The Unadorned Sovereign

Chapter 22. Uncle Scheming

Not even a day had passed when Liam received the devastating news – his painstakingly prepared police report had been rejected, dismissed as inconclusive due to a lack of substantial evidence. The weight of those words hit him like a relentless wave, a surge of frustration, disappointment, and despair crashing over him with merciless force.

Naomi, Liam's younger sister, looked on at his crestfallen face with growing concern. She could see the storm of emotions churning within him, but her attempts to reach out were met with a forced smile that failed to mask his turmoil.

"What happened, Liam?" Naomi inquired, her voice filled with genuine worry.

"It's nothing," Liam muttered, his words as hollow as his expression. He brushed past his sister, walking away from his mother's room where she lay, weak and under constant treatment.

Naomi watched his retreating figure with a heavy heart, sensing the depth of his distress even if he refused to share it. She u