Kern came to an abrupt stop, his entire being freezing momentarily.
It appeared he needed several seconds to process the weight of the news as it sank in.
âThatâs not true.
Mr.
Jeff couldnât possibly be capable of such a thing.
Didnât Mr.
Norton disclose the truth to Mr.
Nathan last night? Mr.
Nathan doesnât believe it?â
Lucinda met Kernâs searching gaze.
âItâs understandable that Nathan is skeptical.
Even I am skeptical of Grandpaâs words.
But we canât entirely discount Myloâs claims.
This morning, I discovered that both Mylo and Jeff were present at the accident scene all those years ago.
Perhaps thereâs more to their involvement in what happened to Nathanâs parents than we initially thought.
â
Kernâs pupils quivered, seemingly shaken by this revelation.
âMadam, with all due respect, this sounds preposterous.
There must be some error in the investigation.
Mr.
Mylo and Mr.
Jeff being at the scene, let alone orchestrating the accident and killing their elder brother, itâs simply unthinkable.
â
Lucinda arched an eyebrow.
âThis incident occurred over twenty years ago, and even the investigators I enlisted couldnât procure a definitive answer.
The memories of the witnesses are obscured by the passage of time.
You said earlier that you didnât know the details of the accident, but now you have a recollection of whether Mylo and Jeff were at the scene.
Isnât that strange?â
Kernâs complexion momentarily drained of color, though he swiftly composed himself.
He explained, âThe incident brought profound sorrow to the entire Payne family, despite the passing years.
While I lack clarity on the accidentâs intricacies and the absolute truth surrounding it, I am certain that Mr.
Mylo and Mr.
Jeff were not present at the scene.
â
Lucinda stared at him as she asked calmly, âThen, Kern, where were Mylo and Jeff at that particular moment?â
Meeting her gaze unwaveringly, Kern replied, âThey were with Mr.
Norton.
They received the devastating news of the accident while in Mr.
Nortonâs company.
I distinctly recall this detail because I was with Mr.
Norton at the time.
â
Lucinda shook her head, disappointment etching her features.
Confusion clouded Kernâs expression as he queried, âMadam, I do not comprehend why you shake your head.
Do you doubt my words?â
âI cannot place faith in anyone when discrepancies exist between you, Grandpa, Mylo, and the evidence Iâve gathered.
Who speaks the truth?â
Kernâs gaze fell, his silence speaking volumes.
Stepping closer, Lucinda lowered her voice.
âOr perhaps, is it that everyone harbors falsehoods, weaving a tapestry to veil the truth?â
Kernâs pupils constricted, yet he remained silent, head bowed.
With gravity, Lucinda placed a hand on Kernâs shoulder.
âKern, the night Mylo told Nathan that there was more to his parentsâ tragic deaths, Jeff embarked on a business trip far from Stastle.
You claimed they were unaware of the accidentâs truth, but itâs evident youâre concealing something.
â
âMadam, Iâ¦â
Before Kern could offer a defense, Lucinda interjected, âI refuse to believe someone as inherently good as Jeff could harbor malice.
However, Kern, the situation involves the truth behind Nathanâs parentsâ demise.
Nathan will not relent.
He will dispatch inquiries to locate Jeff, bringing him at the National Security Bureau.
This is not as simple as you and Grandpa perceive.
You may have assumed you could keep the truth a secret forever, but that notion is untenable.
Nathan will not compromise.
The truth must come to light.
â
Throughout, Kern kept his gaze lowered, yet his attention remained fixed on absorbing Lucindaâs every word.
âKern, there comes a point where someone must step forward and reveal the truth.
If you hold the key to the whole story and still regard Nathan as your master, then itâs time to speak.
Otherwise, this silence will only deepen the rift between Nathan and Grandpa.
With age catching up to him, Grandpa deserves better than to be estranged from his kin, donât you agree?â
âMadam!â Kernâs head jerked up abruptly.
Lucindaâs harsh word struck Kern with force, leaving an undeniable impact.