CHAPTER 92: BLOODLINES AND SECRETS

It was a quiet morning in the garden. With Lyra and Monica away at the tea party, Albert finally had a moment to talk about the case.

He puffed on his pipe and asked, "How is the investigation going?"

Rowan, resting against the wrought-iron chair, straightened when his father brought up the topic.

"Going well... I handed it to Martin. He’s still working on it. I’ll let you know when he finds something."

Hearing Martin’s name, a knot formed in Albert’s chest.

"Is he capable? Last time, an investigator quit after receiving multiple death threats. I can’t believe he is expected to shoulder something so heavy at such a young age."

"Capable or not, he needs to," Rowan answered nonchalantly. His expression stayed relaxed, as if the mention of death threats didn’t bother him at all.

Albert was puzzled. "What do you mean he needs to? At first, when Rose showed up, I remember how eager you were to clean up the whole mess.

Don’t be careless, Rowan. I don’t want any of the Hales’ enemies coming around and bothering Lyra and her family again, whether it’s Kiera or anyone else."

"I know... but Martin has his reasons, and I trust his judgment. I only gave him enough funds to run the investigation."

Albert narrowed his eyes, watching Rowan carefully. "What is his reason? Did he need more money?"

Rowan shook his head in denial, and Albert grew even more confused than before. So many questions ran through his mind.

Rowan thought it would be fine if only his father knew.

"Martin is searching for his biological father. He believes Harold’s son is the one, but he doesn’t have many clues."

"His father? You mean Edgar?"

Rowan nodded.

Albert was left speechless for a moment. Edgar had never married, and as far as he knew, he hadn’t had a girlfriend either.

"Some people have tried to get into the Hale family. Aren’t you suspicious of him? And how can he be sure it’s Edgar?" he asked.

"He asked me for Lyra’s hair. He did a DNA test, and the result showed a small trace of connection. Just enough hope to keep him going.

Well... he grew up without a father. His mother refused to tell him, maybe an old grudge, he doesn’t know. But before she died a year ago, the last thing she said was for him to find his father, Edgar Hale."

Albert waited, expecting Rowan to correct himself, but he didn’t.

The realization sank in. This was something shocking.

"Only a name? No photos?" Albert pressed.

"He only had a name. He searched for a man named Edgar Hale, starting from his own place and moving from one place to another until he arrived in Mistvale.

By chance, Lyra hired him, and that’s how he got to know her and became connected to the Hale."

Rowan paused for a moment, giving his father time to process the news. He lit a cigarette and exhaled.

He raised his fingers with the cigarette between them, reminding Albert.

"Father, please don’t tell Lyra and Agnes just yet. He needs time. He only started searching after his mother passed away, and he barely knows anything about this man.

Discovering so soon that the person he’s been trying to reach is already gone... it’s harder than he expected."

...

That evening, Monica and Lyra arrived home, exhausted from the chaotic tea party.

Rowan let out a soft chuckle as his mother and wife walked in. "Judging by your faces, that tea party was anything but peaceful."

Both of them walked past him, heading straight for the comfortable sofa.

He stepped closer to Lyra. "You alright?" he asked.

Lyra sighed and forced a small smile. "Stressful... I just want to sit for a minute."

She slumped onto the sofa.

Monica rolled her eyes as she dropped her bag.

"It was supposed to be a tea party, not a battleground. Gwen Windsor showed up. I’m done for today."

She sank into the arm of the sofa and pressed her fingers to her temple. "Get me something for this headache," she called to the maid.

"Lyra..." Monica called. "Go upstairs and rest. I’ll call you when it’s time for dinner."

With that, she swept past them and floated up to her room, leaving a faint scent of her perfume lingering in the hall.

Rowan chuckled as he took a comfortable seat beside his wife, wrapping an arm around her.

"If I’d known it would stress you out this much, I never would have let you go."

"It’s fine." She shook her head. "Next time, no more Windsors. Karma didn’t waste any time."

Rowan was about to reply when his phone rang in his pocket.

"Go upstairs and rest," he said, kissing Lyra on the cheek before excusing himself. Martin would not call unless it was something important.

After Rowan left, Lyra rose and went to her room to rest.

That night, after dinner, as Albert had promised, he brought out a photo album of Harold from his youth.

After a moment slipping through the pages, there was a piece of an intimate photo of a young couple.

Harold hugging Kiera from behind.

Lyra’s eyes widened. She picked up the piece and studied it carefully. Rowan and Albert exchanged a glance.

Albert was caught off guard. The old album had long been untouched, and he hadn’t realized there was a photo of them slipped between the pages.

They couldn’t tell her. Agnes wanted this secret buried and didn’t want the grandchildren to know about the past.

Only Agnes could decide whether Lyra should know or not.

"Is she Grandfather’s ex-girlfriend?" Lyra asked, holding the piece up for Albert to see.

"Yes, it’s an ex-girlfriend."

Lyra chuckled. "Don’t show Grandma. Even if it’s an old photo, women tend to get jealous easily."

"Haha... yes, that’s true," Albert laughed awkwardly.

In the middle of his unease, his wife knocked on the door and stepped inside, carrying several photo albums.

"Are you ready for Rowan’s photo marathon?" she asked, and immediately Lyra said yes.

Rowan stiffened, but Albert was relieved as Monica shifted the focus to a different album.

"Mother..." he said, clearly objecting.

"Relax, I’m only showing it to your wife."

Lyra leaned closer to Monica as they flipped through the album together. She couldn’t hide her amusement and laughed at every photo.

And her laughter didn’t last long... soon after, Rowan made her cry without holding back.