Chapter 5

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The doctor's words echoed in my mind as I walked back to the waiting room. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating.I knew what I had to do. I had to find out who was responsible for this. I had to protect my father.

As I approached the waiting room, I steeled myself . Claudia and my sisters were still there, their faces etched with worry.I could see Claudia’s eyes darting nervously as I came closer, and I wondered if she was guilty.

I took a deep breath and forced a calm demeanor. "They're running more tests," I said, my voice steady. "They're going to do a biopsy to determine the exact type of poison." I blurted out

Claudia’s eyes widened, and she let out a small gasp. "Poison?" she repeated, her voice trembling. "Oh, my God. Who would do such a thing?"

I met her gaze, searching for any sign of guilt. Her expression seemed genuine, but I couldn't be sure. "I don't know," I said, my voice flat. "But we're going to find out."

I turned to my sisters, Emily and Sarah, who were both staring at me with wide, frightened eyes. "Stay here," I told them. "I'm going to talk to the police. They'll want to ask you some questions."

I started to walk away, but then paused, turning back to face them. "Be careful," I said, my voice low. "Don't trust anyone." I should be the one receiving that advice, not the other way around. I was telling them to be careful when I think they’re the ones that are dangerous.

As I walked away, I knew that I was stepping into a dangerous game. I had no idea who I could trust, or who might be the one behind the poisoning. I had to be careful. Very careful.

Whoever could poison my father would be powerful and a reliable associate, I thought as I went out.

My phone rang, Beatrice!! I had totally forgotten, I had a job.

Good morning, sir. Beatrice said from over the phone.

Morning, Beatrice. I won’t be at the office today, please take care of everything orderly and also cancel all schedules for the day, I said before walking slowly to the cab station without knowing where I’m heading to.

Third person’s pov

He took out his phone and dialed a number,“ get some information about the mansion from the surveillance camera, I sense danger, give me the report in two. He said and hung up.

Yes, boss.. Kevin said from over the phone, his voice sounding firm.

The cab ride felt like an eternity to Nicholas. Each passing street lamp, each pothole jolting the car, amplified the turmoil inside him. The attempted murder of his father was a reality he was struggling to process. He stared out the window, the city blurring into streaks of light and shadow, the familiar landscape now tainted with the grim specter of violence.

The police station loomed before him, its cold, imposing facade a stark contrast to the warmth of his family home, which now felt like a crime scene. He paid the driver, the crisp exchange of bills a small, insignificant act in the face of the monumental task ahead. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of stale coffee and unspoken anxieties. He approached the front desk, his voice barely a whisper as he asked to report a crime.

Hours later, Nicholas sat in a sterile interrogation room, the harsh fluorescent lights reflecting in his weary eyes. He recounted the events of the day, the discovery of his father, the paramedics, the initial suspicion of a heart attack. But now, the truth was far more sinister. Poison. Someone had tried to kill his father. He explained how his father had a heart condition, making the situation even more precarious. Every detail was meticulously documented by the officer, a young woman with a determined look in her eyes.

"So, you believe this was a deliberate act?" she asked, her pen poised over the notepad.

"Yes," Nicholas replied, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. "My father wouldn't have taken anything that could harm him. Someone wanted him gone." He paused, the weight of the accusation heavy on his shoulders. "This needs a thorough investigation. There are so many things that don't make sense." Even if he was kind of a jerk, and he also had enemies but none could dare attack in his own home, he thought.

The officer nodded, her expression serious. "We'll do everything we can, Mr. Xander. We'll need to gather evidence, interview potential witnesses, and analyze any substances found at the scene."

"Do you have any idea who might do this?" she asked.

Nicholas ran a hand through his hair, exhaustion etched on his face. "I have no idea. My father was a good man, well-liked. He had some business rivals, but nothing that would warrant this."

"We'll look into that," the officer said. "We'll need to know everything. Did he have any enemies, anyone who might have wanted to see him hurt?"

Nicholas shook his head, "yeah, there are some I know of allegedly. But I can give you a list of his associates, business partners, people he interacted with regularly."

"That would be helpful," she replied. "And the toxicology report is back. The poison... It's a rare substance, but we've seen it before. It's linked to a recent case. A case that was closed, but..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "There were some irregularities."

Nicholas leaned forward, his heart pounding. "What kind of irregularities?"

The officer hesitated, then met his gaze. "The initial investigation was... rushed. Some evidence was overlooked. We're going to reopen the case, Mr. Xander . And we're going to find out who did this." She paused, then added, "And we're going to find out why."

A new wave of fear washed over Nicholas. He wasn't just dealing with an attempted murder. He was stepping into a much bigger, more dangerous game.

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Briget’s pov

Still have a lot to reflect on tho, but I’ll just let them all slide, considering the fact I was shocked to hell when I realized that that guy was the famous chairman Xander’s mining company, rumors says he’s a very notorious man, hungry for power and all but he’s physique doesn’t gives such aura.. of course they’re a rumors what else.

Now I have to face that ugly greedy bald headed Mr. Brown….. wait did I just call him bald headed? I laughed at my own thoughts while sitting in the cab… I had just closed and thank God I didn’t have a chance to see Mr. Brown toda, now I’ll have to wait for another day to deal with the merciless bald headed man.

The scent of crispy bacon and fluffy pancakes welcomed me as I unlocked the front door. "Finally home!" I sighed, already anticipating a delicious dinner. I dropped my bag and headed straight for the kitchen, where my dad was busy at the stove, flipping pancakes with impressive speed. "Welcome, baby!" he greeted me with a warm smile. "Dinner is just about ready."

My siblings,Michael and David, were already seated at the table, deep in conversation. Michael, as always, was monopolizing the discussion, which instantly irked me. I grabbed a plate and joined them, the aroma of the food making my stomach growl. "So, how was everyone's day?" Dad asked, placing a stack of golden pancakes on my plate.

"Mine was okay," David began, "We started a new project in the office today. It's all about abstract art, it's so tiring, I could barely understand all I was saying, I could only only give my presentation because of the book I read some years back, he said."

Michael immediately chimed in, "Oh, that sounds boring. My day was way more exciting! I closed a huge deal at work. The biggest one yet!" He then launched into a detailed explanation of the deal, using jargon I barely understood.

"That's great, Michael," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "But did you finish the presentation for the office?" I asked David.

"Yeah, it was pretty intense, but I think it went well," David replied.

Michael cut in, "I told you, I'm the one who's busy, I have to take care of my new car too!"

I rolled my eyes, "Well, good for you, Michael."

Didn’t know you’d be home early, David??

Yeah, they dismissed us immediately after the presentation.

"Did you hear about the new rules of state affairs?" Dad asked, trying to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, what about it?" I asked, acting as if I knew what he was saying.

"Apparently, they’re acting really strict, but fair," Dad replied.

"That's good to hear," I said.

Despite Michael's constant need to be the center of attention, the dinner was amazing, and the conversation with the whole family was enjoyable. It was moments like these that made coming home worthwhile, how much I miss mom.