Chapter 128: You killed him!
With a smug look on his face, Franklin walked into the mansion, eager to meet his mother. The butler emerged from the backyard, and Franklin paused, squinting at him curiously.
"Is Grandpa outside?" he inquired with an undercurrent of expectation.
The butler nodded in affirmation. "Yes, he wanted to get some fresh air."
"Okay. Good for him," Franklin replied, dismissing the information with a wave of his hand. He turned on his heel and made his way toward the stairs, clearly intent on finding his mother.
The butler’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "Madam is not home. She has gone out."
Franklin halted abruptly, his brow furrowing as he turned back toward the butler. A fleeting look of disappointment crossed his face as he considered the absence of his mother. Realizing he would have to wait, he decided to see his grandfather instead.
"Alright, let me know when she gets back," he said with a casual shrug and headed toward the backyard.
Stepping outside, Franklin found his grandfather seated in a chair on the patio. The old man’s posture was tense, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a visible disturbance.
Franklin paused, his gaze fixed on Malcolm, trying to decipher what had the old man so preoccupied. A hint of suspicion clouded his mind—had Theodore said something to Malcolm that he wasn’t aware of? The thought gnawed at him as he made his way over.
"Grandpa, you look good," Franklin began with a measured smile. "It’s relieving to see you’re alright." He settled into his chair, trying to project an air of casual concern.