Returning With A Thousand Favors

Chapter 315

“You should probably put your mask back on, Marina suggested to Mr. Fermon, her voice strained with discomfort. Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

Mr. Fermon put the mask back on his face.

Marina felt a slight easing in her stomach.

She had initially assumed that Mr. Fermon wore the mask to shield her from his true face.

And behind the mask was perhaps an impressive face.

She had even entertained the thought that his face had been slightly marred by some unfortunate accident.

But she never anticipated it would be disfigured to such an extent.

“Don’t tell me Yenny had something to do with your appearance, Marina looked at Mr. Fermon with a complex expression.

“He’s not even called Yenny,” Mr. Fermon responded, his voice laced with coldness.

His tone carried an undeniable undercurrent of deep–seated resentment.

“What do you mean?” Marina’s brows knitted together.

It seemed she had pieced something together.

“During my mother’s pregnancy, she discovered she was carrying a set of twins.

“She was overjoyed, eagerly awaiting the arrival of our birth.

“However, during one of the prenatal check–ups, the doctor revealed to my mother that one of us, the twins, possessed a genetic defect.

“In simpler terms, this defect meant that he lacked a crucial segment of empathetic genes..

“Individuals with such a defect tend to exhibit extreme volatility in their temperament and, due to their inability to empathize, they don’t perceive humans as their own kind.

To them, humans are no different from animals.

“Once this genetic defect manifests, the child becomes an inherently dangerous entity.

“They develop antisocial tendencies, coupled with remarkably high intelligence.

“Consequently, there have been numerous cases where such individuals have evolved into highly intelligent criminals.

“One of the most notorious examples is a man named Rek, from a foreign country, who was diagnosed with this condition.

“Despite his mother’s unwillingness to deny him life, he was born into this world.

“She intended to use love as a catalyst for change, but the outcome was far from what she expected. He grew into a notorious, internationally recognized serial killer.

“His hands stained with the blood of thirty–three victims.

“And, ironically, he wasn’t captured due to the efforts of law enforcement.

“It was when his mother, upon learning of his heinous crimes, took her own life in front of him, urging him to turn himself

1. in.

He was apprehended solely because he chose to surrender. You can imagine the terror a person like him evokes.

As Mr. Fermon recounted this, his eyes took on a deeper, more mysterious hue.

“So, is it you or Yenny who possesses this defective gene?” Marina had come across similar case studies before.

After all, she possessed some expertise in the field of medicine.

The essence of being human lies in our ability to experience emotions, surpassing that of mere animals.

But there are always exceptions.

If a person is unable to empathize, their behavior often mirrors that of beasts.

Such individuals tend to turn on their own kind.

“Considering my current appearance, you should deduce who carries the burden of this defective gene,” Mr. Fermon said, his voice tinged with self–derision.

Marina parted her lips, about to utter something.

But the words lingered unspoken.

Frankly, in their current circumstances, any attempt at solace would fall flat.

“After my mother received the test results, the doctors advised her to relinquish my younger brother.”

“However, at that point, we were already formed. A mother could never bring herself to abandon her own child.

“And, of course, there was yet another crucial factor: my mother was much like the mother from overseas.

“They always firmly believed that their child could never be beyond redemption.

“They would undoubtedly shower him with boundless love and ensure his healthy upbringing.”

Marina couldn’t help but agree upon hearing this.

In reality, many mothers discovered during prenatal check–ups that their child might have certain defects.

For instance, cleft lip..

However, despite that, many parents still chose to embrace their child.

It’s not that they were wrong; it’s just that human emotions aren’t always governed by logic.

“My father couldn’t resist my mother’s determination, so in the end, they decided to bring us into this world,” Mr. Fermon’s mother was no exception.

“What happened next?” Marina inquired eagerly.

“Although my father agreed to let my mother give birth to us, for safety measures, he had us undergo testing right after birth.

“After confirming that my younger brother indeed had a genetic deficiency, they publicly announced the loss of a child.

“But in reality, they discreetly kept him hidden away in a secluded location.

“Only a select few knew about this, and my parents never mentioned it to me.

“As the seemingly normal child in front of my parents, I was kept together with my parents.

“But probably because of some tacit understanding between the twins, I’ve always felt that my brother might still be alive.

“I became completely certain of these facts on my tenth birthday.

“In our family, there’s a tradition that restricts my birthday celebrations to half a day.

“Previously, I assumed it was due to my parents‘ demanding work schedules, hence the rule.

*However, later I discovered that they were actually hurrying to celebrate my brother’s birthday.

“And on my tenth birthday, just like every year, after having cake with me, my parents were ready to depart.

“But that day, for reasons unknown, I directly hid in the trunk of their car.

“And that’s how I first set foot in the secluded villa nestled deep within the woods.

“There, I saw a boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to me.

“I was so frightened at that moment that I fled in sheer panic.

“But as I made my escape, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a pair of eyes was continuously watching me.”

“Was it your brother?” Marina inquired.

“Yes, I’m certain he saw me too,” Mr. Fermon replied, noding affirmatively.

“Ever since I learned this secret, fear has plagued my heart.

“Yet, I also understand that if my parents kept it hidden from me, they must have had their reasons.

“Thereafter, I pretended as though I had never set foot in that villa or encountered that individual.

“I continued to lead a seemingly ordinary life until my eighteenth birthday.

“That day marked my coming–of–age ceremony, and my parents invited numerous prominent guests.

“And

my father expressed his intention to formally integrate me into the company upon reaching adulthood.

“For all these years, I’ve toiled tirelessly, driven by the sole purpose of reaching this day.

“But I never anticipated that the day I had longed for with such anticipation would eventually transform into my darkest nightmare…..