Chapter 563 - Last Option
Lucas didn't expect Preston to hold Karen hostage and even say so much just to get him to kill Frederick.
Although he had just been watching everything from the perspective of an outsider, he couldn't help feeling some sympathy for Preston, who had been educated and raised in such a monstrous way, especially after hearing that Preston's mother had been killed by Frederick. But he was still surprised that Preston asked him to help him kill his father.
If Preston really hated his father so much, he could have done it himself since he had countless opportunities to do so. Why would he need an outsider to help him?
"Why do you want me to help you?" Lucas asked indifferently with his arms crossed.
After hearing what Scott said, Frederick immediately flew into a rage. "You unfilial thing! I am your biological father, but you want to kill me! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?!"
Preston ignored Frederick and closed his eyes as he said to Lucas, "I can't do it myself precisely because he's my father. This is also my only purpose. As long as you help me kill him, I will let this woman go immediately!"
Frederick's heart sank, and he hurriedly said to Lucas, "Mr. Gray, you mustn't trust him! He's gone mad. Even if you kill me now, I'm afraid he won't let your mother-in-law off and instead will raise even more demands!"
He was really terrified. After all, he also knew that Lucas's goal was to get Karen back. And since he and the others were not friends with Lucas, their lives meant nothing to him at all.
If Lucas really wanted to kill him in exchange for Karen, he would have absolutely no means to resist.
"I'm not crazy, and I'll keep to my word! As long as you kill Frederick Taylor, I promise that I won't hurt this woman. But if you don't, I will have to force you to do it!" Preston said through clenched teeth.
The dagger resting against Karen's neck suddenly moved, and the sharp blade immediately formed a small slit on Karen's fragile neck. Blood slowly seeped out.
"Ah! I-I'm going to die!" Karen immediately screamed and shouted at Lucas, "Lucas! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and save me! If I die, I'll see how you can explain it to my daughters!"
Lucas looked at the small slit on Karen's neck and narrowed his eyes slightly as he said to Preston, "If you let her go right now, I can still give you a way out."
Preston laughed out loud. "Since I've made this choice, I have no intention of continuing to live! But before I die, I must see this old villain Frederick Taylor die in front of me! Lucas Gray, just tell me if you're going to do it or not! If you don't kill him, I'm going to move the dagger in my hand!"
Frederick panicked and hurriedly said, "Preston, you must not be impulsive! Why do you want to seek death? I promise you now. As long as you let this woman off, I won't hold you responsible. And when you return to the Taylors, I will immediately hand over my position as helmsman of the family to you."
"Hmph! Do you think I care?" Preston sneered coldly. "I just said, if you don't do it, I'm going to!"
Then he immediately cut Karen's neck again with his dagger. This one was even deeper than last.
Karen felt a cold and hot pain coming from her neck, after which she felt some kind of liquid sliding down her neck. She was totally scared out of her wits.
"Ah! Ah! I'm really going to die! Lucas Gray, you dog, are you really going to watch him kill me?
"If I die, I'll see how you can have the cheek to face my daughters!
"Hurry up! Obey him and kill that old man! Anyway, he's already lived for so many years and has one foot in the grave. I'm your mother-in-law. Are you willing to watch me die for the sake of an outsider?"
Karen was really petrified, and she began screaming at the top of her lungs callously.
The corners of Frederick's mouth twitched when he heard one of the sentences she said. What does she mean I'm old and have one foot in the grave? Is that even something a human would say?
But he looked at Lucas next to him and could only pretend that he didn't hear Karen's words.
Lucas glanced at Frederick, but he didn't intend to kill him.
No matter what, this was a conflict between Preston and Frederick, and he didn't intend to get involved in it.
Moreover, he didn't like being threatened to do things.
If Frederick had angered him, he would have killed him without saying much. But since Preston was forcing him to kill Frederick, he wouldn't do it.
At some point, he had an inconspicuous coin in between his fingers.
"Preston Taylor, I don't have any more time to spend here. I'll tell you one last time. Let go of her immediately, and I can spare your life." Lucas gave an ultimatum coldly.
Frederick looked at his son heartbrokenly and said in misery, "Preston, no matter what, you are my son! Perhaps my previous education approach was indeed wrong, but I really do love you with all my heart! Now, I've lost one son, and you and Gaston are the only two left. If you hate me, I can promise that I will make it up to you in the future, and I will give you the entire family. You can have whatever you want, okay?"
Looking at Preston's indifferent face, he even got down on both knees!
"Preston, just take it that I'm begging you! Please stop what you're doing! I really don't want to lose another son!"
His old eyes were full of tears as he begged miserably.
The moment Preston saw him getting on his knees, there was a clear trace of movement on his face. But soon, it turned into even more intense hatred.
"Now, it's too late for you to say anything! I won't trust you anymore!
"I've already done so much and gone so far. How can I still go back to the Taylors as if nothing has happened? And how can you just accept me as if nothing has happened and let me take over the family?
"Do you think I'm still the same gullible kid I was back then? I'm afraid that just before I return to the Taylors, I will die under the men you send!
"Back then, you were the one who said the gentlest words while strangling my mother until she took her last breath! Do you think I'll still believe you?
"The reason that I've lived in misery until now and ended up in this plight is all thanks to you! My greatest wish now is to see you die in front of me!"
Preston had a hysterical look on his face. Just as he said, he no longer cared about his own life because the only thing he wanted to see was the immediate death of his father, who had tormented him for decades.
"Preston, aren't you going to give me another chance to change my ways?" Frederick pleaded.
"Impossible. Since things have come to this, it's impossible!" Preston also seemed rather sorrowful.
Then he turned to Lucas again and said with a calm look on his face, "Between Frederick Taylor and this woman, only one of them can live, and it depends on who you choose. I'll give you twenty seconds to think about it. If you still don't kill him, I'll immediately end this woman's life!"
Now, he had indeed left his life and wellbeing at the back of his mind as a look of determination formed on his face.