âGo abroad? What about my grandparents? Can they handle it?â Callie remembered the challenges they faced when they moved abroad during her childhood.
The struggles her grandparents had gone through just to adjust to the new environment were still vivid in her mind.
âIâll take you abroad first, and later with your grandparents.
Donât worry.
Iâll arrange for someone to look after them.
They wonât suffer,â
Brett explained, trying to calm Callie down.
If Callie had held any hope before, it was now crushed.
She realized she wasnât simply moving abroad.
They were fleeing.
And they wouldnât be leaving through conventional means.
Callieâs faith in her father was shattered, and she struggled to accept that her father, whom she had always looked up to, could be involved in something so grave.
âDad, why⦠Why do you have to do this? Nicoleâs parents have always been so kind to us.
Theyâre good people.
Whyâ¦â
Callie sobbed.
She wished she hadnât uncovered the truth.
Now, filled with regret, her heart ached painfully.
She was no different from her father.
Nicole had saved her, yet she had tipped off her father to allow his escape.
She too was ungrateful.
âCallie! Calm down!â Brett scolded loudly.
His daughter was too compassionate.
If she continued down this path, her conscience might overwhelm her, and he feared what she might react.
âIT havenât hurt anyone.
Donât overthink it, okay?â Brett said earnestly.
âRemember, everything I did, I did for you.
You have to trust me.
â
âThen why do we have to hide? If you were innocent, you could have cleared your name, right?â Callie questioned, unconvinced.
âThis situation is far too complex.
Itâs not as straightforward as it seems,â Brett replied, sighing.
âYes, I was indeed the last person seen with Wesson.
But I can swear, I didnât kill him.
How could I? Itâs not in me to do such a thingâ¦â
Brettâs voice faltered.
The memory pained him deeply.
Back then, he had been coerced into showing Wesson a video of Nicole being humiliated, and he had delivered some devastating words, suggesting Wesson end his own life to spare Nicole any further disgrace.
Internally, Brett was tormented by his own actions, to the point of wanting to strike himself.
His motive wasnât just about money.
His daughter had a rare blood type and had struggled to find a suitable match.
Then, a mysterious figure had offered hope, promising a transplant for his daughter abroad.
Ultimately, Brett couldnât go through with it.
His conscience prevailed, and he confessed everything to Wesson.
He had hoped Wesson, being a seasoned man, would be resilient and rise to protect Nicole.
But upon returning to Wessonâs office, Brett was horrified to discover that Wesson had indeed been murdered.
He had been cowardly, hiding for so many years, too frightened to reveal the truth because of that mysterious figureâs cruelty.
Callie was at a loss about whom to trust anymore.
She attempted to steady her voice and replied, âI get it.
â
âCallie, donât overthink things.
Just trust me.
I would never hurt you.
Get ready, and once this is all behind us, Iâll take you abroad.
Weâll start a new, peaceful life, okay?â Brett said, trying to win his daughterâs trust back.
Callieâs mind was swirling, and she responded weakly, âOkay.
â
After ending the call, Callie stared blankly at her phone.
She believed her father hadnât killed Wesson, but she knew her father was hiding something.
If she told Nicole, it might help.
.
However, before Callie could sort through her thoughts, the door to her room burst open.
Her grandmother entered.
âCallie, give me your phone,â Laurie demanded.
Stunned, Callie quickly hid her phone behind her back.
âGrandma, what are you doing? You wonât let me go out, and now youâre taking my phone too?â
âI heard your conversation with your father,â Laurie said sternly.
âCallie, I canât stand by and watch you do something harmful to your dad.
Heâs your father.
Donât be foolishâ¦â
Callie was shocked to learn her grandmother had been eavesdropping.