The smile on Jonathan's face visibly stiffened. As they descended the stairs, they ran into Miles leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting. With just a look into his eyes, Jonathan realized Miles had known that both of them were on the rooftop and had not interrupted them. "Miles, I'm going to the Finch Manor with him." When Rose informed Miles about where they would be heading, Jonathan had expected Miles to object. However, Miles handed Rose a woman's coat instead. "It's chilly at night. Wear this." "Thanks, Miles." Even after they got into the car, Jonathan kept replaying the scene in his mind. He had a vague feeling that something had changed between Rose and Miles.
He remembered that Miles had always harbored romantic feelings for Rose, but the look in Miles' eyes seemed genuinely like the love of an older brother instead.
Cyrus' birthday was ongoing at the Finch Manor, but this day held no particular significance for Eleanor. The annual birthday banquet was just an opportunity for the Finches to interact with other prominent families in Regalia.
The old Eleanor had no interest in these social events and refused to attend the art exhibition. She was supposed to go to bed early, but Jonathan hurrying Ezra to the hospital couldn't escape her notice.
She was informed by a phone call and summoned back to the Finch Manor. Both the art exhibition and birthday banquet were abruptly ended due to the sudden incident.
At this moment, the Finch Manor seemed to have fallen into deep sleep. The entire scene was eerily quiet and serene. Each family member was in their own room, but none of them could sleep except for Eleanor. They listened attentively for any sounds outside as if not wanting to miss out on any incident that could take place. Finally, the sound of a car engine startled them and woke the entire family. "He's here!" Bella ran eagerly to the window to draw the drapes. From her angle, she could see Jonathan's car parked outside the manor.
There was a flash of excitement in her eyes. "He's here! Jonathan's back!" Sitting on the couch, Yosef put out his cigarette. He was expecting a good show since Jonathan was here but... "Something's really strange. What might have happened on the third floor?" They only knew that Jonathan took Ezra to the hospital. When Cyrus and Lizzie were asked about it, the couple remained silent about what had happened on the third floor.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut his informants at the hospital reported that Rose, the adopted daughter of the Youngs, was injured. And as for Ezra...
He was informed that Noel, the director of the hospital, had attended to Ezra himself. Noel was one of Jonathan's men and had been the one to treat Ezra that fateful night years ago. No one apart from Noel knew Ezra's true condition.
"Could it be the sas before? Ezra..." Bella couldn't help connecting today's situation with what had happened years ago.
Back then, everyone in the Finch family knew about Ezra's illness. They had thought Ezra was doomed, but Ezra was seemingly cured a year after moving out from the Finch Manor.
For so many years, Ezra had been no different from a normal person that they had almost forgotten about the dark past.
Yosef sneered at hearing the door open downstairs. "Who knows? But someone will surely know whatever we're itching to probe into." Cyrus and Jonathan had always had a feud. The father and son were like enemies, and if a conflict arose from such a major incident... Downstairs, Jonathan and Rose walked hand in hand into the Finch Manor.
Unlike the Young Estate, a strong cold air enveloped Rose the moment they entered the Finch Manor. Everything she saw seemed to exude a sense of discipline that reminded her not to overstep. Cyrus' assistant, Paul Griffins, was standing by the door.
"Mr. Finch, Mr. Cyrus is waiting for you in the study." He spoke in a low voice, seemingly not wanting to disturb the rest of the manor.
Jonathan didn't even glance at Paul as he led Rose straight up to the second floor.
The study was in the eastmost room on the second floor, but Jonathan stopped at one of the rooms on the west. "Get srest in my room." Jonathan gently held Rose's shoulders.
Rose frowned with concern seeing the fatigue in his eyes. She knew he was about to face Cyrus, and the father and son would likely want to seek answers from each other regarding today's events.
"Alright." Rose compiled.
Jonathan opened the door for her and watched her enter before he turned to leave. He had only walked a few steps when Rose called out to him. "Jonathan..." Jonathan stopped and turned. The previous stern look on his face now softened with a gentle smile. "Yes?" He waited for her words of concern. It felt like a gentle reminder from a wife before a husband left for important matters.
"I'll be here waiting for you." Rose closed the door after saying that.
Jonathan, however, continued to stare at the door. His smile was filled with satisfaction like never before. Rose had told him that she would be here waiting for him! "Alright." After hearing Rose's words, Jonathan felt a surge of strength. He turned again and looked at Cyrus' study across the hall.
Since their major fight years ago, he had never been alone with Cyrus. They had never been alone with each other even after Jonathan took over as the ruler of the Finches.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut today, he needed to get an answer from Cyrus. Why had Ezra been in the secret room? The sound of footsteps gradually faded, but Rose's heart was still pounding wildly.
"I'll be here waiting for you." It was such a simple sentence, but she realized just how ambiguous it sounded after she blurted the words out.
"He won't misunderstand, will he?" Rose murmured to herself.
She noticed him pausing at the door
and knew that he most likely did. But so what if he did? Rose patted her slightly warm cheeks and took a deep breath, trying to distract herself.
The dark room felt particularly spacious. She turned on the lights, only to be startled by what she saw.
The spacious room contained a completely black bed, a closet, and a desk. There were no other furnishings, and the closet contained a few sets of school uniforms. There were no other clothes.
Was this... Jonathan's room? Rose soon realized that this must have used to be Jonathan's room. Every corner of it showed signs of extended abandonment.
The uniforms in the closet were stitched with his high school logo. Had Jonathan stopped staying in the Finch Manor after high school?
Recalling moments at the rooftop of the hospital when Jonathan had spoken of Ezra's past, Rose began piecing together fragments of Jonathan's youth from those bits of information. Were there more to his sufferings beyond what he had mentioned?
Deep in thought, her gaze fell on a photo album on the desk. Could it be a photo album from Jonathan's youth? Rose walked over to it curiously. Peter Gril GH/F-PSE X