79

Jarek smiled with satisfaction when he was finally allowed to see his grandson at the police station. A rough guard led him down a narrow hallway, the walls painted in a faded green color and covered with damp stains.

They brought him into a small room, like a matchbox, with old and peeling paint. The smell of mold and confinement was penetrating.

The old man grimaced in disgust at the state Nathan was in. His grandson, who had always been so immaculate and proud of his appearance, now looked like a shadow of his former self.

He hadn't shaved in days, reeked, and his eyes were red and sunken from lack of sleep. Dark circles marked his face with deep lines of worry and despair.

Nathan didn't even flinch when they brought him into the tiny room. He felt disconnected from his body, an automaton on autopilot.

He missed his babies with an intensity that burned his soul, and the uncertainty about Suzanne's fate stole any hope of rest.

He didn't eat, didn't sleep, just existed in perpetual anguish.

Jarek cleared his throat, feeling a lump in it.

"Nathan," he greeted in a hoarse but warm voice.

Nathan let out a low, bitter growl.

"What do you want, Grandpa?"

The old man sat down in front of him, trying to keep his composure.

"How are you, boy?"

Nathan let out a rough, humorless laugh.

"How should a murderer like me be?"

"You're not a murderer, Nathan. Richard Quirrell killed more than 200 people. You did humanity a favor," Jarek replied, with authority but also with love.

Nathan didn't respond, his gaze fixed on an indeterminate point on the floor. Jarek continued, knowing it would be difficult to talk to him.

"I have the best lawyers working on your case. We're going to get you out of here," he promised, confidently.

Nathan looked at him for the first time, with an expression so furious it scared old Strong for the first time.

"For what, Grandpa? To waste time and money? Forget it! Anyway, all of this is your fault."

Jarek tried to stay calm. His words cut deep into his chest, but he was right to say them.

"What you did was a moment of madness," he sighed. "That's what they'll argue, because of the supposed loss of Suzanne."

Nathan lunged at him, grabbing him by the shirt. The guard present tensed, but Jarek raised a hand to calm him.

"Let him," he said firmly.

Nathan looked at him with contained rage. His nostrils flared and his eyes shone fiercely.

"It's not a supposed loss, Jarek. This time it's real, Suzanne is dead," his voice broke. "Do you know how much I suffered thinking Suzanne was dead when it was all a lie? All that time she thought I had left because I was a coward, but I did it because you made me believe she was dead. You did this! She… she couldn't even know the truth, and now she's truly dead. Dead!”

His eyes filled with tears, and Jarek felt a tightness in his chest. They still hadn't found Suzanne, but he hoped they would soon.

"I'm sorry for hiding that from you and Suzanne, but I knew she wouldn't agree with the plan. And it worked, Nathan. You're a better man now," he tried to encourage him, but Nathan scoffed, letting out a dry, bitter laugh.

"You've always thought yourself a god, acting according to your convenience, Jarek," he practically spat the words. "You made Suzanne and me suffer. And possibly our babies..."

He stopped, his voice breaking, and he asked desperately, seeming very distraught at just the thought of losing his little ones too.

"Wh-Where are the twins?"

Jarek smiled, trying to instill calm.

"They're fine, Nathan. They're being cared for and they're safe," he said sincerely.

Nathan began to cry, tears streaming down his dirty face, and he buried his face in his hands for a long time while his grandfather watched him with an expression of pain.

"I don't know if I can believe anything you say, but... thank you. Thank you for taking care of them," he muttered softly.

Jarek leaned towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He knew Nathan needed to hear these words because they were the sweetest and purest truth.

"You're a better father than Richard could ever have been. We'll get through this, Nathan. I promise you," his eyes also filled with tears. "I promise you will be happy again, I'll make sure of that."

Nathan stayed there for a while, sobbing, with a mix of pain and relief.

He struggled to calm down, his hands trembling as he clung to the table in the small room. He looked at his grandfather, Jarek, with a mix of desperation and hope in his eyes.
"How's the company attack going?" Nathan asked now, although both knew he really wanted to know about Suzanne.

Jarek sighed, understanding the true meaning of the question. The truth was they hadn't found Suzanne in days, and he feared she might have been kidnapped or worse.

He didn't want any more suffering for Nathan or Suzanne, especially after everything they had been through.

His grandson had shown his worth, but Jarek feared Nathan wouldn't recover from the shock of having killed his own father.

He shook his head, trying to push away those dark thoughts. He knew Nathan was strong, like himself and like his mother had been.

He would find a way to move forward, but first they had to find the mother of his great-grandchildren, no matter the cost.

"The company situation is under control," Jarek began, choosing his words carefully. "But as for Suzanne..."

Nathan looked at him with wide eyes, desperation clearly marked on his face.

"What about Suzanne, Grandpa? Still... nothing?"

Jarek swallowed hard.

"We haven’t found her yet. But we’ve found several bodies, and none of them are hers. That’s a good sign," he said confidently.

Nathan stood up abruptly, slamming his fists on the table.

"How can you say that’s a good sign? Uncertainty is worse than certainty! I’m going to go crazy if I don’t know something soon."

Jarek felt the urge to comfort his grandson, something he had never been good at. But he had to try.

"Nathan, listen. The absence of bad news is a small hope. Suzanne is strong, just like you. She’ll survive, and you will too. We’ll find her, I promise."

Nathan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"Thank you, Grandpa. I don’t know if I can believe all this, but... I guess I have to try. Mom always said you were a man of your word."

Jarek nodded, a sad smile curving his lips.

"She was an incredibly smart and loving woman. And you have so much of her in you."

Suddenly, Jarek’s phone rang, interrupting the moment. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of the caller and he answered quickly.

"Yes?"

The voice of his men’s leader was grave.

"Mr. Strong, we’ve found a woman with the characteristics of your granddaughter."

Nathan noticed the change in his grandfather’s expression and rushed toward him.

"What’s happening? What did they say? Is it about Suzanne?"

Jarek looked at his grandson, his own heart pounding.

"Yes, Nathan. They’ve found a woman who could be Suzanne."

His grandson was on the brink of emotional collapse, his breathing ragged. Jarek took his hand firmly and looked him in the eyes.

"I promise you that you and Suzanne will be together again. I’ll make sure of it."

The small room in the police station became the setting for a promise of redemption and hope, as old Strong held his resolve, determined to fix what he had broken.