“Project ZF from 15 years ago? Could it be that it’s that project? I heard about it. It was what everyone was talking about back then!”
Everyone started a discussion among themselves. When Mr. and Mrs. Jones saw that they had attracted the attention of so many people, they felt even more encouraged to expose more things.
“That’s right! Everybody in Glendale knows about this project 15 years ago. The Jones had a pretty huge chance at winning, but my father-in-law wrongfully trusted that old man and showed him his proposal. In the end, that old man turned around and turned that proposal into his!”
“Wow…”
After Mrs. Jones said that, she caused another huge wave in the crowd.
The passerby and journalists were all casting suspicious glances at Kendrick.
However, Kendrick did not want to explain too much. If the truth about this got out, the Jones family’s reputation would be ruined and it would affect the deceased old master as well.
He still wanted to save some dignity for the deceased. As for the truth, it would be fine if Ryan was the only one who knew about it.
However, Mrs. Jones did not want to give up. She pointed at Kendrick and started yelling at him.
“Rye grew up with his grandpa ever since he was young, so he’s close to his grandpa. The reason Rye got onto this path is that he wanted to seek justice for his grandpa. He had no other choice!
“The people who gave him no choice were you Waldburgs! Especially you, Kendrick, and your wife, Eveline! You’re horrible people!”
Mrs. Jones blamed Kendrick and Niamh for all of Ryan’s crimes.
“You people are the reason my Rye chose this path!”
“If you think you can help Ryan get away with his crimes like this, then you’re seriously even more naive than my son and daughter.”
A bright and pristine voice sounded suddenly from the noisy crowd.
Kendrick’s racing heart became filled with joy when he heard this voice. He lifted his head and saw Niamh elegantly walking toward him while pushing the crowd away.
The journalists pointed their cameras at Niamh using this opportunity. Then, they started questioning.
“Mrs. Waldburg, are you trying to say something on behalf of Mr. Waldburg by appearing at this moment?”
“What’s your relationship with Ryan Jones?”
“I heard that your mental state isn’t the best at the moment and someone even said that you’re a half- wit now, so are you—”
“Do you guys think I look like an idiot or a lunatic?” Niamh walked to Kendrick before turning around. Then, she faced the cameras confidently. “I didn’t come here to say anything on anyone’s behalf. I just hope this matter will come to an end soon.”
Niamh lifted her head to look into Kendrick’s eyes. “Kendrick, I know you’re trying to save some dignity for some people, but this should go both ways. Since they don’t want to extend the same courtesy, then why do we need to give ourselves so many grievances? Plus, we can’t let them accuse Grandpa for no reason.”
“Nia, you’re right. I’ll listen to you.” Kendrick agreed with Niamh and decided to listen to her.
Upon seeing this, Mr. and Mrs. Jones arbitrarily asserted that Niamh and Kendrick were purposely making this unnecessarily complicated. “Stop trying to fool the masses with your lies. You’ll never be able to prove your innocence with what happened back then!”
“We don’t have to. What happened back then was just a misunderstanding,” Niamh said calmly and opened the letter in Kendrick’s hand. Then, she showed the letter to Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
Niamh purposely turned her back toward the journalists so that they could not see the contents of the letter.
However, she wanted Mr. and Mrs. Jones to see clearly what was written on there so that they could see that the truth they knew was nothing but a man-made misunderstanding.
“This is your old master’s handwriting. I think Mr. Jones should be able to recognize this even if you don’t, Mrs. Jones?” Niamh looked at Mr. Jones. The expression on his face changed instantly.
“H-How is this possible? How can this be?” Mr. Jones widened his eyes and shook his head.
After Mrs. Jones saw this, she was also shocked. “Is this really Dad’s handwriting? How is this possible?”
Looking at the changes in the couple’s expressions, Niamh was sure that they understood and could finally see things clearly.
“I think you understand now why Kendrick’s grandpa kept his silence and did not explain himself after all these years.
“Grandpa only hopes that his old friend can pass away peacefully, but if you want the deceased to be unable to rest, then continue making a fuss. If this is exposed, the Jones family will be the ones suffering from embarrassment.”
“…”
“…”
Mr. and Mrs. Jones understood what Niamh meant. The hatred in the couple’s eyes started fading away after reading the letter.
It turned out that they did not have the right to get mad. They also did not have the right to accuse or even seek revenge.
The passersby and journalists noticed Mr. and Mrs. Jones’ shift in attitude. They were all curious and wanted to know what was written on the letter Niamh was holding.
However, it was clear that Niamh did not want to publicize this. She put the letter away and handed it to Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones looked at Niamh’s gesture in disbelief. His face looked as if it was covered with a layer of shame.
“T-Thanks.”
Mr. Jones stammered and thanked her. However, when he was about to get the letter, a hand appeared from one side and snatched the letter away.
“Let’s see what’s in here!”
This sudden act of robbery caused Niamh to be at a loss.
She lifted her head to see a shifty-eyed reporter snatching away the letter to take a look.
However, if the contents of the letter were exposed, the destruction of the Jones family’s reputation would be nothing compared to disturbing the departed spirit of Old Master Jones.
Niamh ran up to snatch the letter back when she saw that the reporter was about to read out the contents of the letter without permission. However, when she was about to do it, Mr. Jones instantly charged up to him like a lion that had been enraged. He grabbed the reporter’s collar and ordered through gritted teeth, “Give me back the letter!”
The reporter was shocked. However, at the same time, he knew he was holding an important piece of news, so he could not let go of it.
“Give it back to him.”
Suddenly, Kendrick’s voice sounded neither too quickly nor too slowly. Even though his tone was unperturbed, his aura was enough to make the reporter feel anxious—especially with how Kendrick was looking at him right now. His eyes were like an eagle’s as they exuded a spine-chilling aggressiveness.
“Why? Are you going to give it back to him or not? Or do you want me to get it myself, hmm?” Kendrick was talking slowly, but what he was trying to say was invulnerable.
The corners of the reporter’s mouth twitched. Then, he hurriedly and timidly handed the letter that he had just gotten to Mr. Jones.
After Mr. Jones got the letter, he put it away carefully as if it was a piece of treasure.
He then looked over the contents of the letter carefully again. After that, his face became even paler.
He looked at Kendrick and Niamh. After a long while, he held the letter and looked into the cameras brought by the media.
“Everyone, I need to make some things clear using this opportunity,” Mr. Jones announced earnestly, “I want to sincerely apologize for the statements my wife and I put out about the Waldburgs killing my father 15 years ago and them killing my son now. There were never any entrapments or conspiracies. This entire time, it was only a huge misunderstanding.”
“Oh…”
Everyone looked at each other and started asking with doubts on their faces.
“Misunderstanding? Mr. Jones, can you tell us what misunderstanding it is?”
Mr. Jones answered without hesitating, “The Waldburgs got the project 15 years ago with their own ability and it had nothing to do with the Jones family. My father and Old Master Waldburg had been good friends the entire time even up to the point of my father’s passing. As for my son…”
Mr. Jones sighed in low spirits and heartbreak.
“This entire time, Rye had misunderstood. He chose the wrong path these years and did some horrible things. As his parents, we can’t push the responsibilities to someone else. This has nothing to do with Mr. and Mrs. Waldburg. I’m apologizing to them and the Waldburgs right now in front of everyone. I’m sorry.”
Mr. Jones sounded sincere and he also bowed to them slightly.
It was evident he was being genuine.
However, the reporters were still unwilling to give up. “Mr. Jones, what’s in the letter and why could it change your mind so quickly all of a sudden? Is this letter—”
“Please don’t make any nonsensical guesses,” Mr. Jones interrupted, “This is just a farewell letter my father wrote to Old Master Waldburg before he passed. I won’t tell everyone the details of the letter but I can tell you that my father explained clearly what happened during the bid 15 years ago. It was all just a misunderstanding.”
Mr. Jones was sincere, then he looked at Kendrick before thanking him. “Thank you, Mr. Waldburg. You too, Mrs. Waldburg.”
Niamh and Kendrick looked at each other and smiled with tacit mutual understanding.
At this moment, the room of the ward opened.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones ran up and asked nervously, “Doctor, how’s my son? How is he now?”
The doctor was feeling helpless as he sighed in agitation. “The patient said he wants to see some woman named Eveline Montgomery. If he doesn’t see her, he’ll be refusing all treatments.”
The reason Niamh dropped by was to prevent Kendrick from handling all of the allegations alone. She did not expect that she would need to see Ryan again.
To be honest, she did not want to see Ryan.
When she saw that man, she would be reminded of how cruel he treated her back then.
“Nia, let’s go home.”
Niamh grabbed Kendrick’s arm. “Okay.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.