Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Seraphine's POV

Heath frowned deeply, looking like he wanted to say something but didn't know how.

I didn't understand why he'd make that expression.

But more than not knowing what happened back then, his reaction seemed evasive—guilty, even—like he couldn't answer.

My heart sank.

If what happened was connected to Heath, I couldn't accept it.

I softened my tone. "Dad, if you know everything that happened back then and can talk about it now, just tell me. At least give Octavius some closure."

Heath looked up at me, hesitating.

Thinking of Octavius, I felt a pang of sympathy. "He must be suffering too, searching for the truth. He has feelings for me, but he can't ignore the fact that someone in our family might be his enemy. Just say it. Don't be afraid. If you really did cause all this, I'll figure out a way to work something out with him."

Heath spread his hands. "How could you possibly work it out?"

"Even if we have to give him the Whitaker Group, even if you have to spend a few years in prison—it's better than doing something terrible and living with the Capulet family hunting us down while guilt eats away at you," I explained earnestly.

No matter what happened back then, everyone was prone to making mistakes.

If Heath did something wrong, he had to atone for it.

Even if he was my father in name, I couldn't cover for him.

That wouldn't be fair to the Stewart family.

Heath sighed. "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's that if I do, you definitely won't believe me. You'll think I'm just dodging responsibility."

I grew more confused. "Dad, we're past that point. Just say it. What happened? What's the truth about back then?"

"I don't know." Heath looked at me seriously. "I don't know what happened. Back when your grandfather was still alive, I lost my memory for a while."

Lost his memory?

I froze, unsure whether to believe him.

Could it really be that much of a coincidence?

"Anything that happened during that time—I have no idea. When I got my memory back, your grandfather was already gravely ill. He demanded I take over the company immediately. So I studied business day and night. Later, I met Amara, and we got married."

Heath recalled the past, running his hands through his hair, looking utterly distressed. "I really don't know what happened to the Stewart family. It might have been something your grandfather did. I don't know the inside story at all. I'm not even sure if the Whitaker family had anything to do with the Stewarts!"

His mood darkened, his tone growing agitated. "Could you ask Octavius for me? Did he get the wrong person?"

The wrong person?

I felt helpless. "If he didn't have solid evidence, Octavius wouldn't have targeted the Whitaker family. Whatever happened was definitely done by someone in the Whitaker family. Either my grandfather or..."

I didn't know how to finish.

Heath should understand what I meant.

Either Grandfather did it, or he did.

Maybe Heath had been involved before he lost his memory—and now he genuinely couldn't remember.

I had that suspicion, and I voiced it hesitantly. "Dad, after you lost your memory, you really couldn't remember anything from before?"

Heath nodded. "I don't remember anything from before I lost my memory. I know roughly what happened in the few years after, but the family was incredibly busy. Your grandfather was building the business. They wouldn't let me get involved—they said I'd lost my memory and needed to rest and recover. Later, I never did remember any of it."

Watching Heath's troubled expression, I fell silent.

Maybe he really was confused about his memories.

The Whitaker family must have absorbed the Stewart family's assets during the period when he'd lost his memory—that was how they built the company so quickly.

By the time my grandfather's health failed and Heath had to take over, he became head of the Whitaker family.

Beyond that, he hadn't participated in persecuting the Stewarts.

That was how it went.

That was the truth.

I kept reassuring myself that this was the whole story.

Maybe my father wasn't completely innocent.

But since he didn't remember now, there was no way to hold him accountable.

After leaving the conference room, I returned to my office.

Octavius was waiting there. The moment he saw me, he asked, "Did you get anything out of your father?"

I had no choice but to tell him everything that had just happened, repeating my father's exact words.

After listening, Octavius didn't speak for a long time.

Watching his reaction, I asked softly, "Do you think that's not the whole truth? Maybe before my father lost his memory, he was already involved in what happened to the Stewart family?"

Octavius frowned, his expression grave. "That's not what I'm questioning."

I froze. "Then what is it?"

Octavius pressed his lips together. "What I'm questioning is whether your father lost his memory at all. This could all be an excuse he's using to dodge responsibility."

I stiffened, immediately denying it. "That's impossible. My dad wouldn't be that despicable. Are you sure you're not wrong?"

"Am I wrong, or are you making excuses for him and refusing to accept that this might be the truth?" Octavius's anger flared. He stared at me, clearly displeased. "Do you think your father is some kind of saint? No one is purely good. Everyone has done something bad or made mistakes."

Hearing that, I suddenly thought of myself.

In my past life, hadn't I wronged Octavius as well?

I'd hurt him, yet he'd still chosen me stubbornly, and in the end, we both died in that fire.

Maybe he was right. There were no perfect people in this world.

Maybe Heath had hidden part of his responsibility in all this.

He... hadn't told me the truth.

My mind was in turmoil.

Octavius asked, "Do you not trust me, or do you firmly believe your father?"

I shook my head. "I'm not firmly believing him. I think what you said makes some sense."

"Then now—"

Before Octavius could finish, I cut him off. "Don't worry about my feelings. I'll help you investigate. Anyway, I can dig deeper than you can on my own—after all, I'm part of the Whitaker family."

I stepped forward and took Octavius's hand, shaking it gently. "Don't rush. I'll also ask some of the Whitaker family relatives what really happened back then."

Octavius looked at me with a complicated expression. "Why are you helping me?"

I smiled and raised my hand, showing off the engagement ring. "Why do you think?"

Octavius looked at me without speaking.

He seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, he said nothing.

I didn't mind. "Don't overthink it. You just need to know that it's not just you—I want to know what happened all those years ago too. I want to know what grudge exists between our families. I'll do my best to find out the truth and tell you. Trust me."

I gave Octavius a bright smile, not wanting him to feel too much pressure.

Octavius didn't react. If anything, hearing that seemed to make him even more upset.

I didn't know what he was thinking, so I decided to send him home first.

"All right, things are chaotic at the company. I still have a lot to handle. You should head back. I'll come find you tonight, okay?"

Octavius nodded slightly. Without another word, he left.