Hope you enjoyed the chapter, my dear readers.
The following morning, Duncan and Karla arrived at her house after getting his deflated tires fixed by Jack and brought back to him at the hotel they stayed in overnight. "Thanks for the ride home," Karla said, getting off the bike and removing her helmet. "You're welcome," Duncan replied with a smile. Karla waved. "See you some other time." Duncan nodded and watched as she made her way to the doorway of her penthouse. As Karla reached the door, instead of using the doorbell, she knocked. She tilted her head and caught Duncan watching her, returning his smile before the door opened. "Hey, cousin," Julie's voice boomed, causing Karla to look forward, but she was surprised to see someone other than Julie. It was the girl she had met the other day, Tara, Julie's friend. "Hello," Tara waved, and Karla forced a smile, her instincts turning up as if alerting her to something. Julie's arrival injected an excited energy into the scene. "I guess you got a free ride here," she remark
In the pregnant pause that enveloped them, Duncan anticipated Babette's response. "Babette, I understand that you are kind of close to my Mom, and if you can't do it, I will find another way," he remarked, forcing a smile while contemplating other avenues. As he moved to depart, Babette halted him."No, I will do it. I will get the diary for you," she declared, surprising Duncan."Really?" he queried in disbelief."Yes. I' will do it today.""Alright then. Thank you," Duncan expressed his gratitude, patting her shoulder before leaving. Babette, left behind, watched him go, her once-glowing face now tinged with a somber aura. Meanwhile, within the confines of the house, Ma'am Zelda mulled over her conversation with Duncan, her thoughts weaving through the intricate threads of secrecy and familial ties. "I can't bring myself to tell Duncan the mystery surrounding his birth, nor can I share the doubts I had about his father. How's he going to feel when he gets to know any of these?"
Amid the palpable tension, Ma'am Luna, perceptive to Duncan's hesitancy, probed with suspicion, "Why aren't you saying a thing? Do you have other plans?" Duncan, gathering himself, responded with a shake of his head, "I'm just thinking of how I can carry out a presumed huge presentation smoothly. I've got no experience and I can't do it. I'm sorry, grandmother-in-law, but I won't do it." His unspoken hope for reprieve was dashed as Ma'am Luna persisted, an audience stunned by the unfolding drama. "You can do this, Duncan. I believe in you. Zinnia will put you through. Okay?" Resigned, Duncan nodded, accepting the looming challenge. Exiting the house, he made a beeline for his bike and dialed Karla. "Hello, Duncan?""Hey, let's meet up in the next one hour.""Alright." As he hung up, a heavy sigh escaped him, encapsulating the weight of his predicament. Meanwhile, back inside, Zinnia approached Ma'am Luna, masking her discontent. "Grandmother, how can you trust Duncan with
Shaking like a water leaf, Julie asked with trembling lips, "W…what is going on? T…Tara, what are you doing?" "Shut up! Ask your bloody cousin, Karla! She had the guts to set me up!" Sarah groaned. "And you'll pay for it." "How dare you, Sarah? Let go of Julie," Karla demanded with a fierce look. Sarah chuckled. "And if I don't?" Karla took a step forward, but Duncan held her back, stopping her from approaching Sarah. "Duncan, she's going to harm my cousin," Karla said in a whisper as Duncan gently held her face, making her look at him. "Ssh, don't panic, don't be rash, stay calm," Duncan said, guiding her aside. "Hey, Sarah, drop your weapon," the police inspector in their midst said, and Sarah laughed, shaking her head. "She's my ticket to leave here safely, and you think I will easily let her go? Hell no." "Sarah, you've done a lot of bad things, and you won't be able to get away with it," Karla said. "Neither will you, boss. Gregg won't save you," Duncan added, hoping she
Julie waved, feigning annoyance. "Geez, I hope you guys can work out your feelings." She inhaled, staring keenly at them. "I can clearly see you cherish each other.""Shut up, you're saying nonsense," Karla said and coughed slightly."Hm, and look who's blushing." Julie pointed at Karla's red face, causing Duncan to chuckle. The banter continued, easing the lingering tension in the hallway. Duncan exchanged a glance with Karla, and a subtle understanding passed between them. Julie, with her infectious laughter, brought a sense of lightness to the heavy atmosphere. The police inspector walked up to them, halting their discussion as Abigail approached them."Miss Karla, I'm sorry to say this, but you won't be able to stay at your place for a while because we will be doing some investigations there.""Really? Where am I going to stay then?""I guess you can check into a hotel.""My hotel is available, and I'm sure you would like to be one of our favorite patronizers again," Abiga
Peterson hissed. "Really? You want to talk something with me after sending me behind bars. Huh?!" Peterson sneered, grabbing the iron bars. "You really don't know how much I want to end you now because you've ruined my life." Duncan glanced at Abigail and chuckled. "I ruined your life? Nah. I think I should remind you that you changed my life by sleeping with my wife, having an affair with her, and almost trying to end me too before." "It's not my fault that your wife, Zinnia, considered you useless. She's a bitch, though. She threw herself on me. I should have known that it was all an attempt to get me to do anything for her while she gets good points and acknowledgment from her grandmother." "Whatever. Let's talk." "Are you deaf?! We've got nothing to talk about, so get out of here. Now." "Look, I just want to let you know that I know everything about your relationship with Tara or is it…Sarah, your half-sister who just killed herself am—" "W…what? How do you know?" Ignoring
Outside the cell, the mysterious figure glanced around, ensuring no witnesses lingered in the shadows. He then swiftly made his way through the dimly lit corridors, disappearing into the labyrinthine depths of the detention center. Back in the cell, Peterson's lifeless form lay sprawled on the cold floor, the gravity of the encounter sinking in. Suddenly, the cell door creaked open, revealing the returning figure of Duncan and Abigail."What the hell happened in here?" Duncan exclaimed, rushing to Peterson's side but cautious of touching him. Abigail gasped, covering her mouth in shock at the gruesome scene."He knew something, something important about Duncan," the mysterious figure's voice echoed from the darkness. Duncan's eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering between Peterson's lifeless body and the retreating shadow. "Who are you?""I am someone who ensures that secrets stay buried," the voice lingered before fading away. Abigail looked at Duncan with concern. "Do you know w
Laura creased her brows, growing more upset over Ma'am Luna's suspense until finally, Ma'am Luna said, "Laura, just forget about it. You don't need to know anything." "Mother, I do because I'm part of this too considering you've been involved.""No! Why can't you just be like George, your brother? He's not over-curious like you. Gosh, you want to know everything, and it's wrong." "Mother?""Just leave." She ordered, almost yelling. Outside the room, Duncan shut his eyes in annoyance over not getting to know the rest of the members of the Black Jones. He decided to leave before he got caught."Alright then." She rolled her eyes and left while Ma'am Luna sighed, rubbing her forehead. When Duncan entered the room, he met Zinnia sitting on the couch with a grimace."And where is my useless husband coming from?" She asked with a sneer. "You don't need to know." He eyed her and walked to the closet.Irked, she jerked up. "Do you know you're going to be representing the company to g