The Truth Weighs Heavy

Silver stepped out into the crisp morning air, the sun casting a warm glow over the street as she made her way toward the pharmacy. With each step, her heart raced, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. The scent of blooming flowers mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee from a nearby café, but she barely noticed.

She pushed open the glass door of the pharmacy, the soft chime of the bell echoing in the quiet space. Bright fluorescent lights illuminated the aisles, and the faint murmur of morning customers filled the air. Silver glanced around, anxiety tightening in her chest. She needed to do this.

Approaching the counter, she took a deep breath. "Hi, I need to buy abortion pills."

The pharmacist looked up, concern flickering across her face. "Do you have a prescription?"

Silver hesitated, the words catching in her throat. "No, but... I really need them."

The pharmacist nodded slowly, her expression softening. "I recommend speaking with a healthcare provider for guidance first. Let me see what options we have."

Silver felt a mix of frustration and relief. "Okay, thank you."

After a short talk, Silver left the pharmacy with a heavy bag and a troubled heart, knowing her choice was wrong. The morning sun warmed her face, but her mind was filled with worries about her family.

She felt conflicted between her decision and her love for them. Silver took a deep breath, knowing she had to face the consequences, but she was determined to protect her family.

Silver entered her father's study, where she had told her parents she'd be waiting. Anxiety churned in her stomach as she paced the room, gripping the documents Charlie had given her. Her eyes scanned the space, searching for a distraction, when they landed on a small box on the top shelf of a bookcase, her grandfather's name etched on the front. 

Curious, Silver gazed at the small box. She didn't understand why, but it felt like it was calling to her. She spotted a small stool nearby, moved it over, and climbed up carefully to reach the box. Her fingers brushed the edge as she brought it down.

After getting off the stool, she placed the box gently on her father's desk. Taking a deep breath, she opened it and found a collection of old files belonging to her grandfather. Each document was yellowed with age, filled with handwritten notes, old newspaper clippings, and her grandfather's diary.

The articles focused on the entertainment company that her grandfather and Mr. Winten Gill had established. One headline caught her eye: "Artist Suicide, Company Blamed." Silver's heart raced as she read about the tragic events surrounding the artist's death and the accusations leveled against the company. 

Another article mentioned that Mr. Winten Gill, who should have been arrested, had fled with his family. One report explained how his wife died by suicide after the scandal broke. There were also stories about his son and daughter-in-law being murdered, leaving their young son behind. Finally, she read that Mr. Winten Gill had died of a heart attack while in prison.

Among the documents were reports from the detective her grandfather had hired to look into what was happening behind the scenes at the company. As she went through the findings, Silver felt a wave of shock wash over her. The revelations showed a dark picture of deceit and cover-ups linked to Mr. Winten Gill.

"Silver, what are you reading that you didn't notice we arrived?" her mother asked with a smile as she and her father walked into the room, closing the door behind them.

Startled, Silver quickly turned to face them, her heart racing. "I… I found some old files belonging to Grandpa," she stammered, glancing at the box on the desk.

Her parents exchanged worried looks. "Old files? What kind of files?" her father asked, concern evident in his voice.

Silver hesitated, feeling the weight of her discoveries. "Just some documents and articles about his work... and some things about Mr. Winten Gill," she finally replied.

Silver watched her parents' expressions closely as she mentioned the name. Her mother's eyes flickered with recognition, and her father's brow furrowed, his lips tightening as if bracing himself. They knew something, she realized—something they hadn't told her. The brief exchange between them confirmed it.

Before Silver could ask more, her mother quickly cleared her throat. "You wanted to talk to us, Silver. Let's sit down," she said. They all sat on the sofa, with Silver sitting across from her parents.

"Mom, Dad, I want to talk about Jayden," Silver said.

"Jayden?" her mother asked, her voice full of concern.

"Mom, Dad, he's not who you think. He's dangerous," Silver said, handing them a stack of documents. "Here, you need to see this."

As her parents looked through the papers, Silver continued, "His last name isn't Nellon. It's Gill. He's Mr. Winten Gill's grandson."

Both her parents were shocked, staring at the documents in disbelief.

Silver watched the shock settle into her parents' faces as they stared at the documents in silence. Her father's hand trembled slightly as he held the papers, his gaze shifting from the pages to Silver.

"Winten Gill's grandson?" her father finally said, his voice low, almost in disbelief. "Are you sure about this, Silver?"

She nodded firmly. "I've double-checked everything. Jayden lied to us about who he really is."

Her mother, still stunned, looked at Silver with worry in her eyes. "But why? Why would he lie? What does he want with Parel?"

Silver's voice lowered, tension building. "What do you think, Mom? He wants revenge on our family."

Her father froze, his face dark with realization. "Revenge? For what?"

"You know, Dad," Silver answered, her voice steady but filled with urgency. "The answer lies there." She pointed to the small wooden box still sitting on his desk, its presence suddenly looming large in the room.

Her parents' eyes followed her gesture, the weight of the box heavy in the silence. Her father sighed, and her mother looked at him, sharing a knowing glance. They both knew what was in the box. The unspoken understanding between them filled the room with heavy tension, as if the air was thick with the secrets they had kept hidden for so long.

"We're sorry we hid things from you, Parel and Ruby," her father said, his voice heavy with regret. "What you read in the box is correct. We also kept your grandfather's death a secret. Only the higher-ups in the police know the truth."

Silver's heart raced. "Grandfather's death? You two told us he died of old age."

Her father sighed deeply, his expression pained. "That's what we wanted you three to believe. But it wasn't just old age. My dad was killed by Winten Gill, and that's how he was arrested. We made sure the news didn't spread to the media."

Her mother added softly, "We thought we could shield you from the truth, but now it seems it has only made things worse. What are we going to do, husband? Mrs. Miller looks at her husband. Parel loves him a lot." 

Her father's expression was serious. "We need to tell her how dangerous Jayden is. If he wants revenge, it could put her and us in real danger. Remember, he has been arrested before."

Her mother looked uncertain, glancing between Silver and her husband. "But how do we tell her without breaking her heart?"

"I have a plan, and I'll share it with both of you tomorrow after breakfast," Silver replied, looking into her parents' worried faces and hoping they would trust her to handle the delicate situation. After a moment, they nodded.