Chapter 194

#194 “But He Didn’t Seem Happy About It.”

Sophia spent hours poring over her grandfather’s documents in the dimly lit archive, her fingers tracing the faded ink on the yellowed pages. Bank records, securities transactions, and endless stacks of paperwork filled the room, each document holding a piece of her family’s history.

As she sifted through the records, Sophia’s curiosity grew with each discovery. She found herself drawn deeper into the mystery surrounding her grandfather’s finances, determined to uncover the truth.

And then, buried among the countless pages, she stumbled upon a revelation that sent a shiver down her spine. Her grandfather had been transferring a significant amount of money to an individual account every year for the past twenty years under the name Audrey Thompson.

Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to make sense of the discovery. Who was Audrey Thompson, and why had her grandfather been secretly funneling money to this mysterious individual for two decades?

Questions swirled in her mind as she studied the documents, her brow furrowed in concentration. She knew she had stumbled upon something significant, something that could hold the key to unlocking the secrets of her family’s past.

With a sense of determination fueling her, Sophia resolved to delve deeper into the mystery, determined to uncover the truth behind her grandfather’s clandestine financial transactions.

Sophia picked up her phone and dialed a number.

Sophia breathed a sigh of relief as Caroline answered the phone. ” Caroline, hello,” she greeted, her voice laced with urgency. “Can we meet and talk?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Caroline responded, her tone indicating that she had been expecting Sophia’s call. “I was waiting for your call, Sophia. Come to the villa,” she instructed.

Sophia nodded, grateful for Caroline’s willingness to meet. “I’ll be there soon, ” she replied before ending the call and gathering her things.

The evening sun cast a warm glow over the sprawling grounds of the villa as Sophia and Caroline sat on the terrace. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, creating a serene atmosphere that belied the weight of the conversation that hung between them.

Sophia fidgeted nervously, her mind swirling with questions about her family’s past. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she turned to Caroline.

“How did you know about Benjamin being my half-brother?” Sophia asked, her voice tinged with both apprehension and intrigue.

Caroline sighed, her expression clouding with memories of the past. ”

Your father Jacob, and I were friends a long time ago,” she began, her voice soft with nostalgia. “But we grew apart over the years, due to…different experiences.”

Sophia nodded, urging her to continue.

Caroline hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Years ago, Jacob told me about Ben,” she revealed, her gaze distant as she recalled the conversation. “But he didn’t seem happy about it.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in shock at the revelation. “He never mentioned Ben or his mother to me,” she murmured, her mind racing with possibilities. “Do you think he…used means to get rid of them?

Possibly involving my grandfather?”

Caroline’s expression softened with sympathy as she reached out to grasp Sophia’s hand. “It’s possible,” she admitted gently. “But this all happened a few years before you were born. Jacob did mention that he had a son named Ben and that he planned to marry the baby’s mother.”

Sophia’s brow furrowed in confusion. ” But if he knew about them, why didn’t he ever mention them again?” she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with frustration.

Caroline shook her head, her expression troubled. “I don’t know, Sophia,” she replied honestly. “He never said anything about their whereabouts after that.”

As the weight of the past secrets continued to weigh heavily on Sophia’s mind, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping over her. The mysteries surrounding her family’s history seemed to deepen with each revelation, leaving her grappling with more questions than answers. And as she sat with Caroline on the terrace of the villa, she knew that she was only beginning to scratch the surface of the truth.

As Sophia bid farewell to Caroline, a sense of urgency gnawed at her. Glancing at her watch, she realized that it was much later than she had anticipated. With a quick wave and a promise to catch up soon, she hurried out of the villa and made her way back to her apartment.

As Sophia arrived back at her apartment she approached the door, expecting Alexander to greet her, but there was no response to her knock. Surprised, she glanced at her watch-it was past eleven in the evening.

Frowning slightly, Sophia pushed the door open and stepped inside, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. She noticed that Alexander’s luggage had already been moved, a sign that he had returned home. A small smile tugged at her lips at the thought.

“Alexander, are you here?” she called.

She didn’t get a response. Sophia searched the apartment, but Alexander was nowhere to be found.

Sophia got busy preparing dinner.

A full hour later, Alexander finally came home. His tired but familiar face broke into a warm smile as he greeted her with a kiss hello. Sophia returned the gesture, but couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of concern.

“Why are you late?” she asked, unable to hide the worry in her voice.

Alexander’s smile faltered for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. “It’s nothing to worry about, darling,” he assured her, brushing off her question with a casual wave of his hand.

Sophia’s brow furrowed in suspicion, but she chose to let the matter drop for now. However, the unease lingered in the back of her mind, gnawing at her thoughts throughout the evening.

As they settled in for the night, Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Despite Alexander’s attempts to reassure her, a sense of unease lingered. As she drifted off to sleep, her mind raced with thoughts of what could be causing Alexander’s mysterious tardiness.