?


    Besides, Aberdeen had been twenty-two when he vanished. Even if he was coerced at the time, after more than two decades, if he were still alive, he''d surely have found a way to reach out to his parents.


    But there hadn''t been a single call, not even a note.


    Yet, the elderly couple wouldn''t listen; they refused to give up hope.


    At an age when they should be enjoying their twilight years, they were instead tirelessly searching in a foreignnd.


    Corley felt a pang of sympathy, but said, "Come on, let''s go check out the backyard."


    "Oh yes, yes! Aberdeen loved the swing set and the wisteria back there..."


    Supporting the olddy, Corley walked towards the yard. Midway, his phone rang.


    He nced at the screen, quickly recognizing the caller ID, and discreetly pocketed the phone to prevent the olddy from seeing.


    "Grandma, I need to take this call outside."


    "Okay."


    Once out of the main house, Corley answered the call-


    "Mom, what''s up?"


    "Why did it take you so long to answer?" Kathleen Rodriguez''s voice was tinged with impatience, clearly having waited for a while. "Where are you?"


    Corley ignored her irritation and replied calmly, "Was busy. I''m out and about."


    "Busy with what? And who are you with?"


    Corley frowned, "Mom, I''m not a criminal, you don''t need to interrogate me."


    "You think you''re the criminal? Ha-" Kathleen''s voice sharply rose, "Got it backwards, haven''t you? I''m the criminal here, so everyone''s keeping their distance from me, treating me like what?!"


    "Mom, why would you say that?"


    "I''m asking you, why didn''t you tell me your grandparents went back home?"


    Corley fell silent.


    "I knew it, you did it on purpose!"


    "Mom..." He sounded exasperated.


    "You''re with them right now, aren''t


    I


    you? I


    the beady went to the old house,


    butler told me you picked them


    up. Trying to fool me?"


    W


    "


    "Where are you now? I''ming over."


    Corley''s expression hardened, "Mom, calm down. Grandma''s not in a good state right now, it''s better if youe some other time."


    Kathleen fired back, "What does that mean? Because the olddy''s upset, I can''te? Are you saying she''d get worse seeing me?! I''m her daughter, I can''t understand why everyone''s treating me like I''m the gue!"


    S


    Over the years, the grandparents had preferred calling Corley overmunicating with her.


    Even on the rare asions she took the initiative to call, they always found reasons and excuses to hurry her off the phone.


    Corley replied, "You know why, do I really need to spell it out for you?"Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Go on then! I want to hear what you''ve been keeping bottled up,y it on me!"


    Corley clenched his teeth, his jaw tensing.


    "Mom, I don''t want to argue." His patience wearing thin.


    But the other end persisted, "No! We need to clear the air today—I''m your mother, not your enemy!"


    "Alright," Corley took a deep breath, enunciating each word, "Because of what happened back then, Grandma already harbors resentment towards you. You showing up now will only upset her further, making her even more agitated. The doctors have issued their final warning; Grandma can''t handle any more stress. Or why do you think Grandpa insisted on taking her back home? You think it was to see you or me?!"


    Kathleen opened her mouth to retort but found herself speechless.


    Corley quietly ended the call and went back inside.


    "Corley, who was that?"


    "Just some business stuff, it''s handled now."


    "That''s good."