Chapter 117 BEFORE THE SILENCE BREAKS

Chapter 117 BEFORE THE SILENCE BREAKS
Kelvin’s POV

The look I saw in Nancy's eyes as she looked at me wasn't anger or resentment.

It was fear.

She was terrified that I might actually go running to my mother to tell her that her identity had been exposed. It shattered what little was left of me.

What had I done? Had I really helped my mother ruin the lives of innocent people just because I wanted us to be happy?

All these years, I had hated Jaxon. I hated him so much for always letting his life cast a shadow over mine. I hated him because I thought he had the perfect family—clean clothes, a mother, a father, food, and, above all, happiness. He had a home.

I just wanted what he had. A family. A mother, a father, and a place to belong.

But look at me now. I was in my thirties, yet I still didn't have the happiness I had longed for as a child. I couldn't even see my mother for five seconds without her demanding I do this or that, only for her to vanish into thin air again right after.

What was I even thinking? That she would eventually give me a little affection? That I would finally meet my father and understand why he abandoned us when we needed him most?

But then again... was any of it even true?

It seemed everything she had ever told me was a lie. She had just been using me, playing her game with calculated precision. I had been nothing more than another piece on her board, meant to hide who I truly was so I wouldn't wreck her dreams.

“I think it's best you meet Jaxon in person,” Arabella said to Nancy. “I don't think you'll be able to reach him over the phone, given the situation with his father and the press going wild over it at the moment.”

“Are you crazy?” Nancy snapped. “You saw what happened today, Arabella! I nearly lost you and Renna over a fucking bomb disguised as a birthday gift in a child's toy tractor! What is it going to be next time? A ball? Renna's favorite toys out on the farm? No. There is no way in hell I am leaving you and Renna alone.”

The sheer panic in Nancy's voice laid bare just how deeply today's event had shaken her. She was already being consumed by the trauma of a million horrific “what ifs” looping in her head.

“She won't be alone,” Linda chimed in gently. “I'll have the head officer assign a few officers for backup. After all, today's incident officially opened an active case on this ranch, and keeping the victims and their family safe is our top priority.”

“But—”

“Nancy?” Arabella pushed quietly.

With their encouragement, Nancy reluctantly agreed. Finally, they all turned to face me. I felt so weak, wanting nothing more than to crawl away from their staring eyes.

“I'll book us a flight. I was planning on going to Brookleigh anyway,” I said, though their heavy gazes still lingered on me. “And... it's best to keep your enemies close so they don't snitch,” I added, my voice barely above a whisper.

With that, I turned toward the door, but Arabella called out before I could step away.

“Kelvin, no one here sees you as an enemy,” she said firmly. “I know it's only natural that we're wary—after all, you lied about flying into the country wanting a quiet, peaceful environment when you first moved here. But I don't see you as the villain. You just need to stop running. Confront her and learn the truth. Things aren't always as we assume them to be. I expect the two of you to watch each other's backs out there. And remember... sometimes all you have to do is play the fool.”

I didn't quite understand the last part of her words.

With that, she and Linda walked out, leaving Nancy and me alone in the heavy silence. My eyes met hers. I couldn't read her expression, but she seemed distant, her eyes guarded and cold.

“Never give me another reason not to trust you,” she warned.

She turned and walked out, too. Only after the room fell completely quiet around me did I finally let the tears I had been holding back stream down my face.

Jaxon’s POV

“I can't believe you didn't tell me that Renna was actually yours, and you just let me say all those stupid things to you,” Troy groaned in frustration as we made our way out of the airport terminal toward my father's personal assistant, who was already waiting for us.

“Troy, I didn't even know myself until the night she took me to the clinic. Can you just drop it?” I grunted. “I don't want anyone finding out about this. Not until I have Gary and Ravyn Falcone right where I want them.”

Ellis greeted us as we approached the car. “Welcome back, Sir.”

I nodded and tapped his shoulder in greeting. “How is he?” I asked, referring to my father.

“Actually, he's doing fine. He sent me to pick you up after learning from Isadora that you'd be flying in today.”

I nodded. “Where is he now?” I asked as we got into the backseat and Ellis pulled onto the main road.

“He had himself transferred to Dr. Jane's care. He instructed me to bring you straight to him because there's something he wants to say to you,” Ellis explained.

I nodded silently. The ride was quiet, my mind completely consumed by my thoughts.

Truthfully, I had been planning to confront Dr. Jane anyway. It was high time I stopped pretending she hadn't lied to me when I demanded that DNA test between that witch and me.

When Ellis pulled up right in front of Dr. Jane's hospital, Troy and I stepped out. I already knew my father would be staying in the private ward. We took the elevator up to the tenth floor, my mind racing over what he could possibly want to tell me.

“Do you have any idea what he wants to talk to you about?” Troy asked, unable to keep the question to himself any longer.

The elevator chimed to a stop and the doors slid open. “Well, there's only one way to find out,” I replied as we walked down the corridor and stopped outside his room.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The first thing that greeted me was Isadora’s deep scowl, which instantly melted into sheer shock the second her eyes landed on me.

“Jaxon! What on earth happened to your head?!” she gasped, rushing over to examine my injury.

“I'm fine, Isa,” I replied smoothly.

She ignored my response, placing her hands on my face and tilting my head side to side to inspect the wound.

“Troy! Where were you when this happened? I thought you were supposed to be the responsible one!” she barked, wheeling around on him.

Before Troy could defend himself, her attention drifted down to Alba, who was wagging his tail and trotting toward her—only to be tugged back by the leash still held tightly in Troy’s hand.

“Oh, hi Alba!” Isadora cooed, her fierce tone shifting instantly into a soft, high-pitched voice. But the moment she looked back up at us, her furious expression returned with full force.

Troy quickly ducked behind me as Isadora began marching toward him. “Jaxon, save me,” Troy whispered in pure horror.

A sudden smile broke across Isadora’s face, and she threw her arms tightly around his neck. “Oh, Troy! I missed you so much!”

I just shook my head at the sight and walked over to my father, who was sitting up in his hospital bed with a faint smirk, clearly enjoying Isa’s dramatic display while Dr. Jane tended to him.

“I can't believe I let you out of my sight for and you come back injured,” she said softly, her eyes filled with genuine concern. “Your mother is going to hate me for this.”

“How is he?” I asked her, my gaze shifting to my father, who was staring back at me with a pained, somber expression.

“Well, thankfully the cut didn't damage anything critical, so he's relatively stable,” Dr. Jane assured me.

I nodded in response and kept my eyes fixed on my father. He remained quiet for a long moment before finally opening his mouth to speak.

“I'm sorry... Jaxon, I'm so sorry,” he choked out, his voice cracking. “I thought I could protect you. I thought lying to your face was the only way to keep you safe. Everything I did... I did it because I didn't want to drag you into sins that were supposed to be mine alone.”

He broke down right then and there.

For the first time in my life, I looked at my father and didn't see that heavy, suffocating burden in his eyes. He looked at me with a warmth that felt deeply familiar—just like the way he used to look at me when mum was still here.

I saw a faint spark return to his eyes.

And I saw him cry.