THE SUSPECT
1154 Words
CHAPTER 4
Madam Sinclair sighed and said
“After that night, news spread that the young master of the Blackwood family was dead.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
“Dead?”
Madam Sinclair looked at him.
“That was what the news reported.”
She then turned back to Mr. Blackwood.
“We were left with questions.”
She paused.
“Why did you leave Chunkai City?”
Mr. Blackwood lowered his head.
He took a deep breath before answering.
“Because of Ethan.”
Madam Sinclair remained silent.
Mr. Blackwood looked at his grandson.
“After that accident, Ethan was traumatized.”
His voice became softer.
“He couldn't sleep.”
“Not even for a single day.”
Madam Sinclair's expression changed.
Mr. Blackwood continued.
“He would wake up crying. Sometimes, he would cry even while sleeping.”
Ethan lowered his eyes.
He couldn't remember those moments.
But hearing about them made his heart ache.
Mr. Blackwood continued.
“The city reminded him of what happened.”
He looked toward the window.
“Every road reminded him of his parents. Every sound seemed to take him back to that night.”
He sighed.
“The city took his parents away from him.”
Madam Sinclair closed her eyes for a moment.
“We tried everything we could.”
“But Ethan remained traumatized.”
“He couldn't live normally anymore.”
Mr. Blackwood's voice trembled.
“Until one day, he collapsed.”
Madam Sinclair immediately looked at him.
“What happened?”
“He collapsed suddenly.”
“We rushed him to the hospital.”
“We didn't know what was wrong with him.”
Mr. Blackwood paused.
“But when he finally woke up...”
He looked at Ethan.
“Everything had changed.”
Madam Sinclair's eyes filled with concern.
“He had lost his memory.”
Silence.
“All his childhood memories were gone,” Mr. Blackwood said.
“He couldn't remember his parents.”
“He couldn't remember the accident.”
“He couldn't remember the life he had before that night.”
Ethan touched his forehead.
He had always wondered why his earliest memories were so unclear.
Why there were gaps he couldn't explain.
Now he was beginning to understand.
Mr. Blackwood continued.
“We were afraid.”
“We didn't know what would happen if his memories suddenly returned.”
“So we made a decision.”
“We left Chunkai City.”
Madam Sinclair listened carefully.
“We thought that if we stayed away from the places that caused him pain, perhaps he would heal.”
He looked at Ethan.
“We wanted him to grow up without constantly being reminded of what happened.”
“And if, someday, he remembered everything...”
Mr. Blackwood sighed.
“We wanted him to be strong enough to handle it.”
Madam Sinclair nodded slowly.
“Hmmm...”
She looked around the modest house.
“So that is why you disappeared.”
Mr. Blackwood nodded.
“We weren't trying to run away from everyone.”
“We were trying to protect Ethan.”
Madam Sinclair looked at Ethan again.
Her expression softened.
She reached over and gently touched his hand.
“You've been through so much, my boy.”
Ethan didn't respond.
He was still trying to process everything.
Madam Sinclair then looked at Mr. Blackwood.
“There is something else.”
Mr. Blackwood raised his eyes.
“Your business.”
She paused.
“Your business is still being handled by your personal assistant.”
Mr. Blackwood nodded.
“Yes.”
Madam Sinclair continued.
“It is doing well, even without you being present.”
Mr. Blackwood gave a small nod.
“I know.”
He had stayed away from his business for years, but he had never completely abandoned it.
His trusted personal assistant had continued managing everything in his absence.
Madam Sinclair folded her hands.
“Then you can return when you're ready.”
Mr. Blackwood didn't answer immediately.
There was something else weighing heavily on his mind.
Finally, he spoke.
“Yes.”
He paused.
“And there is Mr. Guo.”
Madam Sinclair's expression became serious.
“Mr. Guo?”
Mr. Blackwood nodded.
“My childhood friend.”
Mr. Blackwood's expression became troubled.
“He is now threatening my business.”
Madam Sinclair frowned.
“Why?”
“I don't know exactly what his intentions are.”
Mr. Blackwood took a breath.
“But there is something that makes me suspicious.”
“Mr. Guo is connected to what happened that night.”
Ethan looked at him.
“What makes you say that?”
Mr. Blackwood answered carefully.
“His account was debited one million dollars, the night of the incident.
“The money was transferred to a notorious and well-known kidnapper,
“That man was connected to the incident.”
Madam Sinclair stared at him.
“And you believe Mr. Guo paid him?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Blackwood's voice was firm.
“That is what the evidence suggests.”
He paused.
“Mr. Guo may have been involved in what happened that night.”
Ethan's face became serious.
“But why would your childhood friend do something like that?”
Mr. Blackwood shook his head.
“That is the question I have been asking myself all this while.
He looked toward Madam Sinclair.
“I trust him, because he is my childhood friend but the evidence is giving me a second thoughts.
I don't want to blame him till the investigation is over. I want concrete evidence.
Mr. Blackwood continued.
If he is involved with the accident, then he must know Michelle's whereabouts.
Madam Sinclair's eyes immediately filled with concern.
“You think Michelle is in his hands?”
Mr. Blackwood nodded slowly.
“I believe so.”
Ethan's heart began beating faster.
His mother.
After years, there was finally someone they suspected might know where she was.
Mr. Blackwood looked at him.
“I don't have every answer yet.”
“But I believe Mr. Guo is hiding something.”
Madam Sinclair stood quietly.
“We cannot accuse him without proof.”
“I know.”
Mr. Blackwood nodded.
“But I also cannot ignore what we have discovered.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Your father is gone.”
“But your mother is still missing.”
He paused.
“And if Mr. Guo truly knows where she is...”
Madam Sinclair finished his sentence softly.
“Then we need to find out the truth.”
Ethan sat quietly between them.
Then he spoke. I don't remember my childhood memories, but we have a lead now, a suspect to investigate.
Fourteen years ago. I lost my father.
My mother had disappeared.
And my childhood memories had vanished with the trauma of that terrible night.
Now that I understand everything.
One question remained.
Where is Michelle?
And what does Mr. Guo know?
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