Chapter 22: Attempt on Grandfather IV (Athena)

"I think we need to resolve this. Secretary Choi needs to go. If he had done it once, what is stopping him from doing it again?" I said, trying to convince Seth.

I know he doesn't really believe me but I know it was Secretary Choi who did it. I saw him do it.

"What plan do you have?" Seth asked defeatedly.

I held his arm and looked at him reassuringly.

"We will get him and we will end this. Trust me on this one. Please." I told him and he nodded tiredly.

I told him to watch the children first as I'm going to rest. I am tired and I needed a rested brain to think of a good plan. I went inside our room and laid down. I didn't realize how tired I was until I was lying comfortably on the bed.

I said that we will trap him but I don't really have any concrete ideas. Should I just use the luck talisman again?

I think I'm getting too dependent on the luck talisman. I can't base everything on luck but how should I bring all the necessary people here for them to hear Secretary Choi's confessions without alerting him.

Should I first find the reason why he would need money? Is it for his son? But like Seth had said he could just ask grandfather about it.

It's weird. Am I too stuck on the thought of Secretary Choi having a son? But the system couldn't be wrong, he said when I used the future insight that this is for his son. There must be a son who needs money? But why couldn't he just ask for the money from grandfather?

Is the amount too big? Is that why he got angry when he thought we kept on asking for money from grandfather? Is that why he couldn't ask grandfather because he thought grandfather wouldn't have enough money?

I sighed as I still couldn't understand what was happening. I decided to finally close my eyes and sleep to let my brain rest.

Two days have passed and grandfather was feeling better so Seth and I decided to celebrate grandfather's recovery. We invited Doctor Le, and Lieutenant Dang to join us in this celebration. Father, Stepmother, William, and Arthur also arrived. They found out what happened to grandfather somewhere so we invited them to join too.

"I would like to thank everybody for coming here to celebrate grandfather's recovery. It has been an uneasy week but finally, Doctor Le announced that grandfather's clear from all the toxins." Seth said as he raised his glass and the rest raised theirs too.

We had a hearty meal and I've asked the helpers to buy us some good alcohol to celebrate today. Grandfather also looked healthy but Doctor Le who was sitting beside him had been scolding grandfather for trying to slip some alcohol to drink.

Lieutenant Dang seems way too happy to chat with Secretary Choi about their past glory while William and Arthur were listening to their heroic stories.

Stepmother kept glaring at the food on the table and kept murmuring. I'm sure she's complaining about the money we spent on preparing this dinner. Father had told her to shut up more than once since the meal started.

My children were on a different table busy eating their meals, the youngest twins were being fed by Ashley and Brittany.

When I noticed that everybody seemed to be finished with their meal, I stood up and took the expensive wine I've asked the helper to buy and began serving them the wine.

"That is such an expensive wine, where did you get that?" Stepmother asked, surprised.

I explained that I've prepared this wine for today to celebrate grandfather's good health.

"How can you buy such an expensive wine? You woman, you really don't know how to save money! You only know how to spend and spend." Stepmother complained and father glared at her.

"What are you saying Sarah! We are celebrating father's health!" Father reprimanded.

"I'm just saying. We haven't even captured the culprit and yet we're already celebrating like this." Stepmother quibbled.

"Then should we not celebrate my health?" Grandfather asked unhappily.

"Madam, I'm sorry that we still haven't caught the culprit." Lieutenant Dang apologized to stepmother and also apologized to grandfather but grandfather told him it was alright.

"How was the investigation going, Lieutenant?" I asked curiously.

"Sad to say, we still have no leads." He replied heavily.

The table became quiet after that.

"It's sad that we can't help anymore in the investigation. It was only Secretary Choi and I that were awake before and we both don't know who put the incense there, right Secretary Choi?" I asked sadly.

"No." Secretary Choi replied.

"No? It wasn't only us that were awake? Was there someone else there?" I asked, pretending to be shocked.

Lieutenant Dang was also curious and stared at Secretary Choi.

"No, it was only us." Secretary Choi replied.

The others looked disappointed too.

"I thought Uncle Sam knew who lit up the incense." Seth commented disappointedly.

"Secretary Choi also doesn't know how the incense got there, right Secretary Choi?" I asked again.

"No.I know." Secretary Choi replied.

He looked like he was having a hard time.

"You know? What do you mean Sam? Do you know who put the incense in the Captain's room?" Lieutenant Dang asked,surprised.

"I put it there." Secretary Choi answered and we all looked shocked at him.

"You put the incense there?" Lieutenant Dang asked in disbelief and Secretary Choi answered yes.

"Did someone ask you to put it there?" Lieutenant Dang asked.

He must have been too shocked to believe what he was hearing.

"I put the incense in the Captain's room. No one asked me to do it." He answered.

"What are you talking about Uncle Sam, surely you're not telling us that you were the one who tried to kill grandfather, right?" Seth asked, shocked.

"No, that's impossible. Secretary Choi has been working for grandfather for so long already. He wouldn't do it." Stepmother commented.

"I did it. I tried to kill Captain Zhang." Secretary Choi suddenly said.

Everybody looked at him in shock.

"Is someone pressuring you to say this? Did someone threaten you to say that you tried to kill Captain Zhang?" Lieutenant Dang asked in disbelief.

"No one did. I tried to kill Captain Zhang." He admitted.

"Why? Why would you try to kill Captain? It doesn't make sense." Lieutenant Dang asked as he grabbed Secretary Choi's collars.

"Mark, calm down. There must be a reason for this." Grandfather finally said.

We all looked at Secretary Choi and waited for him to talk. I looked expectantly at Secretary Choi as I have been wondering why he did it. I have thought of a lot of scenarios but I can't figure out why.

I also can't help applauding the system for its truth serum. The serum looked very effective. It's sad that this is the only truth serum I have. I can buy another one but they cost 1,000 owo each. It's too expensive.

"Sam, tell me why did you do it?" Lieutenant Dang asked.

He looked really betrayed. He really didn't expect Secretary Choi to do it. It really makes me wonder what drove Secretary Choi to do it.

"I did it for my son." Secretary Choi replied.

"Son? You have a son?" Grandfather asked, surprised.

"Yes. I have a son." Secretary Choi answered.

Everyone looked shocked at Secretary Choi. I guess no one really knew he had a son.

"Secretary Choi, you must be drunk. You are talking about random things now." Stepmother commented anxiously.

"I'm not drunk." He replied.

"Athena, you must have given Secretary Choi such a strong alcohol for him to talk nonsense like this." Stepmother accused me.

"I gave Secretary Choi the same alcohol as the others. The wine came from the same bottle. How can I give him a different kind?" I replied, a little sarcastic and stepmother glared at me angrily.

What's her problem?

"Uncle Sam, what do you mean you did it for your son? Why do you need to kill Grandfather for him?" Seth asked.

"Because of you! You keep on spending Captain's money! You kept on asking him to buy you stores and even a house!" Secretary Choi exclaimed.

"What does that have to do with your son?" Lieutenant Dang asked, confused.

"We should talk about this again when he's not drunk anymore. Let's call it a night everyone." Stepmother said again.

"Stepmother, don't you also want to know why Secretary Choi tried to kill my great grandfather?" Ashley asked curiously.

"You child! This is adult business. Stop running your mouth here!" Stepmother replied angrily.

I saw the children flinching and looked angrily at stepmother.

"Sarah! What do you think you are shouting at my great grandchildren?" Grandfather asked, angrily.

"You shut up and stop meddling. Secretary Choi already admitted that he did it." Father reprimanded her.

"Mother, don't say anything anymore and let Secretary Choi talk. If he really did it then he needs to pay for sins." Arthur said.

"That's right. We can't let this go even if he had taken care of grandfather all this time." William also chimed in.

Stepmother has no choice but to keep quiet.

"Sam, what does spending money on my grandson have to do with your son?" Grandfather asked solemnly.

We all looked and waited at what Secretary Choi would say.