Chapter 105: Encrypted message
As Elder Allen left the sitting room for his study, his thoughts were a tangled mess. His breathing came in gasps, and the weight of the situation pressed heavily on his frail body. He had barely held himself together in the presence of his family, suppressing the tremor in his hands and the weakness in his legs. But now, as he made his way toward the study, he felt his strength wavering.
Leaning heavily on both Alfred and the wall for support, he managed to reach the study without collapsing onto the floor. The butler, ever attentive, quickly retrieved the capsule Jessica had strongly recommended he take once every two weeks.
"Here, sir," Alfred said, offering a small pill along with a glass of water.
Elder Allen accepted it without a word, his wrinkled hands shaking slightly as he took the pill and swallowed it with a gulp of water. The sharp bitterness lingered on his tongue, but he paid it no mind. His thoughts were elsewhere, swirling in a storm of suspicion, worry, and unresolved questions.
"Let me take you to your room," Alfred suggested, concern etched on his face.
The old man shook his head weakly. "No need. I’ll stay here for a while." His voice, though calm, carried a note of finality.
Understanding his master’s need for solitude, Alfred nodded lightly and stepped out of the study, closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked shut, the silence settled heavily around Elder Allen.
For several minutes, he remained seated in deep thought, his fingers tapping restlessly on the polished wooden desk. He replayed the events in his mind, trying to piece together the puzzle that had thrown the family into turmoil.
His grandson, Davis, had vanished without a trace. The car found wrecked beyond recognition. No bodies. No evidence. And now, the lingering suspicion that someone within the family had a hand in this.
His jaw tightened. He had lived long enough to know that betrayal often came from the closest circles.
Just then, a faint vibration startled him out of his thoughts. His phone screen lit up with a new message notification.