As soon as Leo spotted a nearby restaurant, he pulled into the parking lot and brought the car to a stop. "I'll be back," Charlie said, his voice low and gentle, as he opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement.Despite the lingering pain of his grandfather's sudden passing, Charlie's concern for his wife and unborn child remained unwavering. He pushed aside his grief and entered the restaurant, determined to get Alice the food she needed.As he walked in, the females in the restaurant couldn't help but stare. Whispered comments and admiring gazes followed him, "He's so cute," "Look at those piercing eyes," and "What a charming smile." But Charlie remained focused on his mission, tuning out the distractions and making his way to the counter.His rugged good looks and charming presence commanded attention, but he remained oblivious, his mind fixed on Alice's needs. With a quiet intensity, he placed his order and waited, his eyes fixed on the door, eager to return to his wife's s
Charlie's footsteps echoed through the silent hallway as he made his way to his grandfather's room. The funeral had just ended, and the weight of his grief was crushing him. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the familiar space. The room was a testament to his grandfather's life, filled with memories and mementos. His gaze landed on a framed picture of his grandparents, taken in happier times. They were smiling, their eyes shining with love and joy. Charlie's heart ached as he walked closer, his fingers reaching out to touch the glass. He traced the outline of their faces, his mind flooding with memories of the stories his grandfather used to tell him.He remembered the way his grandfather's eyes would twinkle when he spoke of his grandmother, the way his voice would soften when he talked about their love. Charlie's eyes welled up with tears as he remembered the laughter, the adventures, and the quiet moments they had shared."Grandpa," he whispered, his
Mrs. Thompson approached the group, her footsteps announcing her presence. Fiona, Leo, and Alice turned to face her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Alice, showing respect, bowed slightly. "Hello, Mother. I'm so sorry for your loss...I pray his soul rests in peace," she said, her voice sincere. Mrs. Thompson's response surprised everyone. Instead of her usual cold demeanor, she smiled warmly at Alice. "Thanks so much, Alice. I hope you're doing well?" she asked, her tone gentle. Alice nodded quickly, "Yes, ma'am." The group exchanged surprised glances, astonished by Mrs. Thompson's unexpected kindness. Her words were laced with a hint of warmth, a stark contrast to her usual icy tone. "That's great, I was sure Charlie would have taken good care of you," she continued, her expression softening. The scene was filled with an air of unexpected warmth and tension, as if the group was holding its collective breath, waiting to see how long this newfound cordiality wo
Charlie approached Leo and Alice, noticing the worried expressions on their faces. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "Why do you both look so worrisome? It's like the world is about to end. Just because everyone is down about Grandad doesn't mean you both should look like that," he said, his eyes scanning their faces.Alice scoffed, her expression unchanging. "I don't know what's wrong with Mrs. Thompson," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "She's been behaving weirdly. First, she was nice to me, and then she left with Fiona, looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders."Charlie scoffed, his eyes rolling in disbelief. "Nice to you?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "That's a first. What did you do, Alice, cast a spell on her or something?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood.But Alice just shook her head, her expression unchanging. "I'm serious, Charlie. Something is going on, and I don't know what it is. But Mrs. Thompson's be
Leo's eyes blazed with determination as he confronted Detective George. "So what are we going to do? How are we going to find out what happened initially?" he demanded, his voice firm and urgent.Detective George scoffed, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "No matter how smart a criminal is, there's always a trace of them," he replied, his tone confident and experienced.Leo's gaze narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "So did you have any other evidence?" he pressed, his eyes fixed intently on the detective.Detective George nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Yes, we found something at the scene where Josephine's body was discovered. The person seems to have been wearing a bracelet, which got broken and was left behind. Maybe they forgot it or didn't bother to take it with them."Charlie's eyes widened, her interest piqued. "That's quite interesting," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Can you tell us more?"Detective George's eyes sparkled with a hin
As they arrived at the station, Detective George led them to a secure room where the evidence was stored. "Hold on, Mr. Charlie," he said, his hand reaching for the key in his pocket. He inserted it into the padlock, and the door creaked open. With gloved hands, he carefully retrieved a small box from the shelf, his movements precise and deliberate.He approached the table, the box held gingerly in his hand, and opened the lid with a gentle touch. Inside, a broken bracelet lay on a soft cloth, its fragments gleaming in the fluorescent light. Detective George's eyes met Charlie's, his expression serious. "This is the broken bracelet," he said, his voice low and measured.Charlie's eyes narrowed as he took a closer look, his mind processing the significance of the evidence. The bracelet's broken links seemed to tell a story, a tale of force and violence. He could almost imagine the scene - the struggle, the fear, the desperate attempt to break free. His gaze lingered on the bracelet, hi
The police cars sped out of the station, their sirens blaring as they raced towards the location. Charlie's voice was urgent as he turned to Leo and Alice. "Let's go with them!" he exclaimed, already opening the car door.They hastily followed the police vehicles, their own car screeching behind. The police were prepared for whatever lay ahead, their faces set with determination. As they arrived at the location, the officers sprang out of their cars, fanning out across the area.Detective George stood tall on the car's roof, his voice booming across the landscape. "Hello, we are here!" he shouted, his eyes scanning the surroundings.Charlie quickly parked the car, him. and Leo jumped out, leaving Alice behind. "Alice, please stay in the car," Charlie instructed, his eyes locked on the scene unfolding before them.Leo nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the police officers as they secured the perimeter. The air was tense with anticipation, the only sound the distant hum of sirens a
Charlie's eyes widened in disbelief, his face red with anger. "How was that possible? How did he find out so quick?" he demanded, his voice rising.Leo chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I think one of the thugs consulted him quickly, and now he's nowhere to be found. Everybody's asking questions, and the Thompsons are getting a bad name all over social media."Charlie's eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock. He took off like a shot, rushing outside without another word.Alice's face was etched with worry, her eyes darting back and forth between Leo and Charlie's retreating figure. "He needs me right now, I want to be there for him. We started this together, and we'll end it together," she said, her voice firm and determined.Leo's expression turned serious, his eyes locked onto Alice's. "Alice, I know you're worried, but you have to calm down. Remember your child," he said, his voice soft and soothing.But Alice was resolute, her mind made up. She followed Charlie