490: Chapter 485 New Identity

There were only two men, each with their own agenda, and a devil's bargain struck with hatred and profit as currency.

Kevin's voice echoed in the silent room.

Hoarse, yet clear.

Like a street sweeper taking out the trash, he dumped out everything dark and dirty he had harbored in his heart about Andrew for the past twenty years.

"The stable hand who tampered with my spare saddle before the equestrian competition was named Old John. He had a son who kept applying to Ivy League schools but his grades weren't good enough. After the incident, his son suddenly received a full scholarship to St. Ludo Royal Academy."

"The Engineer responsible for inspecting the ski lift accident was named Pete. He was a compulsive gambler and owed a large sum of money to the mob. After the accident, not only did he pay off all his gambling debts, but he also bought an apartment near the Golden Triangle."

"The synthetic drug slipped into my dinner was called 'Nightmare.' It was developed by a biological laboratory under the Hosen Family; it is not sold commercially, only core members can obtain it. The chef responsible for preparing my meals was named Philip, and Andrew was his guarantor."

Kevin paused, taking a deep breath.

"Andrew is not my father's biological son."

"He is the child my mother brought with her from her previous marriage."

"But my father didn't know at the time. He, who considered himself smart his whole life, was completely fooled by a woman."

"He only learned the truth during a later accident."

Shen Yan's fingers, which had been tapping the table, stopped.

He looked up.

"Who else knows about this?"

"Only me, and an old butler in the family who has since passed away," Kevin said.

"Father kept this secret very well, for the sake of the family's reputation and for Mother. He publicly claimed Andrew was his eldest son."

"Therefore, Andrew craves his father's approval more than anyone else, and he fears losing everything he currently possesses more than anyone."

"This is the fundamental reason why he must eliminate me, no matter the cost."

All the clues connected.

The image of a ruthless heir, yet one who was extremely insecure, clearly materialized in Shen Yan's mind.

"Very good."

Shen Yan stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

He looked down at the sleeping city below.

"The chain of evidence is complete, but it is scattered."

"We need to string these scattered pearls into a noose and place it around Andrew's neck."

He turned around and looked at Kevin.

"The plan will proceed in three steps."

"Step one: Build public opinion."

"I want you to write everything you just said into a story. A story about the Hosen Family brothers turning against each other, the younger brother being persecuted by the older brother, and barely escaping with his life."

"The details must be true, and the emotion must be rich. You need to make every citizen who reads this story believe that you are the innocent victim."

"Then, we will find Sarah, the Martin's sister you mentioned earlier. We will persuade her to hand over the USB drive she possesses to the most famous investigative reporter in St. Ludo."

"A moving victim's testimony, coupled with the State Senator's sex scandal videotape. This first spark is enough to push the Hosen Family to the forefront of public opinion."

Kevin's eyes lit up.

He could almost see Andrew looking utterly distressed.

"Step two: Cut off the foundation."

Shen Yan's voice carried no ripple of emotion.

"I will send people to contact the stable hand, Old John, and the Engineer, Pete. Either with money or by threatening the safety of their families, we will make them keep quiet, or make them speak the truth."

"Simultaneously, I will anonymously report the money laundering activities of the 'Song of the Siren' fund to the tax authorities and the Commercial Crime Investigation Unit through offshore company accounts."

"The investigation might not yield substantial results, but it will be enough to cause problems in Andrew's cash flow, making all his partners jumpy."

"The pressure of public opinion, judicial investigation, and the severance of funds. With these three mountains pressing down, Andrew's composure will completely collapse."

Shen Yan walked to the bar and poured himself another half glass of water.

He took a sip to moisten his throat.

Then, he stated the final and most fatal step.

"Step three: Catching the turtle in the jar."

"When Andrew is overwhelmed by all this and needs support the most, we will deliver the final 'gift' to everyone in the Hosen Family who holds any real influence."

"An authoritative paternity test report regarding Andrew's true parentage."

"A State Senator with a messy private life, a fund involved in money laundering and smuggling, plus a 'son' who pretended to be pure and kind in front of him for twenty years."

"What do you think Mr. Hosen, who values reputation above all else, will choose to do?"

Kevin was speechless.

He just stared at Shen Yan.

This man from the East was articulating the most vicious plan, yet his face was as calm as deep water.

He was like the most brilliant chess player.

Every move was calculated with pinpoint accuracy.

He treated people's hearts, profits, and public opinion as pieces on his chessboard.

And Andrew, from the very beginning, had fallen into his inescapable net.

The sky was beginning to lighten.

A ray of dawn struggled to break through the horizon, coating the steel forest with a golden outline.

The long night had finally passed.

Shen Yan glanced out the window.

"Go take a shower and change your clothes."

"Someone will bring breakfast and new identification shortly."

"From today onward, you are no longer Kevin Hossen."

"Your name is Adam."

"An ordinary tourist looking for opportunities in St. Ludo."

Shen Yan finished speaking and walked directly toward another bedroom in the suite without looking back.

Kevin sat alone at the bar.

He watched the slowly rising sun outside the window.

He suddenly felt that his life over the past dozen years had been a long and absurd nightmare.

And now.

Daybreak had come.

The room door was knocked upon lightly.

Twice.

Unrushed and unhurried.

Like the beat of a precisely calculated metronome.

Kevin's body instantly tensed, almost jumping up from his chair.

Shen Yan didn't even lift his head, just said lightly,

"Go open the door."

Kevin's Adam's apple bobbed, and he stiffly stood up, shuffling step by step to the door.

He looked out through the peephole.

A server in a hotel uniform stood expressionlessly outside, pushing a meal cart.

He opened the door.

The server pushed the cart in and set the breakfast items one by one on the coffee table in the living room.

Bacon, fried eggs, milk, and a small basket of toasted bread.

After finishing, he took out a manila envelope from his chest pocket and placed it on the dining table.

"Sir, your things."