HUSH. Episode 10
1238 Words
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The grand dining hall of the Raymond family mansion glowed beneath the warm light of an enormous crystal chandelier. The long mahogany table, polished to perfection, was adorned with silver candleholders, fresh white roses, and an extravagant feast prepared by the household chefs.
Laughter echoed through the room.
The younger grandchildren exchanged jokes while helping themselves to roasted lamb, creamy mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread. Theodore’s sons discussed the latest business headlines between bites, while their wives chatted about an upcoming charity gala. At the far end of the table, Theodore’s elegant wife, Eleanor, tried her best to keep the atmosphere lively, smiling politely as she encouraged everyone to eat.
Yet one chair remained untouched.
The empty seat beside Theodore.
Damian’s seat.
The untouched plate and neatly folded napkin seemed to mock the family gathering.
Unlike everyone else, Theodore Raymond wasn’t eating.
The elderly patriarch sat silently at the head of the table, his silver hair neatly combed back, his sharp eyes lingering on the vacant chair every few seconds. The wrinkles on his face deepened with worry instead of age.
His fingers tapped lightly against the crystal wine glass.
“Has anyone heard from Damian today?” he finally asked, his deep voice instantly silencing the cheerful conversations.
The room fell quiet.
His eldest son shrugged casually.
“I figured he was busy with another business meeting.”
Another grandson chuckled.
“You know Cousin Damian. Work comes before everything.”
But Theodore wasn’t convinced.
“He has never missed our family dinner without informing me.”
His tone carried both authority and concern.
Eleanor gently placed a hand over his.
“I’m sure he’s alright, Theodore.”
He gave a slow nod but the uneasiness in his chest refused to fade.
Without another word, he reached for the phone resting beside his dinner plate.
Everyone watched.
Theodore scrolled through his contacts until Damian’s name appeared.
He pressed the call button.
The room became eerily silent as the phone rang…
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every ring seemed to tighten the knot in Theodore’s chest.
“Come on, Damian…” he murmured under his breath, his eyes never leaving the screen as the family waited anxiously for someone to answer.
Meanwhile, miles away from the grandeur of the Raymond family mansion, the peaceful little town had already surrendered to the calm embrace of the night.
The modest house stood quietly beneath the moonlight, its porch illuminated by a single warm lantern. Crickets chirped in the distance while a cool breeze rustled the nearby trees.
Damian stood outside on the wooden porch, leaning lightly against one of the railings with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. His eyes drifted toward the star-filled sky, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
His phone vibrated in the pocket of his jacket.
He glanced at the screen.
Grandfather.
A faint sigh escaped his lips before he answered.
“Good evening, Grandpa.”
On the other end, Theodore’s familiar voice came through, calm but carrying an unmistakable hint of concern.
“Damian.”
“I’m here.”
“Where are you?”
Damian smiled softly, already knowing what was coming.
“I’m out of town.”
“You’ve been out of town for several days.”
“I know.”
“You missed dinner.”
“I’m aware.”
A brief silence settled between them.
“You’ve never missed family dinner without letting me know first,” Theodore said. “That’s unlike you.”
Damian rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’ve been caught up with something important. I should’ve called sooner.”
“You should have.”
“I apologize, Grandpa.”
Theodore let out a quiet breath.
“You had me wondering whether something had happened to you.”
“I’m alright,” Damian assured him. “Just handling a personal matter.”
“A personal matter?” Theodore asked, his curiosity piqued.
Damian chuckled softly.
“Yes. One I’ll explain when the time is right.”
Theodore was silent for a moment. He knew his grandson well enough to recognize that Damian never spoke carelessly. If he said he wasn’t ready to explain, pressing him further would accomplish nothing.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Theodore replied.
“You have my word.”
“When are you coming home?”
“In a few days.”
“I expect you at the mansion the moment you’re back.”
Damian smiled.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A hint of warmth returned to Theodore’s voice.
“Good. Your grandmother keeps asking about you, and this family feels incomplete when you’re absent.”
“I’ll make it up to everyone.”
The call ended, and Theodore slowly placed his phone on the dining table.
A faint smile, one that had been absent all evening, finally crossed his face.
“He’s safe,” he announced. “He’ll be home in a few days.”
The tension in the room eased, but not for everyone.
Several members of the Raymond family exchanged subtle glances across the table. Their smiles were polite, carefully rehearsed, but behind them lingered something far less pleasant.
Resentment.
Theodore picked up his utensils and finally began eating.
“I’ve always admired that boy,” he said, almost absentmindedly. “Even while handling personal matters, he never neglects his responsibilities. When he returns, I’ll have him review the overseas investment proposal.”
A heavy silence followed.
One of Theodore’s sons forced a smile.
“Of course, Father.”
Another grandson lowered his gaze, gripping his fork a little tighter.
“So… Damian again,” he muttered under his breath.
His brother nudged him beneath the table, silently warning him to keep quiet.
At the opposite end of the table, Eleanor noticed the subtle change in everyone’s expressions. She sighed inwardly but chose not to interfere.
It wasn’t a secret.
Everyone in this family knew Theodore trusted Damian more than anyone else.
Not because he was the eldest grandson.
But because he had earned it.
While others spent family meetings arguing over inheritance, luxury cars, and social status, Damian was the only one who consistently spoke about expanding the family’s businesses, protecting their legacy, and creating opportunities for future generations.
That alone had won Theodore’s respect.
Unfortunately…
It had also earned Damian countless silent enemies.
Theodore’s daughter-in-law, Victoria, elegantly dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin, masking the irritation simmering beneath her composed exterior.
“Father certainly worries about Damian more than anyone else,” she remarked with a pleasant smile that failed to reach her eyes.
Theodore looked at her without noticing the hidden meaning.
“Damian has always given me reason to.”
“Of course,” Victoria replied smoothly.
Beside her, her husband shifted uncomfortably, recognizing the bitterness in his wife’s tone.
Victoria lowered her gaze to her untouched meal.
Everything revolves around Damian.
His opinions.
His decisions.
His achievements.
She tightened her grip on her fork.
As if the rest of this family doesn’t exist.
Around the table, the cheerful atmosphere from earlier had quietly faded. Conversations resumed, but they lacked warmth, replaced instead by restrained smiles and carefully chosen words.
Only Theodore remained unaware of the envy growing around him.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
He simply looked forward to the day his beloved grandson would return home, never imagining that within the walls of his own mansion, jealousy
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