CHAPTER 105: ENCRYPTED MESSAGE

As Elder Allen left the sitting room for his study, his thoughts were a tangled mess. His breathing came in gasps, and the weight of the situation pressed heavily on his frail body. He had barely held himself together in the presence of his family, suppressing the tremor in his hands and the weakness in his legs. But now, as he made his way toward the study, he felt his strength wavering.

Leaning heavily on both Alfred and the wall for support, he managed to reach the study without collapsing onto the floor. The butler, ever attentive, quickly retrieved the capsule Jessica had strongly recommended he take once every two weeks.

"Here, sir," Alfred said, offering a small pill along with a glass of water.

Elder Allen accepted it without a word, his wrinkled hands shaking slightly as he took the pill and swallowed it with a gulp of water. The sharp bitterness lingered on his tongue, but he paid it no mind. His thoughts were elsewhere, swirling in a storm of suspicion, worry, and unresolved questions.

"Let me take you to your room," Alfred suggested, concern etched on his face.

The old man shook his head weakly. "No need. I’ll stay here for a while." His voice, though calm, carried a note of finality.

Understanding his master’s need for solitude, Alfred nodded lightly and stepped out of the study, closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked shut, the silence settled heavily around Elder Allen.

For several minutes, he remained seated in deep thought, his fingers tapping restlessly on the polished wooden desk. He replayed the events in his mind, trying to piece together the puzzle that had thrown the family into turmoil.

His grandson, Davis, had vanished without a trace. The car found wrecked beyond recognition. No bodies. No evidence. And now, the lingering suspicion that someone within the family had a hand in this.

His jaw tightened. He had lived long enough to know that betrayal often came from the closest circles.

Just then, a faint vibration startled him out of his thoughts. His phone screen lit up with a new message notification.

Frowning, he picked up the device and squinted at the screen. The message was encrypted. A password was required to unlock it.

Elder Allen’s heart pounded in his chest as a thought flashed through his mind.

Jessica.

On the day of the share transfer, she had asked him an unusual question.

"Grandpa, in a dire situation that requires security and carefulness, will you remember this date—starting with the year?"

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. But now, staring at the encryption request, he knew.

With swift, deliberate movements, he entered the date of the share transfer agreement—starting with the year.

20250315

The screen blinked once, then unlocked.

A new message appeared, the text glaring against the dark background.

WARNING: WILL DELETE IMMEDIATELY AFTER READING. DO NOT DISCLOSE TO ANYONE, NO MATTER WHO.

Elder Allen’s breath hitched as his eyes scanned the warning note of the message.

His grip on the phone tightened. With a swipe of his thumb over the phone, the main body of the message appeared

The message was from Jessica, containing a simple yet reassuring note:

"Grandpa, I hope this message finds you well. Your health is more important, so please don’t overstress yourself. We are not missing—we are safe. However, for the sake of security, we will remain out of sight for now."

A wave of relief washed over him, but it was short-lived, replaced by the heavy burden of secrecy.

Elder Allen’s hand clenched into a fist, His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, though his mind remained troubled as he tried to unravel the mysteries of the attack.

Just as the warning had stated, five minutes later, the message erased itself, leaving no trace behind.

A smile crept up his lips "She is really cautious and not to be underestimated." He thought within himself.

The old man rubbed his temples lightly, sensing a shift in the situation. Though uncertainties still lingered, the message had provided a much-needed consolation. He exhaled deeply, allowing a wave of relief to settle over him.

Having received a confirmation of message of their safety, he made his way to his bedroom to rest.

~The Brown family~

At the Brown family estate, George Brown paced restlessly across the study, his expression tense. The news of Davis and Jessica being attacked had unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

The Brown family was already facing enough turmoil, and Jessica had been his last hope. He had counted on her to convince Davis to intervene in their affairs, to salvage what little influence they had left. But now, with this unexpected attack, everything seemed to be spiraling further out of control.

Desmond had long sidelined him, treating him as an outsider in the Allen family’s inner dealings. Their relationship had deteriorated to the point where George was no longer consulted or acknowledged in critical matters. And now, without Jessica’s intervention, he had no leverage left.

"Dad, why are you so restless?" Risa’s voice cut through his thoughts. She entered the room with a hint of distress, her usual glamorous appearance abandoned. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her posture lacked its usual grace.

George turned to her, his frustration evident. "Your sister and her husband were attacked this morning."

Risa raised a brow at his father’s statement "so what if they were attacked? It doesn’t put food on the table and I don’t see the reason why you have to worry yourself." She said.

George stared at her dumbstruck. His brow furrowed in contemplation "Risa, did you understand what I said?" He questioned again.

"Yes I do." Risa smirked as she shrugged nonchalantly. A smile curling up her lips. Her prayers for a long time had finally been answered. She didn’t expect God to help her in eliminating her enemies.

George’s gaze darkened as he observed Risa’s indifferent expression. His fingers curled tightly by his sides, frustration bubbling within him.

"You think this is a joke?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. "Jessica and Davis were attacked. Their whereabouts are unknown. And you stand here, smirking like it’s a blessing?"

Risa shrugged her shoulders in response "I think it is a blessing." Her tone quiet and calm, her eyes glittering with coldness.

"What?" George questioned with shock. His gaze darkening as he observed Risa’s indifferent expression. His fingers curled tightly by his sides and frustration bubbling within him.