CHAPTER 35: THE MISSING PAGES
764 Words
The journey back to Lawson Manor was unusually quiet.
No one spoke.
The leather-bound journal rested on Kelvin's lap, while the sealed letters and documents were secured inside a locked briefcase beside Damien.
Every mile brought them closer to answers that had remained hidden for more than two decades.
---
As soon as they arrived at the manor, Damien ordered the security team to lock down the estate.
"No one enters or leaves without my approval," he instructed.
The guards immediately took their positions.
Kelvin carried the journal into his study.
Mackenzie followed quietly behind him.
She knew he wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
But she also knew he didn't need to be alone.
---
Kelvin carefully opened the journal.
The first few entries spoke of friendship.
Alexander Lawson and Edward Romano had built their businesses together from nothing.
They celebrated every success together.
Their families spent holidays together.
One entry made Kelvin smile.
«Edward insists his son will one day outrun mine through the gardens. I told him we should let the boys decide that for themselves.»
Kelvin looked up.
"They both had sons."
Mackenzie nodded thoughtfully.
"Which means..."
"The child wasn't just a mystery."
"He was real."
---
Kelvin turned another page.
The handwriting suddenly changed.
The cheerful tone was gone.
Instead, his father's words were careful.
Measured.
As though he feared someone else might one day read them.
«Edward believes someone within our circle has betrayed us.»
«He refuses to say who until he has proof.»
«I pray he is mistaken.»
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Damien frowned.
"So your father suspected betrayal before the fire."
Kelvin nodded slowly.
"It wasn't a sudden attack."
"They saw it coming."
---
He continued reading.
Several pages later...
The journal abruptly ended.
Kelvin frowned.
"That can't be right."
He flipped through the remaining pages.
Half the journal was empty.
Then he noticed something.
The edges of several pages had been neatly cut away.
"They're missing," he murmured.
Mackenzie leaned closer.
"Someone removed them."
Damien examined the binding.
"And whoever did it knew exactly which pages to take."
Kelvin closed the journal gently.
"The answers were here."
"They've been stolen."
---
Just then, one of the estate staff knocked on the study door.
"Mr. Lawson?"
"Yes?"
"A delivery arrived for you."
"I wasn't expecting one."
The butler handed him a small parcel wrapped in plain brown paper.
There was no return address.
Only a single note attached.
Some truths are too dangerous to remember.
Damien immediately stepped forward.
"I'll inspect it."
After carefully opening the package, he found only one item inside.
An old pocket diary.
Its leather cover was cracked with age.
Kelvin opened it.
Inside the front cover was a handwritten name.
Edward Romano.
---
Across the city...
Ricardo DeLuca sat in silence as Vincent entered.
"They've received the diary."
Ricardo nodded.
"Good."
Vincent looked confused.
"You sent it?"
"I did."
"But why would you help Kelvin?"
Ricardo slowly poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"Because the diary tells only half the story."
"The other half..."
He smiled faintly.
"...is much more dangerous."
---
Back at Lawson Manor...
Kelvin began reading Edward Romano's diary.
The first entries were ordinary.
Business meetings.
Family dinners.
Plans for expansion.
Then one sentence caught his attention.
«Alexander wants to believe everyone around us is loyal.»
«I wish I shared his faith.»
Kelvin turned the page.
Another entry.
«If anything happens to me, protect my son.»
He looked at Mackenzie.
"The same words again."
"The child."
She nodded.
"But this time we know whose child."
Kelvin's expression became thoughtful.
"Edward's son."
"But where is he now?"
No one in the room had an answer.
---
Late that evening...
Kelvin stood alone on the balcony overlooking the city.
He couldn't stop thinking about one question.
If Edward Romano had a son...
What became of him after the fire?
Behind him, Mackenzie quietly stepped onto the balcony.
Without saying a word, she stood beside him.
After a moment, she slipped her hand into his.
Kelvin looked down at their joined hands and smiled.
"I don't know where this road will lead."
Mackenzie looked out over the city lights.
"Then we'll walk it together."
For the first time since discovering the truth about his father's past...
Kelvin believed her.
Far away, inside Ricardo's estate, a photograph lay on his desk.
It showed two little boys playing in a garden many years ago.
One was Kelvin.
The other...
Had his face carefully torn away.
Ricardo stared at the photograph before quietly whispering,
"Soon..."
"You'll finally remember each other."
- Writer
