Dalton's Path to Redemption

Chapter 4

The Walker family mansion slowly grew darker as the storm approached.

Susan stood by the window, watching the trees sway violently in the wind. She felt a wave of irritation that she couldn't quite explain.

"Beth! Do you have any news from Aiden?"

"Ma'am, Aiden said he hasn't found Mr. Dalton Walker. He hasn't returned to the slums either," Beth replied.

"Then where could he be?" Susan's anger flared up instead of concern.

Beth shook her head, worry evident on her face.

"Isn't he supposed to be at Westview Middle School? You should go there and ask his teachers if he's been attending!" Susan was furious.

She thought Dalton was just sulking, but she never imagined he would be missing for an entire week.

Just a few days ago, everyone had been calm, waiting for Dalton to come back and apologize. But he hadn't even sent a message. Later, Jack sent people to find him, but they returned empty-handed.

Today marked the seventh day of his absence.

"Great! If I find him, I'm going to teach him a lesson!" Susan fumed.

"Ma'am, Mr. Dalton Walker hasn't been at middle school for quite some time," Beth said, glancing at Susan with a puzzled expression.

"What do you mean? Where is he?" Susan was taken aback.

"He has already advanced to high school. He's now at Cedar Ridge High School and is in his senior year!" Beth thought it was strange that Susan didn't even know where her own son went to school, but as a servant, she felt she couldn't say more.

"What..." Susan was shocked. She thought Dalton was a lazy troublemaker. He couldn't have gotten into high school. "Then go to the school and bring him back!"

"Got it!"

After Beth rushed off, Susan looked at Patricia, who seemed unfazed. "Patricia, did Dalton get into Cedar Ridge High School?"

"How would I know?" Patricia shrugged, uninterested.

"You're his sister! You don't know where he's going to school?" Susan's anger flared again.

"I don't have time to keep track of him! And if you and Dad don't know, how would I?" Patricia quickly shifted the responsibility.

Susan felt a bit embarrassed but redirected her frustration toward Dalton. "When he gets back, I'm going to give him a good beating!"

Soon, Beth returned with news. "Ma'am, Aiden said that due to severe weather warnings, all the schools in the city are closed. The teachers have no idea where he is!"

Susan's frustration grew even more. "Patricia, call Lucy and Harvey and see if anyone has heard from Dalton!"

Patricia, feeling impatient, replied, "Why do you care so much? It's his choice to leave."

"Just ask, okay? Now!"

Seeing how angry her mother was, Patricia hesitated but reluctantly reached out. Unfortunately, no one had heard from Dalton.

"Call Dalton and tell him to come back!" Susan clenched her teeth. She didn't think making a call meant she was giving in. When he returned, she would make sure he faced the consequences.

"I can't. I don't have his number," Patricia answered.

"You don't have his number?" Susan was taken aback.

"Why would I keep it? He's just so disgusting!" Patricia said, rolling her eyes.

"How can you act like this?" Susan scolded Patricia, pulling out her phone to look for Dalton's number. Then, she froze. "Does he even have a phone?"

"Uh, I don't remember," Patricia replied. Susan then called Jack. He hadn't bought a phone for Dalton either; he thought Susan had handled it.

After a moment's thought, Susan decided to call the eldest sister, Helen Walker.

Helen was the oldest daughter in the Walker family, a graduate of an Ivy League school, and had already taken on part of the family business. She was not only beautiful but also a highly capable career woman who dedicated herself to her work and achieved impressive results.

As expected, Helen didn't have Dalton's contact information either. She had hardly seen him in recent years due to her busy job and didn't know him well at all.

Usually, Susan wouldn't bother her with family issues, but calling meant something serious had occurred.

After thinking for a moment, Helen decided to return home.

Soon, the Walker family gathered together. Jack looked at his daughters—Helen, Patricia, Lucy, Flavia Walker, and Nadine Walker—and frowned. "Where's Harvey? Why hasn't he come back?"

Mentioning Harvey softened Susan's expression. "No need. This matter is small and shouldn't affect his studies."

Jack nodded in agreement. "Let's not bring this up with Harvey for now. He's already upset that Dalton didn't come back. If he finds out Dalton hasn't returned until now, he'll blame himself even more."

Helen, just getting out of the car, felt uneasy hearing this. Dalton hadn't been home for days, and it wasn't a small matter.

"Mom, what's going on? Why did Dalton leave home?"

"It's not like that, Helen. You have no idea! He actually had the nerve to threaten Mom and Dad, signing a ridiculous severance agreement with them. Who does he think he is, expecting us to beg him to come back?" Patricia said with disdain.

Helen looked at her parents in shock. "A severance agreement? Dad, Mom, you both signed it?"

Jack nodded awkwardly. "I was too angry at the time. I just signed it without thinking."

"Dad!" Helen sighed, feeling frustrated. She then asked, "What about his phone? He's been back for five years, and you've never called him even once?"

"I have so much going on at work. How was I supposed to keep track of such trifle? I thought your mom bought him a phone," Jack quickly defended himself.

"I thought your dad had bought it!" Susan replied, shrugging.

"I don't know. I've never seen him use a phone," Lucy and Patricia said, shaking their heads.

Everyone exchanged glances. "So, he doesn't have a phone at all?"

Seeing this, Beth sighed and said, "Sir, Ma'am, I think I saw him using a really cheap phone. He must have saved up for it. It's one of those basic phones for seniors. But I don't know what his number is."

A moment of silence fell over the room. Even if Dalton had a phone, no one knew his number, and no one had bothered to reach out to him.

Susan gritted her teeth. "Beth, call the driver. I'm going to visit Cedar Ridge High School myself!"

"Mom, I want to go with you!" Helen insisted.

"Okay! Let's find him. I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"