Chapter 532
Realizing the living room wasn’t the right place to talk, Magnus nodded and agreed to move the conversation to his study. But just as he was about to take a step in that direction, he suddenly fell something was amiss.
Thinking of something, Magnus turned his head toward Grace. She had been quietly standing off to the side and trying to be
invisible.
As Magnus took in her expressionless face, he realized what was off. It was Grace. She hadn’t shown the slightest shock or any emotion at all at Timothy’s return. It was as though she already knew he was still alive.
But if Grace had known all along, why hadn’t she told them? And why had he not only not come home, but had kept them in the dark that he was clearly alive and well all this time?
Grace instinctively looked away when she met Magnus‘ suspicious gaze. Her guilty expression only confirmed his suspicion that she had long known Timothy was still alive.
Just as he was about to say something, Timothy said, “Let’s go upstairs, Dad.”
Realizing that he could ask Timothy the same question, Magnus didn’t press the matter and followed him upstairs.
Grace stared at the staircase for a long moment after they left. Then, she also left to check on Agatha.
As soon as Magnus and Timothy entered the study, Magnus couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Where have you been all these years, Tim?” he asked. “Why didn’t you let us know that you were still alive and well? Also, why are you suddenly the hero who took down that criminal organization? Did you work with William? Wasn’t it Irvin who was working with him?”
Timothy met Magnus‘ probing gaze. Then, he averted his eyes and delivered the speech he had prepared long ago.
“I didn’t come back because I had amnesia. When I saved Irvin, I got badly injured and fell into the sea. After that, I lost my memory and forgot who I was. That’s why I never told you all I was still alive.”
Magnus felt something about Timothy’s story didn’t add up. However, he had spoken with such conviction, so Magnus just believed him. There was no need to question it, and it was also pointless to doubt him.
Timothy continued, “It was that criminal organization that rescued me from the sea. And since I didn’t remember who I was, I believed I was one of them.
“Over the course of two years, I rose through the ranks and became their leader. Then, Irvin and William came to the base to rescue Emilia. It wasn’t until I got hit in the head while struggling with Irvin that my memory finally returned.”
Timothy’s voice was calm and level, but what he said made Magnus‘ heart pound in alarm.
The Hardwells had always conducted business legitimately. None of their predecessors had ever ventured into anything that was remotely gray legally.
Yet, Timothy had… Magnus‘ son had actually spent two years as the leader of the most powerful criminal organization.
This… This was… It was…
How was Magnus supposed to hand over the Hardwell family to someone like that?
Seeing the alarm in Magnus‘ eyes, Timothy reasoned, “I only became the boss of that organization because I had amnesia and didn’t know who I was, Dad. It was also why I had done all those things. So, it’s really not my fault.
“After my memories returned, I was in agony over all the heinous things I had done. I felt guilty and was overwhel weight of my actions.
by the
“If Irvin hadn’t gotten hurt, I was even considering turning myself in. I thought about letting him continue living as me, be the family’s successor, and make you and Mom proud in my place,” he claimed.
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532
+25 BONUS
Timothy continued, “But then, Irvin, my dear little brother, got inred. I brought in many experts to treat him, but they all said the same thing–he won’t recover or wake up.
“Because of that, I couldn’t afford for something to happen to me too. That’s why the one who has been at home and running
the company is me, Dad. Meanwhile, Irvin is the one who’s the leader of that criminal organization.”
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