Elliot did not expect Hayden to be so direct. He did not give them a chance to breathe or think.They were at Nick's place. They were in their territory, yet he had completely torn off the pretense of friendliness. Was he not afraid that they would do something extreme?"Hayden, we don't have any evidence yet right now," Elliot said to Hayden in a voice filled with suppressed worry.However, the others heard him clearly.Hehe! They never imagined that father and son would dare to say such a thing without proof."Didn't that man say that he is a man just now?" Hayden was talking about Edward. "He dares to commit the crime but he does not dare admit to it. What sort of man is that? A man that is as timid as a rat is generally called a coward."Slam! Edward was furious. He slammed the table and glared at Hayden. He barked, "You brat! Who are you talking about!"Hayden calmly said, "I'm talking about you three."Edward and Nick, who were watching the scene unfold, were speechless
"Go on, then!" Hayden interrupted Nick and pulled out a small remote control from his pocket, before showing it to them. "We can all die together! At least I won't be lonely."Edward's eyes widened as he stared at Hayden's hand.Nick's and Ted's eyes grew wide, and they stared at Hayden."Wh- What is that?!" Ted had a bad feeling about it."What does that control?" Nick asked.Elliot, too, could not help but ask, "Hayden, what is that?"The other three turned to stare at Elliot when they heard his question. Elliot did not seem to know what Hayden was holding despite the two of them being on the same side."This controls surface-to-surface missiles. I bought three missiles," Hayden said.Nick, Edward, and Ted all remained quiet."You bought it from the Ylore military force?" Elliot asked thoughtfully."Yes! They sold them to me because I paid them enough," Hayden said confidently before turning to look at Edward. "Your house is on Locust Road, right? I've looked into it and yo
Hayden's hand, which had been resting on the table, twitched, and everyone admitted defeat. "Alright! I'll donate it! It's good to do some charity from time to time!" Edward flushed angrily and said reluctantly."Since Edward agrees, I will donate my portion as well," Ted said."Are you disappointed in me, Elliot?" Nick asked."I can't be bothered to feel disappointed. I just want to find my daughter." Elliot had chosen not to spend New Year's with his family and hurry to Ylore because he wanted to settle this as soon as possible."Why are you so stubborn? You still have Layla, right? If Ivy's gone for good, just let it be! If you want another daughter, you and your wife can make another! Is it really worth exhausting yourself to this extent over her?" Edward said. "Sons are the most important children. Your son is talented, and I would be over the moon if I were you!""Sons and daughters are equally important!" Elliot said. "Had I known that Ivy was my daughter, I would not ha
Shocked, Ted went after Edward without hesitation. "Don't get mad, Edward! Wait for me!"Once the two left, the tension in the dining room eased, and Elliot placed a scoop of mashed potato on Hayden's plate."Eat up.""I don't need you to serve me." Hayden did not want to be treated like a child."Alright. Serve yourself, then. Eat more," Elliot said before turning to look at Nick. "Is there anything you want to say?""I really don't know where Ivy is." Nick shrugged. "Edward was the one who reached out to Walter, intending to control Juliet's actions and prevent her from saying the wrong things. No one expected her to take her own life."Elliot frowned.When dinner was coming to an end, a thought emerged in his mind. "I want to go to the Goulds' mansion. Is there anyone there?""Probably not at this time. The place is locked most of the time," Nick said. "Whenever I pass by, it looks locked up. I think there are servants who clean the place every once in a while! You can ask t
Shortly after, Nick returned with an old cell phone."Luckily, it's still charged. I checked and found the video I took of Ivy."Before Nick could continue, Elliot snatched the phone out of his hands.Hayden leaned closer to Elliot, trying to get a glance at his sister.Elliot opened the video and a chubby little girl appeared on the screen.Ivy looked well-fed and happy in the video, and anyone would be able to tell how well she was treated. She laughed while shaking the toy in her hand. She was sitting on a carpet. She smiled at the camera, and her bright eyes blinded Hayden. Elliot instantly burst into tears.Nick had not expected Elliot to cry and immediately handed a box of tissue to Hayden, hinting for Hayden to hand it to Elliot."Don't cry." Hayden shoved the tissue paper in Elliot's hands. "Ivy might still be alive."Elliot wiped his tears dry and said, "She's so adorable... She is so adorable... I shouldn't have been so mean to her.""What are you talking about?" H
"He didn't even drink tonight. How is he acting drunk?" Hayden said with a blush on his face before hurrying back to his room."Hey! Why are you blushing?! He is your daddy! Didn't you come all the way to Ylore to help him?" Mike chased after him.Mike heard a loud bang. It was Hayden slamming the door shut, keeping Mike out of his room. Two days later, the three returned home from Ylore, and Avery went to pick them up from the airport.She sighed a breath of relief after seeing them with her eyes, all safe and sound."Mike, thanks for looking after them," said Avery."You're welcome," Mike said before leaning closer to Avery and whispering, "Talk to your husband! He has been really depressed lately."Avery could tell that Elliot had gotten thinner; his face was pale, and he seemed exhausted. He looked ill. "You and Hayden should go home. I'll take him out for a walk before heading home," Avery said."Alright. We'll get going!" Mike grabbed Hayden by the shoulders and left.
Twelve years had passed, and Taronia was experiencing an exceptionally harsh and unforgiving winter. The doctor had come to give the old woman an injection, but her skin no longer allowed him to find her veins. He shook his head at Irene before leaving.Tears rolled down Irene's face as she watched the doctor leave."Irene..." murmured the old woman weakly.Irene swiftly wiped her tears away and calmed herself before turning around and heading back to bed."Don't be afraid, Grandma. The doctor forgot to bring the medicine. He is heading back to the clinic to take it." Irene did not want the old woman to worry.The old woman had been bedridden and ill ever since she had tripped and fallen a year ago. Had Irene not tended to her carefully, she would have passed away a long time ago. After a year of fighting to survive, the old lady felt weak and weary. She had no energy left to continue the fight. She had been unable to eat for three months and had wasted away. She had become a
The old woman's last words echoed in her mind, followed by her devastated cries....Two days later, Irene arrived at the Woods' mansion after settling the old woman's funeral.Ever since the old woman had fallen sick, Irene had been working in the kitchen of the Woods family's mansion.The money that the old woman earned each month was sufficient to support Irene through college. Being the grateful child she was, Irene would help with chores in the Woods' mansion whenever she had time. This was after the old woman had secured a job in the mansion. All the servants in the mansion knew Irene and took rather good care of her."Irene, how's your grandma? Are you still going to work here? The butler asked about her yesterday!" a servant who knew Irene asked."Mrs. Flores, my grandma has passed away," Irene muttered while lowering her gaze."Oh, dear! Perhaps it's better that way. You will exhaust yourself, working between jobs while balancing school as you take care of your grandm