“Young Master Matthew, it’s no use crying over spilt milk since things have happened. Instead, we should contemplate our next step, especially on how we should handle Alexander in case he finds out about us.” At that, Matthew wore a vicious smile. “You asked me to think of what we should do, but what can we really do? And what can Alexander do even if finds out about us? The blood of the Griffith Family still flows within me. Don’t tell me he would choose to destroy his blood kin just to uphold justice?” Deep down, the assistant feared what Alexander would do, so he remained quiet for a moment before he responded, “Young Master Matthew, we should withdraw.
There’s still a chance to turn things around if we manage to save ourselves.” However, Matthew shook his head. “No, I’m not going anywhere; I will stay here and wait for him.” Seeing that he was unable to change Matthew’s mind, the assistant gave up. “Please take care, Young Master Matthew. We’ll cross paths again if fate permits.” With that, he left the room, leaving Matthew to sit alone in his office. Matthew slowly closed his eyes as he knew that whatever that was meant to come would come.
… Jonah’s funeral was held three days later, in which almost all the relatives of the Griffith Family attended. In these three days, Elise kept Alexander company in the mourning hall. The latter had been depriving himself of water and food for three whole days, which made him seem utterly haggard. “Alex, please eat something. You will collapse if you continue to act like this.” Danny came over to try to talk some sense into him, but Alexander kept quiet. Upon seeing that, he tried to get Elise to persuade Alexander instead. “Boss, please talk to Alex! Grandpa has passed away, so please let him leave in peace! Life still goes on for the living.”
Looking at Alexander, Elise understood how devastated he felt at the moment and any words said to him would be in vain. She gestured to Danny to leave, then said to Alexander, “Please eat something. Your body will break down if you carry on like this.” Her words evoked some response from him. He raised his eyes and looked at Elise with eyes so deep that nobody could tell what was going on in his mind. “Let me go somewhere first. I’ll eat when I get back.” Then, he rose to his full height and marched out of the hall. Elise immediately called out to him in an attempt to stop him, but it was to no avail, as Alexander strode off without looking back.
Cameron, who was already outside waiting for Alexander, walked up to him the moment he caught sight of him. “Young Master Alex!” Alexander got straight to the point. “Did you manage to find out what I asked you to investigate?” At that, Cameron immediately handed him a document. “Yes. Everything is stated here.” Alexander flipped through the document and the corner of his lips etched upward into a vicious curve. “It’s him! Let’s go and meet him. Also, send these to the police and get the best lawyer. I want him to rot in prison.” “Roger that, Young Master Alex!”
After that, Alexander opened the car door and hopped inside, then the car sped off. When Alexander rushed to Matthew’s office, there was nobody around save for Matthew, who stood alone before the floor-to-ceiling windows while looking into the distance. “You are finally here.” Matthew’s voice rang out and he turned to face Alexander. “You came earlier than I expected.” Alexander marched forward and stood right before him. As their eyes met, the former exuded an imposing aura. “Was that your doing?” Matthew didn’t deny and stated, “Yes.”
The next second, Alexander reached out his hand and threw a punch at Matthew’s left cheek. However, the stinging pain failed to provoke any response from Matthew, as he merely gazed at Alexander without even a hint of fear in his eyes. “That’s right. It was all my doing. Yet, Alexander, what I wanted wasn’t Grandpa’s life but yours. Grandpa died for you.” As soon as he said that, Alexander punched him again. “You b*stard!” Matthew grinned at him in response. “Go on, then. Hit me! I dare you to hit me to death!” As soon as Alexander heard that, his expression darkened and he threw punches after punches on him.
Matthew, on the other hand, didn’t even try to avoid the strikes, as if accepting the pain would make him feel better inside. “Alexander, you can beat me to death, but what’s next? Grandpa is gone and this is a fact that won’t change, even if you kill me.” Matthew’s words instantly put a stop in Alexander’s attack. Alexander looked down at the other man from his height and scoffed, “You’re right—it’s a fact that won’t change even if I wallop you to death. In this case, I’ll make your life a living hell. Don’t worry, I won’t allow you to die so easily. I’ll make sure that you will live the rest of your life in misery.”
It was only then that Matthew started to feel fear. “Alexander, what are you planning to do?” Alexander, however, sneered without replying. The next moment, two men in uniforms walked into the room and used a pair of handcuffs to restrain Matthew. “Mr. Griffith, you are suspected of intentional homicide. Come with us.” Matthew tried to break free but his efforts were futile. “Alexander, what are you doing? Don’t forget that I’m also part of the Griffith Family. Don’t you think that this is too much?” Alexander ignored him and watched as the latter was escorted into the police car.
It was only when the police car left the scene did he avert his gaze. Matthew wasn’t sent to the police station directly; instead, he was sent back to the Griffith Residence. Looking at the familiar surroundings, he struggled non-stop. “Why did you bring me here? I don’t want to be here! Let me go!” However, the policemen took him straight to the mourning hall, as though they heard nothing. In the hall, Matthew trembled involuntarily when all kinds of gazes were directed at him. He didn’t even dare to look at Jonah’s photo, instead keeping his head bowed the whole time.
“Matthew, you b*stard! How dare you show your face here?” Danny was the first to dash out from the crowd, but he was stopped by Jack. “Danny, don’t do anything rash.” Danny, however, couldn’t care less. “It was him who caused Grandpa’s death. He’s a murderer!” Upon hearing that, Matthew trembled even more and shook his head non-stop. “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t my intention. I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way.” Elise peered at him with cold eyes, her fists tightly clenched by her sides. “Kneel and beg for forgiveness before Grandpa,” she uttered, her voice filled with intense hatred.
Just as Matthew was about to get on his knees, someone kicked him on his calf, and he slipped before landing on his knees with a loud thud. Alexander’s voice was then heard behind him. “Grandpa, I’ve brought him here. You used to tell us to care for our brothers, but who would have thought that it was him who caused your death?
Please forgive me for I won’t be able to listen to you this time.” After Alexander said that, he pressed his hand to the back of Matthew’s head and forced him to kowtow at Jonah three times. Yanking him up, he thundered, “Take him away!” And so, the police took a devastated Matthew away. Before he left, he cast a deep glance at Elise beside, then slowly shut his eyes. … After that, Jonah’s funeral regained its peace and everyone returned to their daily lives, but Elise still felt uncomfortable with the sudden absence of a person in the family.
For instance, after she returned from school, she would subconsciously look toward the living room where Jonah used to sit and watch television or play chess. However, the area now became empty and she could never again see Jonah who had always loved and cared for her. At the thought of this, she felt a lump in her throat, but she soon averted her gaze and walked up the stairs.
