Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 906

Then, her chilling figure made its way towards Matthew's room!

"Mr. Caldwell, good day to you." Tiana knocked on the door.

Matthew turned around, his room occupied also by Thomas's mother and two bodyguards.

Initially, Matthew was puzzled.

It wasn't until he saw Frank trailing behind Tiana that his wariness skyrocketed, bellowing, "How did you people from the Melford family find this place? Harassing us time and again, have you no shame? Bodyguards, stop them!"

As Matthew backed away, Tiana firmly planted her foot against the door, swiftly entering the room. She caught his defiant look and lifted the corners of her mouth in a smirk, "Mr. Caldwell, we, the Melford family, only came to the hospital this morning once, hardly what you'd call harassment. Your attitude, though, is something else.

Calling in your bodyguards on my mother, your refusal to negotiate speaks volumes.

The police suggested I come talk to you about the case, a request we're more than willing to comply with, right?"

"My son is dead! Killed by your father who brutally struck his head multiple times!

I have nothing to discuss with the Melford family. I'm adamant about charging your father with murder, to have him pay with his life for my son's death, understand?

Leave now, I won't accept any compensation, the Caldwell family doesn't need your money."

Tiana didn't pursue the conversation towards compensation, wouldn't that be admitting guilt?

Instead, she stepped forward, her gaze sharp and detached, "I've reviewed the surveillance footage of the scene, the office had just one angle, and my cousin was there too, tied up and locked in a cubicle by Thomas's bodyguard.

So, I don't buy the police's statement!

The only witnesses are from your side, providing so-called testimony.

My cousin said, my dad was initially reasoning with Thomas peacefully. What they were arguing about, he couldn't hear clearly!

Mr. Caldwell, let's be open here, you've been greasing the police's palm, haven't you?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! Your father was the first to strike, using an ashtray to brutally hit my son's head six times, a total of six times. His motive is clear, evidence is conclusive, with so many witnesses you still want to shield him from his crimes? Let me tell you, you can't intimidate me by turning the tables on my family, do you know who the Caldwell family has backing us? You're in over your head, your father is doomed."

"Oh? And who might be backing your family? Do tell," Tiana narrowed her eyes.

Matthew clearly hesitated for a moment, and Brenda immediately grabbed him, signaling with her eyes.

Matthew, cursing under his breath, said, "Get out, we'll see you in court!"

"I have a few questions. First, I refuse to believe my father would initiate the attack. I've meticulously reviewed the surveillance footage, and it was only after Thomas whispered something into my father's ear that he became enraged and grabbed the ashtray. Clearly, Thomas was trying to provoke my father.

Second doubt: my cousin mentioned that he walked into Thomas's office with my father, where Thomas's bodyguard immediately seized him and locked him away, yet allowed my elderly father to stand freely in the room.

This raises suspicions.

Thomas had my cousin under control and then let my elderly father argue with him, leading to the physical altercation.

I have reason to suspect, was Thomas attempting to deliberately provoke my father?"

"That's absurd! Why would my son provoke your father, only to end up dead?!" Matthew immediately countered, a flicker of doubt in his eyes that didn't escape Tiana's notice.

This family must know something.

Her gaze coldly swept over Brenda, who hadn't spoken, her logic landing blow after blow: "You claim your Caldwell family is powerful, backed by mountains, and I've seen your real estate business thriving. Such a successful company, yet a few months ago, you sought a loan from my cousin's sketchy loan company?

That's doubt number three!

I even suspect you targeted my cousin, or ultimately, my father?!

Otherwise, why involve my cousin over a two-hundred-million loan Thomas defaulted on, report him, only to then report my father?

Was it to force my father to show up at Thomas's office for a confrontation?

What exactly did Thomas whisper to my dad?

Did Thomas die on the scene, or was there another cause of death?

Otherwise, why would your family so vehemently refuse an autopsy?

Even stranger, the police have shown no interest in performing one, doesn't it all seem like the Caldwell family played a game, forcing my father into your scheme, making it look like he 'killed' your son?"

Brenda, cornered step by step by Tiana, recoiled, her face dramatically changing color.

Matthew too was taken aback, clearly overwhelmed and not expecting Tiana to connect the dots of the events over the past few months into a chain of evidence.

There were gaps, of course.

The Caldwell family was merely following orders.

Moreover, they had lost a son, and Matthew, though furious, was powerless, caught in the web, especially since his sister was Mrs. Doonan, upon whom the Caldwell family's fortunes had depended for half their lives, also under her thumb. Matthew, disoriented and furious, pushed Tiana away, "You little brat, I'm not wasting my time on you! My son's dealings are his business; who he borrowed from was his choice. Now that he's dead, if you have questions, ask the dead!

Your threats will be reported to the police, I warn you not to mess with the Caldwell family, you're out of your league.

We refused the autopsy because we didn't want to hinder his reincarnation, the police understand our moral stance, what can you possibly do to us?

The evidence at the scene is conclusive according to the police, you won't stir any trouble, I assure you."

"You sacrificed a son to see my father behind bars. You really think I'd believe there's no bitterness in your hearts?" Tiana locked eyes with Brenda, her gaze intensifying as she stepped closer to the middle-aged woman. Brenda's face, unlike Matthew's resolute expression, was a crumbling facade of despair. A massive suspicion burst forth from Tiana's lips, "You never imagined this would cost you your son's life, did you?

From what I understand, my father ran his business for decades without any major feud with the Caldwell family.

It doesn't make sense for Thomas to suddenly despise my dad, does it?

His eagerness to drag my cousin and even my dad into this mess seems like he was trying to achieve something.

Maybe that something wasn't even his original intention. Was he just doing someone else's dirty work?

So, who are the Caldwells trying to take down my dad for? Even at the cost of losing their own son?"

Brenda broke down, sobbing uncontrollably at the thought of her son lying cold in the morgue, her pain unbearable. "It all sounded so right when Barclay explained it... but that damn scoundrel, he had no heart," she wept, mourning the loss of her son who could have been saved during the critical moments of rescue.

It was Barclay... It had always been Barclay!