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Nigel''s eyes widened, his fingers tensing. "Be... You..."
"I saw and heard everything that happened at the cemetery today." Be took a deep breath, her voice steady as she asked, "Grandpa Nigel, was what Mrs. Cooper said the truth? Did Grant really kill her daughter?"
Nigel''s pupils constricted, and he closed his eyes, clearly avoiding the question.
Be''s gaze deepened as she pressed forward. "Grandpa Nigel, your reaction has already given me the answer."
The elderly man remained silent.
"Grandpa Nigel, I understand your concerns. Grant is, after all, the eldest grandson of the Salvador family and grew up by your side. Even though you favor Justin, you still don''t want that incident from all those years ago to ruin him, especially since he was just a minor at the time. No matter what he did, as long as he bears the Salvador name, you''ll do everything in your power to protect him."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.
Her words were sharp and hit the mark. "But you also know that what he did was far too heinous. You''re angry, you''re fearful, and you don''t dare to expose the truth. You''ve suppressed these feelings for years, trapped in a tangled web of emotions. Yet I believe you still havepassion. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have risked the wind and snow, dragging your ailing body to pay respects to that deceased girl."
Suddenly, a realization dawned on her. ''No wonder Nigel was always so cautious and tense when dealing with Grant. With such a cruel secret hidden in his heart, how could his attitude toward this eldest grandson be anything but wariness?''
Nigel clenched his teeth and was at a loss for words.
Be had no choice but to press him further. "Grandpa Nigel, if you won''t tell me the truth, then I''ll have to go to the victim''s family and find out for myself."
"No! Be... Please, don''t cause any more distress to that poor mother!" Nigel''s trembling hand gripped her arm, his eyes moist. "The girl''s name was Maya Cooper. When I lived at Tideview Manor, she worked there as a servant, taking care of my daily life. Her death involved Grant, but it was an ident, just an unfortunate mishap... The child was terrified and came to me crying, begging on his knees for me to save her."
Be''s brows knitted together.
Even if the person before her was the grandfather she respected most, she could not fully trust his words.
"Grant was only fourteen at the time... He had already been deeply affected by his mother''s death, which left him withdrawn and listless. If he were to face jail time at such a young age, it would ruin his life! He grew up under my care, the eldest grandson of our Salvador family.
How could I bear to send him to prison?"
"So back then, you chose to help him dispose of Maya''s body and disguised her death as an ident?"
Be felt a chill sweep across her chest, grief and anger surging within her. "Grandpa Nigel, you only thought about your grandson''s future, but who was going to take responsibility for Maya''s short life? You quietly covered up the incident. Did you ever think about how her family would heal from such a wound? Grant is the eldest son of the Salvador family, your treasured kin... But wasn''t Maya also a precious daughter to her parents? Does her life have a different value in your eyes?"
Nigel''s voice was filled with pain. "Be..."
"Grandpa Nigel, do you realize what you''ve done? Youmitted a crime. You were an aplice, an enabler!" Be''s eyes were brimming with tears, zing with intensity. "If you can''t seek justice for that poor mother, then I will. I''ll get justice for Maya."
"No... You can''t...!" Nigel strained to sit up in bed, his voice desperate. "Be, I''ll do everything I can topensate Maya''s family. But please, you must listen to me and stay away from Grant... Do not get involved in this matter! I''m begging you!"
Be sensed there was more to the story and urgently asked, "Why?"
Nigel hesitated, his parched lips parting slightly when suddenly, the door to the hospital room was flung open.
Justin''s tall and imposing figure strode in, bringing with him the chill of deep winter.