped." Jethro's eyes narrowed. "By the debt collectors?" Annie nodded. "Yes. They kidnapped me, stripped me, called my dad, threatened him that if he didn't pay up, they'd sell me to a brothel to work off the debt." Jethro clenched his fists, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Why didn't you tell me?" Annie let out a broken smile. "I already told you why. Because I was ashamed. Jethro, to me, you were like the moon in the sky. How could I let dark clouds taint that pure light? My background was already so far beneath yours. I didn't even dare tell you Draven was my uncle. How could I tell you aboutthat? "After the kidnapping, I was terrified. My dad begged me, crying, apologizing. But apologies were useless. I asked him exactly how much he owed. He told me a number I couldn't even dream of back then. We didn't have much time, and we had almost no options. My mind was consumed with one thought—get the money fast, don't let you find out. Then I saw a news report on TV about a kidnapping case in Portvale... and I got the initial idea. "To be honest, my dad and I never intended to kill anyone. We were just... desperate for money, desperate for a way to breathe. Before he acted, I told my dad repeatedly—Don't let your dad and uncle get hurt for real. Release them as soon as the money arrives. But no matter how we planned, we never expected them to wake up during the transfer." After saying all this, Annie broke down sobbing. She looked at the three Blackwood men. The long-overdue "I'm sorry" finally didn't have to be locked in her chest any longer. Arthur seemed to age a decade in an instant. "'Sorry'? How is 'sorry' enough?! Out of kindness, I took you and your dad in. Little did I know I was welcoming two wolves into my home!" He beat his chest in anguish. "It was me! I caused the death of my two sons! How laughable that I kept insisting on recognizing a Blackwood bloodline! You vicious woman! I should never have shown you an ounce of pity! Now it seems Jett isn't a Blackwood child at all! He was just a tool for you to achieve your goals!" With that, he was about to order the butler, Eli Fenn, to have Jett thrown out. But Annie cried out desperately, "No! That's not true!" She crawled to his feet. "Mr. Blackwood, Jett really is your great-grandson!" Arthur kicked her away. "I don't believe a single word you say! Eli, have that bastard child thrown out! Far away!" "Wait." Jethro raised a hand, stopping Eli. He looked at his grandfather. "Grandpa, Jett is indeed not my child. But don't be hasty. I believe Jasper knows part of the truth." All eyes turned to Jasper.Jasper wiped the sweat from his forehead, closed his eyes, and shook his head. "No. Jett has no blood relation to the Blackwoods. He's an orphan from a welfare home. Annie and I used to visit him often when he was very young, and we grew close. When Annie returned this time, to win Jethro back, she pretended Jett was his son." He lowered his head, not daring to meet Jethro's eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered an apology. "I'm sorry, Jethro, Grandpa. I knew the truth but hid it from you. I was wrong." Arthur was furious, raising his cane to strike Jasper's back. "You fool!" "Grandpa." Jethro caught the cane, preventing another blow. "Don't blame Jasper yet. Because he's a victim too." Jasper looked up sharply. "What do you mean?" Jethro said, "As I said, you know part of the truth. There's another part you don't." Hearing this, Arthur caught on. He narrowed his eyes, taking a good look at his eldest grandson. He gritted his teeth. "Well, well, you brat. So you've had the whole story figured out for a while. Today's entire scene was orchestrated by you, wasn't it?" Jethro coughed lightly and smiled. His silence was confirmation. Arthur, enraged, tried to raise his cane again but found it still firmly in Jethro's grip. Breathing unevenly, he spat out, "No wonder you acted like a bystander, indifferent to the whole banquet! Why didn't you tell me earlier?! If you had, I wouldn't have made such a spectacle and lost all face!" Jethro reached out, gently patting his grandfather's back to soothe him, his voice low. "Calm down. When this is over, I'll give you a proper apology." Arthur snorted, "Fine. Speak. What's the other part of the truth?" Jethro paused for a moment, his deep eyes settling on Jasper. "Actually, Jett is your son. Yours and Annie's."With that, Jethro took two documents from his inner jacket pocket.