68

The constant sound of the keyboard resonated in Nathan's office as he reviewed the security reports. He was determined to avoid any surprise attacks.

The headache plagued him, but he couldn't afford to rest. Not with so much at stake.

As he looked at the screen, his thoughts drifted towards Suzanne. Several days had passed since their last meeting, and they still hadn't had that pending conversation that tormented his mind.

"Damn it!" Nathan muttered, rubbing his temples.

At that moment, his grandfather Jarek entered the office. He was an older man, but his presence was still imposing.

"Nathan, we need to talk," the man said, closing the door behind him.

Nathan looked up, his eyes showing exhaustion and pain.

"About the attacks?" he asked, trying to stay focused.

"Yes, but also about other things," Jarek replied, sitting down in front of his grandson. "I've been thinking about how we can reinforce security at the other locations. We can't allow something like this to happen again."

Nathan nodded, though his mind was still distracted.

"I've been working on that. But, Grandpa, there's something else we need to discuss. Something personal."

Jarek looked at him with curiosity.

"Suzanne?" he asked, knowing the topic was inevitable.

Nathan clenched his fists, trying to control his anger.

"Yes. I want to know why you lied to her. Why did you make her believe she was dead and not tell her it was all a ruse?"

Jarek's face hardened.

"She knew. She was aware of everything."

Nathan slammed the desk hard.

"Stop lying!" he shouted. "I want the damn truth. What are you planning for us?”

The atmosphere in the office grew tense. Jarek lowered his gaze, his voice trembling, and a shadow crossed his face.

"Nathan, I don't know if you remember how your brother Jeremy died..."

He frowned, trying to recall.

"No, it's... confusing. It always has been."

Jarek sighed, his eyes filling with tears, a rare sight in him that caused a pang in Nathan's chest.

"That night..." Jarek began, his voice choked with emotion. "It had been a month since your mother Charlotte's death. Your father Richard was drunk and possibly high. Jeremy was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Nathan listened, tears in his eyes. It was hard to believe his own father could be capable of such a thing.

A sharp pain in his head made him shudder, and suddenly, a buried memory surfaced: a rainy night, children's screams.

Nathan's body trembled as he clung to the edge of the desk.

"It can't be..." he whispered, his words barely audible.

Jarek quickly stood up and called a doctor. Nathan's crisis was evident.

The mental regression had been inevitable, and the suppressed memories were coming to the surface, heart-wrenching.

The doctor arrived in minutes, but for Nathan, each second felt like an eternity. The pain, both physical and emotional, was unbearable.

As the doctor tried to stabilize him, Nathan realized that the past could not be ignored.

The lies, betrayals, and secrets had to come to light in order to heal. And though the path would be difficult, he was determined to face it, not just for himself, but for Suzanne and their children as well.

…

Suzanne was alone in the mansion when she received a message. The words "I'm watching you, Suzanne Strong, be careful" filled her with a terror she hadn't felt in a long time.

She got up from the couch, her phone trembling in her hand, and decided to look for Jarek. She tried calling him several times but got no answer.

Worry overcame her; her heart was pounding, and her hands were cold.

She decided to check on the babies. She quickly ran up the stairs, almost sprinting, but as she entered the room, a horrifying scream escaped her throat.

A shadow quickly slid out the window, disappearing into the dark night.

"Help! Someone help!" Suzanne screamed, unable to contain her panic.

Her screams alerted the guards, who came running in seconds.

"What happened, ma'am?" one of the guards asked, his face worried.

"There was someone here!" Suzanne said, her voice trembling as much as her body. "I saw a shadow, right there, by the window."

The guards looked at each other and quickly began inspecting the room and the mansion's perimeter. Suzanne sank into a chair, still shaking, trying to calm herself.

Meanwhile, they managed to contact Jarek. The news left him pale and fearful of losing everything he had worked for over the years.

He knew that Suzanne and the babies were in danger, and it chilled his blood. Nathan, who was with him, overheard the conversation and stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to her," he said, agitated and determined.

"Nathan, so much emotion is not good for your recovery," the doctor said, trying to stop him.

"I don't care!" Nathan responded, annoyed. "I'm not going to leave my wife and kids alone in this just because of a damn crisis."

Jarek looked at him in astonishment. He hadn't expected his grandson to react like that.

A smile appeared on his face, and his chest swelled with pride.

"That's the way, Nathan," he thought with satisfaction.

On the way to the mansion, Jarek noticed that Nathan was still pale and worried. His hands were trembling, and although he wanted to act strong, he knew he could collapse at any moment.

"Nathan, you should rest. You're not well."

Nathan looked at him, uncomfortable with the evident concern in his grandfather's eyes.

"I've never seen you so worried about me, Jarek. What's going on?"

Jarek lowered his gaze with a heavy sigh.

"Since I lost my daughter and my grandson, I've been focused on protecting you. I wanted to make sure you didn't suffer the same."

Nathan clenched his fists, trying to contain his frustration.

"That was damn hard for a kid, Grandpa. I just wanted to have you, not a cold dictator who treated me like a robot," his voice was laden with reproach. "You treated Suzanne better than me, and don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about that, but that's how I wanted you to treat me too."

Jarek felt a pang in his chest. His words affected him deeply, but there was no time for further discussions.

They arrived at the mansion, where the police were already present. Nathan grew nervous upon seeing the officers.

He thought something serious had happened, but soon he saw Suzanne standing by the babies, somewhat pale but with bright eyes upon seeing him arrive.

That image filled him with satisfaction.

He quickly approached and hugged her, feeling all his discomfort vanish as he held her safe in his arms.

"You're here," Suzanne whispered, tears in her eyes.

"I'll always be here for you," Nathan responded, kissing her forehead. "I won't let anything or anyone hurt you."

At that moment, Nathan realized how much he loved her, more than ever. His family was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Jarek, observing the scene, felt a mix of pride and regret. He knew there was still much to heal, but he also knew that together, they could overcome any obstacle.