Chapter 639 Investigate The Truth
"The landlady saw two strangers walk in, approached them, and asked sternly, ""Who are you? How dare you trespass into a private residence?""
Billy took out his wallet, pulled out some bills, and handed them to the landlady.
""We're here just to find someone,"" Billy said.
Seeing the money, the landlady's eyes lit up instantly. She naturally took the bills and pocketed them.
""Who are you looking for? I've been living here for decades. I know not only the people but even the names of their dogs,"" the landlady said.
Billy picked up a frame from the TV cabinet and pointed to the woman inside, asking, ""I'm trying to find out about her. Is she your tenant?""
The landlady scrutinized Billy carefully, her brows furrowing tighter.
""Not long ago, someone else came asking about her here. Are you with that group of people?""
Billy nodded, admitting openly, ""Yes, they are my subordinates. This woman is the wife of my uncle who left home years ago, and he has been searching for her for over twenty years.""
Upon hearing this, the landlady expressed her regret.
""You're too late! She's dead, along with her son in a car accident! For all these years, it was just the two of them, mother and son. No one helped with their burial. I found them pitiful, so I used her remaining rent to arrange a funeral for them and bought a plot in a less desirable cemetery. That was my act of kindness.""
Billy and Joe exchanged a glance.
Joe couldn't wait to ask, ""Was her name Margaret?""
Before the landlady could answer, Billy interjected, ""Dad, Margaret has changed her name long ago. If she still went by Margaret, Kaleb would have found her by now.""
Joe pondered for a moment and realized Billy was right.
If she hadn't changed her name, why hadn't they found her by now?
Instead, they found her first.
Joe changed the subject, asking, ""Can you give us more details? When did she move in? When was her child born?""
The landlady understood the need for privacy.
But the person was already deceased.
She had no family left.
Whether she disclosed it or not was inconsequential.
It wouldn't affect the tenants in any way. So, she nodded and said, ""She, well, came about twenty-eight years ago. I'm not sure about the exact date of the child's birth, but I remember she arrived carrying a child in one arm and a suitcase in the other. She looked unwell at the time, all alone and pitiful. I was living here then, my husband and son were working out of town, and I was bored at home, so I thought of finding a roommate to earn some money and have someone to chat with. Later, my husband and son returned, and we moved to another house, leaving this place to the mother and son.""
Pausing for a moment, she continued, ""They were truly pitiful, the mother and son. For so many years, she had to earn money and raise the child alone. Our neighbors suggested introducing her to a husband to share the burden, but she refused. Although she never said it, we all knew she had someone in her heart. For over twenty years, she must have never forgotten that man, which is why she didn't want to find another man again.""
Billy and Joe shared a look.
Though they didn't say anything, they understood.
Patricia might have lost her mother, but in Ivara City, she still had a father.
While this woman had been single, the two of them had been living in poverty together.
The truth was evident.
The landlady sighed deeply, remarking, ""Her life was truly tragic. Just as her child was growing up and she could finally relax, they met with a car accident and died. Such a pity.""
Billy suggested, ""Can we take a few things back to show our uncle? He has been searching for Margaret for over twenty years, and finding her only to receive this bad news might be too much for him. I want to bring back some items to give him solace for the rest of his life.""
Without hesitation, the landlady agreed, ""Sure! If you don't take these things, I'll have them cleaned up and thrown away. You can take everything.""
""Thank you!""
After expressing gratitude, Billy began packing the items himself.
It was more like gathering photos, jewelry, and toys from Margaret's child's early years into a bag.
Before leaving, he double-checked the room.
Once he confirmed there was nothing else to take, he and Joe set off for home.
On the way back, Billy drove while Joe sat in the back, looking through the bag with a serious and conflicted expression.
""Billy, do you think we should tell Kaleb the truth?"" Joe asked.
Billy replied calmly, ""I stick to my view. If it were me, I would want to know the truth.""
He then added , ""However, everyone has different personalities and thoughts. I can't judge Kaleb based on my own views. Perhaps he doesn't want to know the truth? Maybe he prefers to live in a lie. After all, finding out that his wife and child, whom he searched for over twenty years, have died suddenly can be too much for many people.""
Joe became even more hesitant after hearing his words.
Both of them remained silent throughout the journey.
By the time they returned to the Hill Residence, it was already evening.
Susan and Lisa eagerly approached them.
""Joe, how did it go?""
""Dad, what's the outcome?""
The two spoke simultaneously.
Joe sighed and said, ""Billy was right. That Patricia is indeed an imposter, and the real Margaret and her son died in a car accident a few days ago.""
Upon hearing this, Lisa involuntarily took a step back. ""If that's the case, things are really bad.""
Susan said worriedly, ""What should we do? Should we tell Kaleb the truth? It would be too cruel for him if we did.""
Joe pondered the situation but couldn't come up with a solution.
He didn't know how to answer her question.
Lisa suggested, ""Dad, what if we don't tell Kaleb and act like we don't know anything? Otherwise, Kaleb will be too pitiful.""
Billy remained silent, sitting quietly on the sofa.
After a moment of silence, Joe made a significant decision. ""I think we shouldn't tell Kaleb about this yet. Let's observe for a few days.""
Lisa immediately agreed, ""I support that! Let's keep it from Kaleb for now; it's better this way.""
Susan added, ""I also think we shouldn't tell him yet.""
Billy still didn't speak.
Joe instructed the butler, pointing to the bag they brought back, ""Put away these things! Not saying it now doesn't mean we'll never say it. I need to observe first. If Patricia treats Charles like a real father, this matter will remain a secret forever. But if she uses Charles and kicks him aside after using him, I won't allow it.""
Billy disagreed, ""How can you determine if she's using Kaleb or genuinely treating him like a father?""
Joe was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
Billy continued, ""You're afraid that Kaleb will be heartbroken once he knows the truth! But I think concealing the truth will hurt Kaleb even more. If she hadn't pretended to be Kaleb's daughter, Kaleb wouldn't have broken his promise. If Kaleb hadn't broken his promise, Margaret and their child might not have died. All these things are interconnected.""
Lisa fell silent.
Joe fell silent.
Susan fell silent.
Joe asked, ""So, do you think we should tell Charles the truth?""
Billy nodded. ""Yes! Kaleb has the right to know the truth. Whether he continues to treat Patricia as his adopted daughter and continue to help Martin with his illness is his own choice. We have no right to interfere."""
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