Chapter 66

"Grandfather, it's been five years but you don't seem happy to see me at all" Ryan said. It was his signature smile.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back?" John's voice was cold, completely ignoring Ryan's first question.
The director immediately caught on that he should not be here right. He gave an excuse and disappeared.
"Don't be so mad, I wanted to surprise everyone" Ryan said.
He was still smiling, but that smile scared John shitless! He knew that that smile could not be anything good at all. This person has probably come back here to cause trouble for all of them again. He won't let him get his way!
"Just tell me Ryan, why did you come here?" John asked. He did not want to waste any time chit chatting with this person.
Ryan smiled. He could sense the old man's hostility towards him but he did not care at all. It has always been like this anyways.
"I just really wanted to come back. No matter what, I won't be able to stay away from home forever right? Besides, I heard that Raymond got married, you guys didn't even hold a wedding yet....what is going on?" Ryan's words had a probing tone to them. They both knew what he was getting at.
John sighed. He knew how this person was. He won't leave so easily. "Yes, Raymond got married. Joanna is a really nice girl" John said.
Ryan scoffed. Of course he knew that she is a nice girl. His Allen is a nice girl. He didn't think that he had ever met anyone that nice.
"Really? He got married? I think that I'm going to pay him a visit" Ryan said with his signature smile on his face.
John was starting to get really nervous. He did not want to beat around the bush with this person anymore.
"Let's stop talking in circles Ryan. Tell me the real reason you came back. Is it because of the company? What do you really want this time?" John asked. It was very difficult to know what was going on in Ryan's mind. Sometimes, it seemed like he did not care at all, and other times you did not know what he was going to do.
Ryan laughed. He knew what this old man was worried about. It was just good enough that he did not have any interest in the company....just yet.
"How can you think that way of me? We are all family here. Raymond is my cousin and I've always seen you as my grandfather. Why would I want to do something like that to my family members?" Ryan asked, somewhat making the cold man feel guilty.
John really did not know what to think. Be did not know if this person was really about to keep his words or if he will do something else. "If you are going to stay here then you should keep your word. Don't cause trouble for family members" John said.
Ryan laughed. It seemed like the old man was starting to soften. He is going to find out anyway, that letting his guard down in front of him would be the biggest mistake that he has ever done.
"Of course. I'm going to keep my word. By the way, how did Raymond get married?" Ryan asked. This was the reason he came here.
"Well, I set him up with her and they liked each other, so they got married" John said. He was starting to get his guard up again.
Now Ryan was sure. "So you forced him into getting married by pretending to be sick?" Ryan asked.
John was taken aback. How did he figure that out? "What are you talking about? My health has not been good these days...why would I use my health to force Raymond to get married?" John said and laughed. It was a nervous laughter.
Ryan laughed too. But he would not be fooled. He kept wondering why Raymond would get married. It was because of this old man? "There's no need to lie to me. Any idoit can see what is going on here. It's a good plan really" Ryan said. Those words were forced. Because of this stupid trick, that man is with his Allen right now.
John knew that there was no way that he could lie right now so he smiled.
Since he already got what he wanted, Ryan did not want to stay here anymore. He still has to go see Raymond today after all. And as for Allen, he still had to figure out what he was going to do about her. He did not want to make her angry after all.
"Bye grandpa. I'll be sure to come back and visit you soon" Ryan said and left.
After Ryan left, John got up. since Ryan was already here, he did not want to take any chances. He had to keep an eye on him. And he can only do that if he is not in the hospital.
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Raymond was still working in his office when the door opened and someone walked in. It was Ryder. Raymond removed his eyes from the files that he was reading and looked at him. Does he have any news of April? Is that why he came to see him?
The both of them sat facing each other now.
Raymond looked at Ryder with expectation in his eyes. Since he came to see him on his own like this it means that he already found something right? Who knows? Maybe if he tried a little bit harder he would be able to find her before the six months are over. If that happens, he would be free from Joanna before the six months are over right? Thinking about Joanna, he suddenly did not know what to feel anymore. He was sure that he really hated her when he first met her, but now, he did not know what to feel.
He had noticed that ever since last night, she had been doing everything to avoid him. He did not know why but he just could not figure her out this time. He used to be able to tell what she was thinking but he could not do that anymore. Well, he won't have to deal with her anymore once he finds who he is looking for right? "So, have you doing anything Ryder? Did you find out anything about her? What happened after the accident eleven years ago?" Raymond asked. He really wanted to find her.
Ryder sighed. He did not know what to say to him anymore. It was as if anything he said to him did not get to him at all. Right now, he was trying to find that girl not because he believed that she was still alive but because he wanted to help his friend get over her completely. If he finds proof that she is no longer alive he will be able to let go her of completely right? Thinking about it now, he felt sorry for his friend. He is so bent on finding someone who is probably already dead.
"I'm trying to find her Raymond but I haven't gotten any important leads right now Raymond. The accident happened over eleven years ago. The doctors who treated you said that it was a miracle that you were able to he saved from that river that day. It's highly unlikely that someone would be able to survive that. I know that you still believe that she is alive and I'm doing this to help you but you should be prepared. I really can't promise you anything" Ryder said. He knew that Raymond did not want to hear it but he could not help but tell him about it.
Raymond knew what Ryder was trying to tell him. He was trying to tell him to give up that she is already dead. But he knew...he knew deep down that she wasn't dead. There wasn't any way that she would be dead. He believed that firmly. "I know what you are trying to say Ryder. I know that you are trying to get me to give up since it's already been so long but I know that she is not dead. There is no way that she would be dead. We just need to keep trying. I'm sure that we are going to get something soon" Raymond said. There is no way that she won't be alive.
Ryder sighed. Well, since he chose to believe this firmly, he knew that since he believed that she was alive, nothing would change his mind. He just had to find some kind of proof that she really died. That is the only way that Raymond would be able to come to terms with this. Sometimes, Ryder wished that she was alive too. He really wanted to see this person who is able to make Raymond like this. "Of course. I'm going to keep trying. I don't think that there will be any hope but I am ready to do it for you" Ryder said. To make him give up completely.
But anyway, it wasn't the reason he came here today. He came here because there was something bigger he wanted to tell Raymond. That person really did come back.
"Anyway Raymond that is not why I came here. I don't have ant news on here I came here because there was something I needed to talk to you about. That person, he came back" Ryder said..
Raymond was immediately more alert when he heard that. That person came back? He already had a fair idea who the person Ryder talking about was but he still wanted to confirm his suspicions. So he asked,
"Who are you talking about? It really can't be that person right?" Raymond asked.
"It's exactly as you said it. It's that person. He really did come back. Ryan came back. And he did not try to hide it this time. He made it clear that he was coming back. He even already visited your grandfather. I think that it will only be a matter of time before he comes to find you" Ryder said. He really did not feel good about that person. He is dangerous.
Raymond was instantly angry. What is that person doing? The fact that he already came back can't really mean anything good. And he even already went to see his grandfather? What is he trying to do? "What is that person trying to do? He came back and he went to see my grandfather? What the hell is he up to this time? What is he trying to do?" Raymond asked even though he wasn't hoping to get an answer from Ryder. No one could tell what was really going on in that person's mind anyway. He did thinks whenever he wants however he wants, shocking people in the process.
Ryder sighed. He too really wanted to know what he was up to. He thought that they were rid of Ryan for sure five years ago when he decided to leave on his own but who could have known that he was going to come back? Even though Ryan hasn't done anything yet, he was still uneasy. That was because he knew the type of person that Ryan was. He only knew how to cause trouble.
"I really don't know. I really don't know what that person is planning. He came back suddenly like this it really can't mean anything good right? Anyway I just wanted to tell you that you should be careful from now on. I don't want you to get in trouble because of that person. I think that since he already saw your grandfather then he will come to see you next" Ryder said. He was really worried about his friend. Will he be able to handle that person on his own?
Raymond scoffed. Like he is going to be scared of that person. He already caused enough trouble for him in the past, he definitely won't let him do something like that again. He won't let him cause trouble again. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let him do anything this time"
[2/22, 7:57 PM] Sonia: