With a smug look on his face, Franklin walked into the mansion, eager to meet his mother. The butler emerged from the backyard, and Franklin paused, squinting at him curiously.
"Is Grandpa outside?" he inquired with an undercurrent of expectation.
The butler nodded in affirmation. "Yes, he wanted to get some fresh air."
"Okay. Good for him," Franklin replied, dismissing the information with a wave of his hand. He turned on his heel and made his way toward the stairs, clearly intent on finding his mother.
The butler’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "Madam is not home. She has gone out." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
Franklin halted abruptly, his brow furrowing as he turned back toward the butler. A fleeting look of disappointment crossed his face as he considered the absence of his mother. Realizing he would have to wait, he decided to see his grandfather instead.
"Alright, let me know when she gets back," he said with a casual shrug and headed toward the backyard.
Stepping outside, Franklin found his grandfather seated in a chair on the patio. The old man’s posture was tense, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a visible disturbance.
Franklin paused, his gaze fixed on Malcolm, trying to decipher what had the old man so preoccupied. A hint of suspicion clouded his mind—had Theodore said something to Malcolm that he wasn’t aware of? The thought gnawed at him as he made his way over.
"Grandpa, you look good," Franklin began with a measured smile. "It’s relieving to see you’re alright." He settled into his chair, trying to project an air of casual concern.
Malcolm’s expression was a mixture of irritation and unease, his thoughts clearly still swirling with Theodore’s words. "Have you heard about Bella?"
Franklin’s smile faltered for a moment, though he quickly recovered with a curt nod. "Yes, it’s quite shocking. I never expected her stepfather to be so cruel."
Malcolm’s eyes narrowed, his suspicion unyielding. "Are you behind this?" he demanded, leaning forward. "Did you pay that man to kidnap Bella?"
Franklin’s body tensed, the accusation hitting closer to home than he cared to admit. He had suspected that Theodore might have had a hand in stirring up trouble with Malcolm, and now it seemed his fears were confirmed.
Internally frustrated, Franklin forced himself to maintain an expression of surprise and innocence. "No, Grandpa," he said, feigning bewilderment. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
After a brief pause, he admitted, "Yes, I did meet Lionel and had a conversation with him to learn more about Bella. But I had no intention of causing her harm. Lionel has a history of criminal activity. He might have taken drastic measures to extract a huge ransom from Theodore."
Malcolm studied Franklin’s face, searching for any signs of deceit. The tension between them was palpable as Franklin’s mind raced to maintain the facade of innocence, while Malcolm’s suspicion remained firmly entrenched.
Malcolm’s expression hardened as he absorbed Franklin’s response. The old man’s gaze drifted off into the distance, a somber look settling on his face.
Based on what he had heard about Lionel, Malcolm couldn’t deny it completely. That man was cruel and greedy, capable of anything for money. But the idea that someone had paid him to kidnap Bella planted a seed of doubt.
"That man is dead now in police custody, which makes things worse," he warned. "He confessed that someone asked him to kidnap Bella."
A deep sigh escaped Malcolm’s lips. "Theodore won’t stop digging until he uncovers the truth. If he discovers that you’re involved, no one, not even I, will be able to shield you from his wrath."
Franklin’s face grew pale as the chill of Malcolm’s words sank in. Theodore’s power was formidable, and Franklin knew all too well the danger of crossing him. However, he wouldn’t get caught so easily. Years of his hard work to be the sole heir to the Reid household wouldn’t be wasted just like that.
He would go to any length to fulfill his dream. With a steely glare, Franklin faced Malcolm. "Why should I be afraid if I haven’t done anything wrong?" he declared resolutely. "Let him investigate. I, too, want to uncover the identity of the true mastermind behind this."
With that, Franklin rose from his seat. He turned sharply and made his way back into the house, his posture rigid and purposeful.
As Franklin made his way through the hall, he spotted his mother arriving. "Mom! Where have you been?"
Claudia, with a casual shrug, replied, "I went out to meet someone." She, however, didn’t mention that she had met Selena. She continued her walk toward her room, her demeanor calm yet indifferent. "Why are you here at this hour?" she asked, feigning surprise at his unexpected visit.
"I came to see you," Franklin said seriously, following her. "There is something important I need to discuss."
Claudia gestured for him to enter her room. "Come in." As he stepped over the threshold, she shut the door behind him. "Now, tell me what you want to say." She turned to face him.
Franklin’s voice lowered to a murmur as he announced, "Lionel is dead."
It was a shocking update for Claudia. "What are you saying?" A surprised exclamation escaped her lips. "How did that happen? Wasn’t he in police custody? How did he die?"
Her bewilderment was evident as she struggled to absorb the shocking news.
"Lower your voice," Franklin cautioned, his expression tight with frustration. He gestured vaguely, indicating the need for discretion.
Claudia, attempting to compose herself, settled into a recliner near the French window, her posture tense. "Whatever," she muttered, trying to mask her agitation.
"He became a threat," Franklin continued in a hushed tone. "He confessed that he had been bribed to kidnap Bella. Fortunately, I didn’t reveal anything about myself. If I had, the police might have been knocking on the Reid mansion’s door by now."
A heavy silence fell into the room, Claudia’s face contorted in thought as she absorbed the implications of Franklin’s words. The sense of danger and intrigue hung thick in the air, overshadowing any semblance of calm.
"What are you talking about?" she fretted her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief. "You killed him!"
Franklin, a hint of satisfaction in his gaze, nodded slowly. His expression revealed a troubling sense of mischief.
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