4

CHAPTER 4

"I didn't think much about it back then… happened again and again… for some gathering, a meeting… had a lot of work to last night so I fell asleep and woke up late… left me in bed… found something in her bag… it was a green book… I opened it… I read it… Its contents were shocking… The contents were… That's how I put two and two together… Called Mr. Harry… Met Ms. Jamie… Rooftop… Brought to door… Was relieved until…"

He inhaled and exhaled audibly before adding; "And then I woke up here."

Noise? What noise?

Sound? What sound?

Everyone could swear they could hear each other's heartbeats that were anything but even.

"If he didn't want to tell us, he should have just said so or kept his mouth shut." He could hear the Eastern milf's ramblings. They were probably meant to be whispered but with the silence, that did not go as intended. "That bastard…"

'Where is the woman who insisted she was my second mother?' Cassian was hurt to see her true colors.

To make himself feel better, albeit only a little, he reminded himself of the fact that she was probably in pain and worried about her daughter.

"Young Cassian," Caleb Whyte, the man with red hair stepped forth, leaving his wife behind. He was his girlfriend's father and the person who taught him how to ride bikes.

In fact, Cassian saw him as a father figure in his life since his original father was a politician in their home country, assassinated by his subjects for his misdeeds.

He was an absent parent who cared for nothing but lining his own pockets.

"I understand that you must be overwhelmed by the situation but you shouldn't just say whatever comes to your head." he said. "Maybe you should take a breather and recollect and properly rearrange your thoughts."

Cassian frowned, his demeanor taking a serious turn; "Uncle Caleb, is this really how you see me?" The more he spoke, the higher his tone and the more evident his agitation. "Someone who does not value Martha? You think I would joke around when it comes to her safety?!" At this point, his inner turmoil and pain began to surface, manifesting in his voice.

"I love Martha as much as I love my mom! I! Love! Her! And I thought you all did too! However, rather than hunting down this mysterious group for clues, all of you are looking at me like I grew a third eye and a second head!"

Before he knew it, he was already airing all his emotions on the situation. He lashed out at them and they were left shell shocked and rattled to say the least.

Mr. Caleb who was near him froze before subconsciously taking two steps back.

"T-this rascal!" Mrs. Whyte's voice and body trembled visibly; her knuckles red as she folded them. She akin to a kettle of boiling water. "I knew it! My initial evaluation of you was not wrong! You have harmed my daughter and now you want to fake a mental disorder to shirk repercussions?!" She shouted like a mad witch. "I won't stand for it!"

She stomped her feet as she walked over to him and grabbed his collar again, shaking him as she yelled;

"Confess! Confess! Confess, you little spawn of hell! Where is my baby?! What have you done with her?! How can we find no trace of her after deploying military-grade professionals for the past six hours?!"

"Meili!" Her husband stepped in to stop her. "You're going to kill him!"

"So what?!" She shoved her husband, causing him to stumble into his father that had been silently observing the entire situation with stern eyes. "If anything happens to my Martha then death would be a luxury for him!"

"Mrs. Hot." The old man called his secretary that had also been observing the entire bizarre series of events, not daring to make a sound.

"Yes, sir CEO." The blonde woman approached her boss and leaned in so he could whisper into her ear. "Right away sir CEO. I'll make sure it is done. Leave it to me."

She dipped her hand into her navy-blue suit jacket and whipped out an expensive smartphone with a green case.

By the time the person on the other end of the line picked her call, she was already on the other side of the private ward's door.

"That's enough," Mr. Whyte said, his tone frigid and detached, "Caleb, your wife needs a timeout. Take her somewhere else to catch a breather."

"Yes." The redhead didn't dare argue with his old man. "Dear…"

Even his wife who was in a frenzy could only obey as well. She dodged his arms swiftly, staring straight into her father-in-law's eyes for a few seconds before leaving the ward without uttering another word.

"Hey, don't run so fast! You're on heels!" Her husband followed after her.

After the pair were out, the old man glanced at his private guard and gestured toward the door with his eyes.

Without any hesitation or looking back, Jamie strode out of the room, calmly shutting the door behind her.

Click.

'Why did she lock the door?' This thought wormed its way to the front of his mind but he immediately shoved it to the back of his pile of internal struggles.

His attention was stolen entirely by the only person remaining in the room, the healthy old man that was still staring at him with a stern gaze and folded arms.

"Grandfather-in-law…" He started to speak, about to say something along the lines of 'I know you don't believe me, but;'

However, Mr. Whyte interrupted him with an "I know."

"I believe you." Mr. Whyte said.

Initially, his words didn't register with Cassian and he heard something different.

"But I mean it. I'm telling the truth. Why would I— "

"I already said I believe you," Mr. Whyte walked closer to the bed, sitting down on its edge as he added; "I know you are telling nothing but the truth."

"…Huh?"