NOVEL NEXT Chapter 111: One Down!
The butler was reluctant to interrupt, but the urgency of the matter outside could no longer be ignored.
He had no choice but to call, "Master Andrew…"
"What is it?! Come back when I'm finished dealing with this trash!" Andrew barked at the butler, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Sir, I apologize, but there are police detectives outside. And... they've come to see Master Jared." The butler's words hit like a slap, leaving everyone in the room momentarily speechless as they turned to stare at Jared in shock.
The tension in the living room thickened.
Then Jared finally spoke, shattering the silence. "A police detective? Why??" His voice was trembling with disbelief. Why are the authorities coming after him?
The butler turned to face Jared. "Sir, they didn't explicitly say it, but I accidentally overheard one of the detectives speaking with his partner. You're suspected of being involved in a criminal act… se-sending an assassin to kill someone…"
The room fell into stunned silence.
Jared was too shocked to process that the police already knew. And they are now at my parents' door. 'How did they find out?'
"How do they know I'm here?" Jared voiced my confusion.
The butler, somewhat startled, heard that question.
"Sir, you didn't know about it? Every news outlet out there is reporting on you coming to this house. A few paparazzi have even followed your car... I assume the police saw it too and led them to this house."
Andrew, Rachel, and Tanya hurriedly pulled out their cell phones and checked. The gasp of shock escaped from their lips after confirming the butler's words.
"You absolute idiot. Why would you use the same car you always drive here?" Andrew snapped, his voice filled with fury at Jared's carelessness.
"Master Jared, the detectives only said… they need you to accompany them to the station for questioning. Sir, please, it wouldn't be wise to keep them waiting, would it?"
The urgency in the butler's tone sent a chill down Jared's spine. He was starting to feel real fear. But still, she rose to his feet and slowly began walking toward the door, anxiety gripping him.
"Let me walk with you…" Andrew stood as well, following close behind.
...
At the same time, Noah finally stepped out of Alexander Graystone's treatment room, surprised to see Andrew and Jared rushing toward the main house.
They appear as if someone has come after their life.
"Aunty Rachel, what happened?" Noah asked, snapping Rachel and Tanya out of their anxious thoughts.
As they turned to face Noah, he continued, "Why are my uncles in such a hurry toward the main house? Is something wrong outside?"
Rachel and Tanya didn't answer immediately; they just stared at Noah with an expression too complex to explain, filled with guilt and sympathy for what Jared had done to him.
Noah didn't wait for their response. He already sensed something was happening at the main house.
He settled into a single sofa, silently connecting with Jason through their mental link.
'Jason, are you still outside? What's going on out there? Why did my oh-so-kind uncles just sprint outside? Is someone causing trouble?' he asked playfully.
Jason's tone stayed upbeat as he replied:
'Still here, boss… enjoying the show. Three detectives just arrived, aiming to capture your Uncle Jared...' Jason paused, chuckling, then added, 'Well, technically, they want to take him in for questioning. What did that guy do this time?'
Before Noah could respond, Jason's voice rang again in his head, sharper now. 'Noah... don't tell me... was this your doing?'
'Bingo, Jason. He was dumb enough to provoke me earlier. I gave the order to Edgar and Matthew to go ahead and punish him. Anyway, I'll head out soon... I am done here.'
Earlier, after Jared provoked him, Noah had ordered Zoe to initiate the plan: expose Jared's crime and have him imprisoned for hiring an assassin.
What shocked Noah, though, was how swiftly Matthew and Edgar had arranged for detectives to come arrest Jared.
Now, he had no reason to linger in this place; he had already met and spoken with his grandfather.
Noah stood from the sofa and politely excused himself to Rachel and Tanya.
"Noah, why don't you stay here? I can have someone prepare your father's bedroom," Rachel offered gently while following Noah out from the pavilion.
'My father's bedroom?' Noah suddenly became intrigued and wondered if he could find some clues about his father there.
'Sir, there's nothing you'll find in that room. It's completely empty. Your father didn't leave anything of importance there,' Zoe said calmly.
However,
Noah was caught off guard again. This was the first time Zoe had spoken about his father... of course, it left an impression on him.
He paused mid-step and turned to look at Rachel and Tanya. "Aunty Rachel, I'm sorry, but not today. I already have a plan…"
Disappointment flickered across Rachel's face. "Ah, alright. But you should come by more often, Noah," she said softly, enough to catch Noah off guard, surprised by the warmth in her voice.
"Yes, Noah…" Tanya added, her voice gentle. "And please, take care of yourself," she said with a hint of apology in her tone.
"Yes, aunty… I will…" Noah gave a slight nod, then turned and continued walking toward the main entrance.
'Zoe, why do they suddenly seem so kind to me? I'm not sure, but they both seemed sincere this time. There's no malice or suspicion in their eyes anymore…' Noah voiced his confusion.
'Sir, they already heard the edited voice recording…' Zoe replied playfully. 'Also, I have the CCTV footage of Andrew Morgan beating Jared.'
'What? You do?'
'Yes, sir. This estate has so many CCTVs I can access... It's like a full access playground for me…'
Noah halted as he reached the main entrance. He spotted Andrew Morgan still standing there, speaking with the butler. But Jared and the detectives were already gone, nowhere in sight.
'Damn it! I missed the show. They already took him away?' Noah grumbled through the mental link with Jason.
'Yup, boss. Left about two minutes ago…'
Noah sighed inwardly, then approached Andrew Morgan. He was about to excuse himself when Andrew suddenly turned and stopped him.
"Please wait a moment. I need to speak with you, Noah…"
Noah already had a strong sense of what Andrew wanted to discuss, but he played innocent and asked casually, "Yes... What is it, Uncle?"
Andrew Morgan looked at Noah intently for a moment, as if weighing his words, before speaking in a low voice.
"Noah, first, I apologize for what Jared did to you," Andrew said, turning redder as he held back his anger toward his brother.
"It's fine, Uncle..." Noah said casually.
Andrew added, "But Noah, was it you who reported Jared to the police? About the hitman he tried to send after you?"
Noah didn't look surprised by the question. He calmly shook his head. "No. It wasn't me, Uncle."
Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly, confused. "Then… who?"
Noah exhaled and leaned in just a little. "If I had to guess... it was probably Edgar. He already knew about it. So did Matthew. Maybe they were the ones who reported him to the police... You know they both are protective of me..."
Andrew froze. "They knew?"
"Yes," Noah replied without hesitation. "They've known for some time. I didn't say anything to the family because I wanted to handle it my way and didn't plan to report Uncle Jared, but now everyone already knows..."
Andrew took a step back, stunned. But also, he couldn't blame Edgar and Matthew; they were both Noah's protectors.
"Jared… he crossed the line. Trying to kill his own family? That bastard's gone too far…" Andrew, venting his anger, sends an apologetic smile at Noah.
Noah said nothing. His silence was more damning than any reply.
Andrew's mouth opened as if to say more, maybe to ask for Noah's help, or at least his understanding, but Noah raised a hand and offered a faint, tired smile.
"I should get going, Uncle. It's been a long day. I need to rest."
Andrew hesitated, then gave a silent nod.
Without waiting for any more words, Noah turned and headed down the front steps, his figure vanishing into his car.
…
The next morning, Noah opened his eyes slowly to the soft glow of daylight seeping through the blinds.
He didn't feel surprised at all when he saw the news already blasting on TV and flashing across every social media platform.
"JARED MORGAN ARRESTED FOR MASTERMINDING ATTEMPTED MURDER – ACCUSED OF HIRING HITMAN"
It was everywhere; his uncle's disgraceful fall was now public and irreversible. The Morgan family was already starting to feel the heat. Again!
Noah sat up, stared at the screen for a moment, then let out a low breath.
"One down…" Noah muttered. "Now, I only have my last target, Lucas Graham..." His lips revealed a barely noticeable smile.
Then, without a trace of guilt, he turned off the TV, and at the same time, his cell phone buzzed, surprising him.