Chapter 13 Unraveling the Truth
Seeing her son's suddenly serious expression, Rebecca picked up her teacup and said, "Take it. It sounds important."
Elliot offered a fleeting smile, grabbed the sleek device, and walked away. He slid the green button after he felt he was no longer close to his mother.
"What did you find, Marcus?" Elliot asked, cutting straight to the chase.
“Sir, I have information about the woman. There's something you might need to know.”
"The woman?" Elliot straightened his posture, slipping his free hand into his trousers pocket. He felt a sudden tension. "You mean Audrey?"
“That's right, Sir. I've checked her family history. The father with the huge debt is actually her stepfather. His name is Henry."
Elliot paused for a moment, processing the information. "Stepfather?"
“Yes, Sir. Her mother, Kate, married Henry when Audrey had just started working at your company. From the investigation, Henry is not a good man. He's a deadbeat." Marcus paused briefly. "You know what a deadbeat is, right?"
Elliot's brow slowly furrowed. "What exactly is he?"
“Ehm…” Elliot's operative seemed hesitant to explain. "Essentially, his main job is relying on other people's money, including his wife and stepdaughter's."
Elliot scoffed softly. The exact type of man he hated. Unconsciously, his jaw tightened. "And?"
“Henry brought a daughter from a previous marriage. Her name is Agnes. I think this is also important for you to know, Sir. Agnes has a lifestyle that's... well, high maintenance. From expensive bags, parties, to international holidays. Everything is funded by the earnings of Mrs. Kate and Audrey, Sir.”
Elliot's hand in his pocket clenched into a tight fist. "So they are the ones who've been bleeding Audrey and her mother dry?"
“Correct, Sir. Ms. Kate even became sick from pushing herself too hard. She was trying to cover the debts Henry created.”
Elliot let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. A feeling of discomfort suddenly crept in. "Audrey... knows all this?" he asked softly.
“Unfortunately, Miss Audrey knows, Sir. But she chooses to stay silent. She works hard for her mother and stepsister, even though she is the victim of the situation.”
"What kind of family is that..." Elliot muttered, barely audible.
Marcus waited a few seconds before continuing. "Is there anything else, Sir? If you want, I can dig deeper."
Elliot was silent, but his mind raced, trying to digest the information he had just received.
"Dig deeper," Elliot ordered finally, the command laden with authority. "Find out exactly where Henry incurred these debts. I want the details—the amounts, and who he owes."
“Understood, Sir,” Marcus answered promptly.
"And find Henry's whereabouts," Elliot added. His eyes narrowed, his gaze full of determination. "I want to know what he's doing now. Don't let him drag Audrey further into this mess."
Marcus was silent for a few moments, processing the orders. "I'll assign a team to complete it as quickly as possible, Sir."
"Do it carefully. Don't let that man realize he is being watched," Elliot stated. "A man like Henry won't hesitate to cut and run if he feels cornered."
“Understood, Sir.”
"Report every development. I don't want a single detail missed," Elliot affirmed before ending the call.
Afterward, he remained standing in the corner of the room, allowing his mind to absorb all the information he had just received.
The man looked slightly agitated, accompanied by a strange feeling that kept tickling his chest. He knew that feeling was an urge to act, to protect Audrey—whether out of a sense of responsibility or something more.
"Elliot," Rebecca's soft voice called him, making Elliot slightly jump.
The man turned, seeing his mother already looking at him intently. He walked back to the table and sat down beside his mother.
"You look very serious. What is it?" Rebecca kept her eyes fixed on her son.
Elliot rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension radiating from his face. He forced a small smile to calm his mother. "Nothing," he answered briefly.
Rebecca narrowed her eyes, studying her son with a sharp, suspicious gaze.
Finding Elliot remaining silent, the middle-aged woman simply sighed softly and said, "Don't you dare try to lie to me. I know something is up. Don't tell me it's just regular work."
Elliot was silent for a moment. He knew his mother could always read his mood, and trying to avoid the topic would only make her more suspicious. However, this was not something easily explained—or something Elliot could explain now.
"It's just... an issue," Elliot finally answered, keeping his voice as flat and calm as possible. "But you don't need to worry, it's all under control."
"What issue? Big or small?" Rebecca looked intently at him, slowly reaching for her teacup.
"It's not a big deal, Mom. Just a personal matter that needs sorting out. Stay calm," Elliot said, making it too obvious he desperately wanted to end the conversation. And Rebecca knew it.
Rebecca continued to observe her increasingly uncomfortable son for a while before finally letting out a long sigh. "Honestly, I know you, Elliot. If you look like this, it's definitely not something simple—"
"But there really isn't anything to worry about, Mom," Elliot quickly interjected, flashing a small smile. "Trust me. Everything is fine."
Rebecca still looked at him doubtfully, but finally relented. "Alright," she said, her gaze softening slightly. "But if you need help, don't hesitate to tell me. Or your father. Whatever it is."
"I know, Mom." Elliot nodded, relieved that his mother didn't press further. "You guys are always reliable."
Rebecca pouted silently, her expression suggesting she knew Elliot was hiding something. The gesture made Elliot smile faintly, accompanied by a small, almost inaudible chuckle.
The woman lifted her teacup again, her eyes watching her son with affection.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Son," she said softly, her counseling tone unable to hide her worry, before sipping her tea slowly.
Elliot simply nodded without saying much. However, behind his calm demeanor, his mind drifted back to the information he had just received from Marcus.
The facts about Audrey and her family spun in his head, like puzzle pieces he was trying to fit together.
Suddenly, his thoughts went to his secretary. 'Is she okay?'
A strange mix of fury at her stepfather and a fierce, swelling admiration for her resilience tightened his chest. She had been carrying this alone all this time, and still showed up to work every day with unwavering professionalism.
The image of Audrey's face appeared suddenly in his mind.
Elliot still couldn't believe someone like Audrey was involved in such life drama. He couldn't even imagine how the woman managed to stay strong and remain standing firm amidst all her family chaos.
He sighed slowly, his eyes gazing into the distance. He knew he had to do something, not just to stop all the bad situations caused by Henry, but also to ensure Audrey was no longer a victim of circumstances.
Elliot wouldn't let Audrey fight this battle alone.
And everything that happened to Elliot at that moment was not lost on Rebecca, who was observing in silence. She was absolutely certain that Elliot was dealing with something serious because he rarely looked like that in front of his family.
That curiosity made Rebecca a little intrigued to find out.