shuhaige
Chapter 255
Chapter 255
Cordelia paused, her curiosity piqued. "And then what happened?"
Yates sighed, "Then... he clammed up, didn't say a thing."
Cordelia was silent, a puzzled frown crossing her face.
Yates' brow furrowed in frustration. "The old man's stubborn as a mule. If he's not talking, no one can make him."
Little Flame had specifically come over to share this with her. Cordelia thought for a moment before asking, "So, you think you've got a lead?"
Sure enough, Little Flame nodded, his red hair as defiant as ever. "I've been thinking... our family, the Griffins, we've always been good to folks. Here in Greenmeadow, we've always lent a helping hand to our neighbors and colleagues. My granddad, bless his soul, never cared for expanding the family business. There wasn't really any competition to speak of, so why someone would have it out for me..."
Yates scrunched his face in thought.
His life had always been carefree, under the lax oversight of his grandfather who prioritized happiness over discipline. No competitions, no challenges; if he wanted to play video games, he played. He did whatever he felt like, which left him somewhat lacking in both connections and capabilities now.
But he knew enough about the Griffin family's dealings to have asked the butler some pointed questions yesterday, confirming they had no known enemies.
Yates stroked his chin. "I've been thinking... as a kid, my granddad wasn't always this indulgent. He was loving, sure, but he had his limits. Made me take up boxing; I wouldn't know how to throw a punch otherwise."
He paused, realizing that his fighting skills wouldn't impress Cordelia in the slightest.
Catching his breath, he saw no mockery in her eyes and continued, "But everything changed after my parents died."
His eyes narrowed slightly as if he were peering into the past.
They were standing beside a tree near the playground, its leaves a crisp yellow, branches swaying in the wind. Yates seemed lost in his memories, a distant look on his face. "And then it hit me, about my parents' car accident."
His parents were more of a concept than a memory to Yates.
They were always busy, rarely home, leaving his grandfather to raise him. On the rare occasions they did come home, his mother would apologize for her absence, while his father would sternly check his homework.
Even with such blurry memories, if not for the photographs at home, he'd hardly remember their faces.
He never questioned what kept them so busy. Back then, the Griffin family's fortunes were modest, living in a small three-story house.
Then one day, his grandfather came home with the news that would change his life: at just twelve, Yates learned his parents had died in a car crash. All he saw were their ashes; he never got to see their bodies.
He had looked it up secretly; car crash fatalities were common worldwide.
He never doubted it until recently, until yesterday-
Yates slowly said, "Lia, I suspect it's all connected to my parents' deaths. But it's been six years. It's going to be hard to dig up anything now. They died in Ontoky City, and I barely have any connections there."
He then remembered, "Aren't you acquainted with a cop named Skyler? The policework is nationwide, right? Could you ask him to look into my parents' case?"
Cordelia nodded gravely. "Of course."
As they conversed, some classmates watched from a distance: Cordelia and Hayley huddled together.
Hayley muttered bitterly, "Look at her with Yates, all cozy. What does he see in her?"
Juliana just scowled, silent.
Hayley continued, "She's already got a pretty boy, and now she's all over Yates. Shameless!"
At that, Juliana smirked. "She'll be dumping that pretty boy soon."
Hayley's eyes sparkled. "What do you mean?"
Juliana revealed, "I overheard my, dad and granddad talking. That pretty boy crossed Bill, sought. refuge in Greenmeadow. Somehow, Bill found out he's here and he's coming to Greenmeadow!"
Hayley gasped. "Bill, as in the tycoon Bill? The one with businesses worldwide, including what used to be the Griffin's?"
Juliana nodded. "Exactly, that Bill."
Hayley reveled in the gossip. "Wow, Cordelia really picked a troublesome pretty boy. And now clinging to Yates, hoping the Griffins would bail her out? As if they would."
Both shared a laugh as they headed back to class.
Juliana then flaunted a small
emerald ring, catching Hayley's eye.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
"Look! My mom gave it to me. Said it's not fitting to wear anything
bigger while I'm still in school
or
she'd have given me my grandma's 3-carat ruby!"
Hayley was visibly envious. "Wow, a 3-carat? If it's high quality, that's worth millions! Your mom's definitely saving it for your dowry!"
Juliana didn't respond, but the envy in their classmates' eyes was unmistakable.
Just then, Cordelia walked in.
Seeing her, Hayley blurted out, "You know, it's actually your mom's side that's loaded, not like some folks whose folks are flat broke - looks downright shabby..."
It had been a month since they last saw each other, and Hayley had apparently forgotten the dread Cordelia brought with her last time. Her mouth was running wild again.
Cordelia knew Hayley was talking
about her but found it so tedious. So,
e
she headed towards her seat, taking a couple of steps before suddenly hearing a voice from behind, "Cordelia, there's a ring stuck on your pant leg!"
Cordelia: ?
She turned around and saw the ring that Bill had lost earlier that day, somehow hanging on her trousers.
She couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth, finally grasping what Everard meant by often losing valuables!
She bent down and picked up the ring.
Everyone's gaze instantly fixed on her hand.
Hayley's eyes widened at the sight of the ruby reflecting the light, as big as a pigeon's egg – surely, it must be at least 5 carats...
Just then, some boys playfully running around the class accidentally bumped into Cordelia's desk.
The box of gems that Bill had given her earlier fell to the floor, scattering its contents.