Chapter 128 The Truth
Gale did know something after all.
Hearing him admit it with my own ears, Marcus jumped to his feet and roared out of control, "Gale! Why did you hide this from us!"
Brian reached out and pressed down on Marcus's shoulder, "Marcus, Gale must have his reasons for doing this."
I said nothing, just stared at Gale in the video call, waiting anxiously for an explanation just like Marcus.
Gale's expression was calm, but his eyes held deep melancholy. "What I know is mostly speculation—that day, the mid-year dividend gathering that wasn't supposed to happen for another three days was suddenly moved up. Everyone went to the estate, except us. I'm guessing that big shot arrived, and the entire family went to greet him. Dad and Mom sensed something was wrong, so they kept it from us."
I felt my fingertips turn ice cold.
Brian's lips moved, thousands of words stuck in his throat unable to come out.
Marcus collapsed back onto the sofa.
Gale continued, "They wanted Armando's alchemy manual. Dad and Mom definitely couldn't hand it over. Some people were tortured, some fought back to the death."
Fragmented images floated through my mind.
That day I walked into the estate stepping through blood, bodies everywhere. I didn't dare look closely, but the broken limbs were deeply etched in my memory.
Gale was right—they must have been tortured terribly before they died.
"Over two hundred people died. The violence started after dinner and lasted several hours. Our family's estate was in the suburbs, but not in the middle of nowhere. The screams, the gunshots could be heard from far away, the flames and smoke visible from hundreds of yards out, yet not a single person came to stop it."
"That night, besides the Gambino family, there were other families responsible for security lockdown, providing firepower, and cleaning up evidence." Gale's eyes turned cold as he sneered, "They were all just trying to please that big shot."
Marcus slammed his fist on the wooden coffee table, his knuckles bleeding. "Who is that person? I'll kill him! No matter what it takes, I'll kill him!"
Gale shook his head.
Marcus's eyes turned red with rage. The accusatory words had just reached his lips when Gale interrupted, "He's already dead."
"Dead?" A strange sound escaped from Marcus's throat as he froze in place.
"Dead. If he wasn't about to die, why would he do something so crazy?" Gale said flatly. "If he were still alive, the Gambino family would definitely have faced retaliation. There wouldn't be a today. The five major families of Dawnharbor worked for nothing and could only pretend nothing happened."
Over two hundred lives—how could they pretend they didn't exist?
I wiped my tears forcefully.
Gale leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly, sighing silently. "I found the fake identities Dad hastily prepared for us. He wanted us to fake our deaths and escape overseas, but the message didn't reach us in time."
Marcus sat there numbly. After a long while, he said hoarsely, "Dead—he got off easy. Gale, who was he? I want to dig up his grave, I want to smash his bones and feed them to rats!"
Gale spoke a name, saying calmly, "His tomb is heavily guarded. If you want to go, I won't stop you."
I closed my eyes. Of course it was a big shot known throughout the country!
Brian grabbed Marcus's arm, saying urgently, "Marcus, don't be rash! Think about Bella—can you bear to make her lose another family member?"
"I'll be careful!" Marcus pulled away from him, his eyes red. "I have to go. I promise, I'll come back alive."
Gale looked at us through the screen. "Our real enemies are mainly Michelle and the Gambino family, and only then the five major families of Dawnharbor. I didn't say anything before because I wanted to wait until we dealt with Michelle and the Gambino family before telling you the details."
I looked up at Gale. "Gale, we won't blame you for keeping it secret, as long as you don't plan to go after the five major families alone."
Brian, who had been in a daze, and Marcus, who was consumed with thoughts of revenge, instantly snapped back to attention, staring tensely at the screen.
"Gale, is what Bella said true?"
"Gale, don't do anything stupid!"
"Are you even safe in Dawnharbor right now? Come back. No, we'll come find you!"
"Nothing escapes your eyes." Gale pointed at me through the screen with his fingertip, his expression helpless but his eyes warm. "I won't act rashly, don't worry."
Brian worriedly advised him a few more times, and I nodded in agreement. "I trust Gale won't be impulsive, especially now that he has someone else he cares about."
"Fine, you've said it all." Gale laughed. "By the way, Diana went to Starstream City. She loves throwing parties as always. Julie received an invitation. Bella, I'll need you to look after her."
"No problem." I nodded in agreement.
Although Gale reassured us repeatedly, Marcus still headed to Dawnharbor early the next morning, carrying mine and Brian's instructions.
"If I could get away, I'd really want to go myself." Brian sighed, his brow furrowed tight. "Gale is always like this, shouldering everything himself. Bella, when you have time, talk some sense into him."
"I know, Brian, don't be too anxious." I reached up and squeezed his neck and shoulders. Fatigue and tension had made Brian's shoulder muscles very stiff—when I squeezed, Brian cried out in pain.
I helped Brian massage and relax his stiff muscles, then watched him leave for work.
At ten in the morning, I arrived at the hotel office. Just as I sat down, James walked in with several documents, the top one being a navy blue invitation with gold embossing.
"Bella, Diana is hosting a party at Crown Hill Estates today at noon."
"What time?" I took the invitation in surprise and opened it. The time clearly stated today at noon.
I immediately pulled out my phone and called Julie. "Where are you?"
"At home. Are you free this afternoon? Let's go pick out dresses for the party together." She sounded relaxed.
A shadow of unease crossed my mind. I asked calmly, "Did you receive an invitation? What time did they tell you?"
"What's wrong?" Julie instantly sensed something was off, her voice dropping. "I didn't receive an invitation. A woman named Lisa called to tell me—the time is tomorrow afternoon at three, at Crown Hill Estates."
"It's not tomorrow, it's today, at noon. I'm coming to pick you up now." I said decisively.
Julie instantly realized she'd been deceived. After a moment of panic, she calmed down. "Okay, I'll start doing my makeup right away!"
I hung up and instructed James, "Give me the urgent documents now. I'll handle them in the car. Cancel all of today's appointments."
Fortunately, there were no particularly important items on today's schedule, but I was furious inside.
A cold smile curved at the corner of my lips.
I knew there would definitely be trouble at the party, but I had to go!