267 Investigate Maxime’s Death!
Andrew Knight, the patriarch of the family, pinched the bridge of his nose before speaking again. “Henry, are you going to perform an autopsy to know the cause of his death?”
“Father,” Henry wiped his face. “I don’t n to Because when they found him, he was in his sleep, and…” His voice trailed off, the following words clearly too humiliating… or inconvenient to admit.
“And what?” Andrew pressed, his voice cutting through the room and briefly quieting the sobs.
Everyone waited, tension thick enough to choke on.
Before Henry could answer, Erick Knight, the youngest, leaned back in his chair and casually dropped the bomb everyone else avoided.
“Of course, Max must’ve overdosed, right?” he said, giving his father a deadpan stare. The room froze.
Then shame and pity swept over the group like a sudden gust of wind.
Everyone knew about the scandal.
It had been stered all over the inte for weeks–Maxime Knight, the promising young heir, exposed as a heavy drug user. Some articles even implied he’d been dealing. The noble Knight family name had been tarnished so much that it hardly looked like what it once was.
Henry slowly lifted his gaze, clearly affected by Erick’s blunt remark. He can see all the grief in the room thickened into a heavy silence. The younger generation lowered their heads, while the older members exchanged ufortable nces.
However, Henry couldn’t say anything. He was speechless.
Andrew Knight exhaled sharply. His gaze sharpened as he looked at his younger son before saying, “Erick, why are you speaking poorly about your own nephew?”
Erick’s expression didn’t waver. His cold stare now shifted to his father.
“Dad…I’m only speaking the truth. Everyone in this country has seen the news headlines. It’s useless to pretend we don’t know what he was involved in.” Erick shrugged lightly, though his tone carried an edge. “Why ask Henry about a reason when the reason was already obvious?”
267 Investigate Maxime’s Death!
“I didn’t need to hear your fucking reason!” Andrew snapped, though some part of him looked like he wanted to rub his temples. “Your brother and sister–inw are grieving.”
Melinda gasped and covered her mouth as another wave of tears spilled down her cheeks.
She red at Erick with all the fury of a wounded lioness. “Erick Knight, how dare you insult my son when he hasn’t even been buried yet? He deserves peace!”
Henry clenched his jaw, torn between anger and humiliation. He holds his wife’s hand while staring at his little brother, “Erick, please… this isn’t the time for such
Erick didn’t back down. “I didn’t say he didn’t deserve peace, did I? I‘
ignoring reality will not help anyone. A sudden death in a cabin, alone, while sleeping… what do you expect people to think?”
g that
“Enough,” Henry snapped. His eyes narrowed at his brother. “Erick, one more word leaves your mouth, and I will punch your face!”
Erick rolled his eyes but remained silent. He didn’t want to make his brother’s pain
worse.
However, even though Erick no longer speaks up, someone else does.
“Uncle Henry, Aunt Melinda, Grandpa…” A young woman’s cold voice could be heard from the seat behind. She was Henry’s eldest daughter, Emily.
Emily’s eyes linger on Hendry before she continues. “You can’t me my father for his words. If you teach your son to behave properly in public, we won’t have to face this kind of humiliation before the masses.”
“Emily-”
every time I
“No, father!” Emily interrupted, ncing at Erick. “Please don’t stop me from telling
my back every them this! I’m sick and tired of people gossiping about me behind go out. They’ll talk about Maxime’s attitude and how they see me, our family, the Knight is no longer the same.”
Emily’s words added an even more eerie and somber atmosphere.
And she didn’t stop there; she turned her gaze back to Henry. “Uncle Henry, Aunty Melinda… We are sad because of Maxime’s sudden death, but you also can’t be mad at my dad like that!”
“I beg you all,” Eleanor finally spoke, her voice gentle enough to silence the room.
<
267 Investigate Maxime’s Death!
“Please, please, stop ming each other. Now let’s focus on what we need to prepare
before Maxime arrives.”
“Yes, mother…”
“Agree, mother…”
“Hmm, Grandma…”
Henry exhaled deeply, struggling to steady himself. He finally said, “As I was trying to say…
When they found him, he was in bed. Fully dressed, nothing was out of ce. The military doctor who was also there checked him and said his body showed no signs of struggle or violence. The local police said it looked peaceful. As if he
fell asleep
and never woke up.”
Melinda wiped her tears with trembling hands. “My boy… if only I had visited him two days ago when he texted me he was visiting our cabin… if only I had called…”
No one knew how tofort her. Even Henry seemed helpless, patting her shoulder gently as he murmured, “It isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault.”
Andrew’s hands sped. His voice returned to its controlled, authoritative tone. “Henry, regardless of how Max died, we must handle this properly. Inform the public as soon as the body arrives. Prepare a statement. I do not want rumors to spread further.”
Henry nodded, though exhaustion washed over his features. “I will prepare everything. But Father… I truly do not wish for an autopsy unless necessary. Let him rest. He suffered enough when he was alive.”
For a moment, Andrew didn’t respond. Then he let out a long breath, his face softening just slightly. “Very well. If the initial medical report is clear, we will proceed with the funeral arrangements.”
Melinda broke into tears again, clutching Henry’s hand as if it were herst anchor.
The room fell quiet once more.
Across the room, Alexander, Axel’s father, sat stiffly, arms folded, with a stern expression, and he said nothing.
While Axel, sitting across from his father, watched the exchange silently, his expression was t, unreadable.
Inside, however, Axel felt the cold click of a puzzle piece begin falling into ce: Maxime’s scandals, debts, crimes, and thest attempt he made on Evelyn’s life.
267 Investigate Maxime’s Death!
He had been waiting for this day. A quiet, discreet, calcted relief settled deep in his chest, a thorn finally removed.
Surrounded by grieving family, he kept his face calm, as if he were merely absorbing the news like the rest of them.
66
<i>Thank </i><i>you </i>so much <i>for </i><i>the </i><i>Golden </i><i>Ticket </i><i>& </i><i>Power </i><i>Stones</i>. Please continue<i>. </i><i>We </i><i>need </i>to raise the <i>rank </i>to give this <i>book </i><i>more </i>
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Sara Lili
<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.