CHAPTER 27: THE HIDDEN LETTER
885 Words
The following morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of Lawson Manor.
Kelvin sat alone in his study, the silver pocket watch resting on the desk before him.
He had barely slept.
His conversation with Mackenzie had awakened memories he had spent years trying to bury.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Damien entered carrying a folder.
"Our men found something."
Kelvin looked up.
"What is it?"
"A former employee from your father's estate contacted us."
Kelvin frowned.
"I thought everyone who worked there had either retired or passed away."
"So did we."
Damien placed the folder on the desk.
"His name is Arthur Bennett."
"He served as your family's groundskeeper for over thirty years."
Kelvin opened the file.
"Why is he coming forward now?"
Damien hesitated.
"He says he has something that belongs to you."
---
Across the city...
Mackenzie was supervising a wedding rehearsal at the Grand Imperial Hotel.
Everything was running smoothly until Sophia approached with a grin.
"You've been smiling all morning."
"I have not."
"You answered your phone before it rang."
Mackenzie laughed.
"That's impossible."
"It is when you're hoping someone will call."
Mackenzie playfully nudged her friend.
"I think you're imagining things."
"Am I?"
Just then, Mackenzie's phone vibrated.
Kelvin Calling.
Sophia folded her arms triumphantly.
"I rest my case."
Blushing, Mackenzie walked away to answer.
"Hello?"
"Good morning."
His deep voice instantly calmed her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all."
"I wanted to ask if you'd join me this afternoon."
She smiled.
"Business?"
"No."
"A friend of my family wishes to meet you."
Her curiosity grew.
"I'd be honored."
---
That afternoon...
Kelvin drove Mackenzie to a quiet countryside cottage on the outskirts of Noctis.
The small house was surrounded by blooming roses and towering oak trees.
An elderly man waited on the front porch.
Though his hair had turned completely white, his eyes remained bright.
As Kelvin stepped out of the car, the old man's face softened.
"Master Kelvin..."
Kelvin smiled warmly.
"It's good to see you again, Arthur."
Arthur embraced him like a son.
"I never thought I'd live long enough to see this day."
He then turned to Mackenzie.
"So..."
Arthur chuckled.
"You're the young lady who finally convinced him to smile."
Kelvin looked away, slightly embarrassed.
"Arthur..."
"What?"
The old man laughed.
"I only speak the truth."
---
Inside the cozy cottage, Arthur served tea and homemade biscuits.
Family photographs decorated the walls.
Some even showed a young Kelvin running through the gardens with his parents.
Mackenzie couldn't help smiling.
"You were adorable."
Kelvin sighed dramatically.
"I knew those pictures would betray me."
Arthur laughed heartily.
"Your mother loved taking photographs."
His smile slowly faded.
"She wanted you to remember the happy days."
A thoughtful silence settled over the room.
Finally, Arthur stood and walked toward an old wooden cabinet.
He carefully removed a small locked box.
"I've kept this safe for twenty-two years."
He handed it to Kelvin.
"Your father entrusted it to me the night before..."
Arthur couldn't finish the sentence.
Kelvin's expression grew solemn.
"...the night he died."
Arthur nodded quietly.
"I promised him I would only return it to you when you were ready."
Kelvin stared at the box for a long moment.
His hands trembled slightly as he unlocked it with the tiny key attached to the pocket watch.
The lid opened with a soft click.
Inside lay a neatly folded letter.
Written in his father's handwriting.
Kelvin unfolded it carefully.
His voice was barely a whisper as he read aloud.
> My son,
If this letter has reached you, then fate has chosen a path I prayed would never come.
Trust your heart before your anger. Not every enemy wears a stranger's face, and not every friend is truly loyal.
The future of our family will depend on the choices you make—not the revenge you seek.
Remember who you are.
I am proud to be your father.
— Alexander Lawson
The room fell silent.
Kelvin lowered the letter, his eyes glistening.
Mackenzie gently reached for his hand.
She didn't say a word.
She simply held it.
Sometimes...
Silence offered more comfort than words ever could.
---
Outside the cottage...
Damien noticed movement among the trees.
A flash of sunlight reflected off glass.
A camera lens.
"Stay inside!" he shouted.
The guards immediately sprang into action.
The photographer realized he'd been spotted and fled into the forest.
Two guards gave chase.
But within seconds...
The mysterious figure vanished into the thick woods.
Damien returned to the cottage.
"They escaped."
Kelvin's expression hardened.
"So they know about Arthur."
Arthur looked worried.
"Have I put everyone in danger?"
Kelvin stood and placed a reassuring hand on the old man's shoulder.
"No."
"You've given me something far more valuable."
"My father's final words."
---
Far away...
The masked photographer entered Ricardo DeLuca's estate.
He handed over several photographs.
One showed Kelvin opening the locked box.
Another captured the letter in his hands.
Ricardo studied them carefully.
"So..."
he murmured.
"The letter still exists."
Vincent Moretti looked over his shoulder.
"Does it reveal the truth?"
Ricardo smiled coldly.
"No."
"But it tells me exactly where to look next."
He folded the photograph and slipped it into his pocket.
"The past is finally catching up to Kelvin Lawson."
- Writer
