HUSH. Episode 17
1312 Words
The afternoon breeze drifted gently through the quiet streets of the small town.
Rebecca walked without any particular destination, her hands loosely clasped behind her back as she admired the peaceful surroundings.
The bakery had just pulled a fresh batch of bread from the oven.
A few children rode their bicycles past her, laughing as they raced toward the park.
An elderly man tipped his hat in greeting.
Rebecca smiled politely.
She wandered past the bookstore, then the little flower shop, but nothing caught her attention.
With a quiet sigh, she murmured to herself,
“I should’ve brought a book.”
Life in the town was peaceful…
Perhaps a little too peaceful.
Just then—
Her phone vibrated.
Rebecca pulled it from her pocket.
A text message.
Her lips curved into an unconscious smile the moment she saw the sender.
Damian.
She opened it.
Didn’t miss me that much?
Rebecca stared at the message for a second before letting out a small laugh.
“So full of himself.”
Instead of typing a reply, she pressed the call button.
The phone barely rang once before it was answered.
“Hello.”
Damian’s calm voice came through the speaker.
Rebecca smiled.
“I was going to text you.”
“But?”
“I figured calling would be easier.”
A faint chuckle escaped him.
“So…”
“I’ll ask again.”
“Did you miss me?”
Rebecca rolled her eyes as she continued strolling down the sidewalk.
“I thought you were busy at the farm.”
“I am.”
His answer came smoothly.
Rebecca nodded to herself.
“Then why are you bothering me during work?”
“I took a short break.”
She smiled.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“It wasn’t meant to.”
She laughed quietly.
There was a brief silence before Damian spoke again.
“So…”
“Were you bored enough to call me?”
Rebecca looked around at the peaceful little town.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I’ve walked past the bakery twice.”
“And?”
“I didn’t even go inside.”
Damian chuckled softly.
“That does sound serious.”
“It is.”
“I’m officially bored.”
“So your solution was to call me.”
Rebecca pretended to think about it.
“You happened to text first.”
“I’ll consider that an excuse.”
She smiled, shaking her head.
“You always twist people’s words.”
“I only repeat what they say.”
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Rebecca slowed her pace as she reached the small bridge overlooking the stream.
The sound of flowing water filled the air.
“I hope you’re not working too hard.”
She said it casually.
“I’ll survive.”
“Good.”
Another brief silence followed.
Rebecca rested her arms on the wooden railing.
“When are you coming back from the farm?”
Damian glanced around the private room in the Raymond Mansion before answering without missing a beat.
“Soon.”
“I’ve just got a few things to take care of.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
Rebecca smiled.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You should.”
She laughed softly.
“Get back to work.”
“And you?”
“I’ll keep trying to find something interesting to do.”
“Good luck with that.”
She smiled wider.
“Thanks.”
After exchanging a few more lighthearted words, they ended the call.
Rebecca slipped the phone back into her pocket.
The town hadn’t changed.
The streets were still quiet.
The shops were still the same.
But somehow…
Her afternoon didn’t feel nearly as boring anymore.
The hidden room behind Theodore Raymond’s private library remained sealed.
Outside, the charity gala continued in full swing.
Elegant laughter echoed faintly beyond the thick soundproof walls, completely shut out from the quiet room where only two men remained.
Theodore sat in silence, watching his grandson.
Moments earlier…
Damian had excused himself to answer a phone call.
The old man hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help noticing the subtle change in Damian.
For the first time that evening…
His grandson had smiled.
Not the polite smile he wore at business meetings.
Not the cold, calculated smile that unsettled his rivals.
It had been… genuine.
Soft.
Natural.
Theodore had never expected to see it.
Then the call ended.
Damian slipped the phone back into his pocket.
The smile disappeared as though it had never existed.
His expression hardened in an instant.
His eyes returned to their usual calm, unreadable state.
Theodore blinked.
He had witnessed many sides of Damian over the years.
The brilliant businessman.
The ruthless strategist.
The fearless negotiator.
But the man who had smiled just moments ago…
Almost seemed like someone else.
Damian resumed his seat as if nothing had happened.
“The discussion can continue.”
Theodore didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he studied his grandson.
Damian noticed.
“What is it?”
The old man leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve been watching you.”
Damian raised an eyebrow.
“Have you?”
“You smiled.”
A brief silence followed.
“And now…”
Theodore gestured toward him.
“…it’s gone.”
Damian offered no explanation.
Theodore chuckled quietly.
“I haven’t seen that kind of smile since you were much younger.”
Still…
No response.
The old patriarch folded his hands over the handle of his cane.
“So…”
He asked carefully.
“Who was on the phone?”
Damian’s expression remained perfectly composed.
“A friend.”
Theodore wasn’t convinced.
“Just a friend?”
“Yes.”
The old man smiled knowingly.
“I don’t believe you.”
Damian looked at him without changing expression.
“You don’t have to.”
Theodore laughed.
“I’ve known you your entire life.”
“You’ve never answered a business call with that expression.”
“And I’ve certainly never seen you smile like that over a contract.”
Damian remained silent.
Theodore’s curiosity only grew.
“Is…”
He paused for a moment.
“…that person the reason you disappeared for nearly a month?”
For the first time since the question was asked…
Damian hesitated.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But Theodore noticed.
His smile widened.
“I’ll take that silence as my answer.”
Damian calmly reached for the folder on the table.
“We were discussing the family.”
Trying to change the subject.
Theodore simply laughed.
“You inherited your father’s habit.”
Damian glanced up.
“When he wanted to avoid a question…”
“He buried himself in work.”
The old man shook his head with amusement.
“I won’t press you.”
He rose slowly from his chair.
“But whoever was on the other end of that phone…”
His eyes twinkled with quiet satisfaction.
“…managed to do something this entire family hasn’t accomplished in years.”
Damian looked at him.
“They made you smile.”
The room fell silent.
Damian lowered his gaze to the documents before him, saying nothing.
Theodore watched him for another moment before smiling to himself.
“Interesting…”
“Perhaps my grandson didn’t disappear to run away from this family after all.”
“Perhaps…”
“He finally found someone worth returning to.”
Damian opened the folder and continued reading, his face once again the picture of composure.
But neither of them mentioned the call again.
Still…
Theodore couldn’t forget the warmth he had briefly seen in his grandson’s eyes.
And for the first time in years…
The old patriarch found himself genuinely curious about the mysterious person capable of melting Damian Raymond’s icy exterior, if only for a fleeting moment.
- Writer
