They were quiet because of what the chairman had told them. However, Hill broke the silence.
“23 years ago. That’s why you and Scarlett don’t want to remember everything because she witnessed Grandma’s death,” Hill stated. The chairman shook his head, recalling Scarlett’s condition.
“No, it’s not that. Scarlett had trauma back then, she couldn’t talk and was always crying, and I’m afraid that when she remembers what happened, I’m not sure what she can do to that person.” said the chairman. “Scarlett loves your grandma, as does Josephine, who loves Scarlett,” he smiled bitterly.
“Something bad may happen to your cousin when she remembers everything; that is why I am here today in front of you to tell you the truth and to correct all the mistakes I have made in this family.”
They came to a halt because the chairman never smiled at them.
“I thought if I followed this family’s law, everything would be fine, but I made a mistake because the family I wanted to be perfect is slowly getting destroyed,” he swallowed. “I built our palace, and I also did to you what my father did to me.”
He looked at his grandchildren, whom he had never imagined would be strong enough to fight.
“You had training where you were supposed to just play, and you get punished when you break the law that you shouldn’t be experiencing,” he sighed, rubbing his cane. “You’ve never known what it’s like to live peacefully like other people.”
The chairman smiled as he tightened his grip on his cane. The Knight averted his gaze.
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t be going through this, but… we’re different from other people. We are born to fight,” he said again, looking at his family. “You can’t protect our family, you can’t protect someone you love, you can’t protect yourself, and you can’t protect everything if I don’t do this.”
Chairman Knight exhaled deeply and leaned back on his throne. They smiled because of what their grandpa said.
“We love this family; we are Knights, remember?” Lux said, winking at her cousins, who grinned back.
“We were born to fight.”
The chairman just shook his head at his grandchildren, whom he used to babysit. They are now among those who will fight to protect the family he has built.
“Well, I’ll tell you the truth.”
They were waiting to hear what the chairman had to say.
“This is where it all started…”
The chairman looked up to recall everything that had occurred. He began discussing the truth between him and Fernando. The chairman’s words triggered a variety of reactions from the Knights.
“I thought he’d stop his plans, but Vernon wasn’t the only target in the family; he almost killed my other children, but I stopped him, and I did everything I could to protect this family, until he came to the eldest grandson…”
The chairman looked at Carter, who was motionless and only raised his eyebrows at his cousins, who were staring at him. The chairman kept talking until the attention turned to Josephine.
The Knights remained silent, but they could all feel their rage.
“She was alone to confront him, and Fernando escaped the law and went into hiding, remaining silent for several years after the incident.”
Chairman Knight’s hands were shaking as he stared at his cane.
“He returned after Scarlett was born because he knew Sophia was an illegitimate child and couldn’t take my place, so Scarlett’s birth became a threat to him that Josephine would never return to him.”
Chairman Knight bowed after taking a deep breath.
“After Scarlett was born, you all formed the 4th Generation.”
They exchanged a frown, but no words.
“Fernando can’t accept that because if what he fears happens, he might fall as well, and Josephine won’t be with him,” he shook his head, knowing that they, too, were cruel in power.
“He made many plans to kill Scarlett, but none of them worked; we lived peacefully while you all grew, until something terrible happened…”
The chairperson took a deep breath and clenched his fist, looking away from his grandchildren.
“We discovered Lady Josephine 23 years ago, with blood all over her body and multiple bullet wounds, and she protected Scarlett from him.” He stated. “Josephine knew Fernando came that night, and I knew they’d meet right here at the mansion.”
Their eyes widened when they learned the chairperson had predicted Lady Josephine's fate.
*** FLASHBACK
“Where are you, B-brother?! This is enough!”
“W-what? N-no… Please, stop; nothing will happen if you and Verno fight!”
“Fine! Let’s talk here. Verno is leaving for the event, so you come here, and I have something important to tell you.”
Lady Josephine did not know Verno had been listening in on their conversation for quite some time. Verno clenched his fist because Fernando hasn’t stopped causing problems in their family.
“Josephine…”
*** END OF FLASHBACK
They shook their heads, still unable to believe what they had heard.
“Did you still hold the event, Grandpa?”
The chairman shook his head.
“I told Josephine that I would not continue the event, but she was determined to face Fernando alone because I knew her brother can never hurt her, but I made a mistake because Fernando wanted to involve Josephine with him, and he did evil to your grandmother—”
“He raped her, hurt her, and ended up killing her,” Aaron interrupted chairman Knight’s remarks.
“That moron!”
“You also left Scarlett!”
“I have no choice! Scarlett was stubborn! And you know her too! She would rather accompany your grandmother than the event you know she dislikes the most!” yelled the chairman, who silenced them.
“He had Scarlett involved because he knew grandma would catch the bullet that should have been Scarlett’s, right?”
The chairman sighed and ordered them to silence.
“After that… Fernando ran away and hid again to devise another plan,” he shook his head once again. “I was so angry that I was strict and strengthened our family; first, I sent Carter to another country to stay there, and then I improved your talents to protect the family,” the chairman clenched his fists.
“Until an unknown threat to our family came.”
They all nodded because they knew who that person was.
“That was Solen Madrid, and she had plans to break into all the Knights’ businesses,” said Eron. “She also tried to destroy all of our alliances’ trust, but she failed, except for Scarlett, who she could destroy everything Scarlett had.”
His cousins agreed with him, but the chairman remained silent.
“You’re worried about Scarlett, right, chairman?”
The chairman averted his gaze from them because he cared about Scarlett’s feelings.
“I know everything about her. She broke my law for her husband, Dominic Stone, and I know about it. I’ll let her do whatever she wants. I’m protecting her from afar, and she did well,” he smiled at them.
“If that’s the case, why did you do that? Why are you acting as if you do not really care?”
“Because… I have no choice.”
“What are you talking about, Grandpa?”
The chairman sighed once again.
“Solen Madrid was Soledad Madrid.”
He looked at Sharlene. Sharlene clenched her fists and turned away.
“Sophia’s mother was Soledad.”
They gasped and glanced at Sharlene and Vernon, who were silent.
“Sophia was a traitor…”
“I knew it!”
“That darn b*tch!”
“Soledad poisoned Sophia’s mind and made her the pawn to observe our every move, and she reports everything that happens here to Soledad. I mean Solen Madrid.”
The chairperson smiled.
“Sophia threatened me that if I don’t drive Scarlett away… Something bad will happen to Scarlett, and if she doesn’t replace me… She can kill my great-grandchildren,” the chairperson bit his lip. “And then I realized they were all conspiring, Fernando adopted Solen and used her against me.”
He averted his gaze.
“I was a traitor to the family, one of those who ruined Scarlett’s life.”
They all stood up, stunned by what they had just heard from their grandfather.
“Did you ruin Scarlett?”
“Grandpa!”
Chairman Knight bowed his head.
“I was, but I didn’t think Sophia had other plans against Scarlett—” Vernon grabbed chairman’s clothes, taking him aback.
“What have you done, Dad?” Vernon shouted. The chairman bowed his head in shame.
“I-I was the one who killed the fake S-Solen Madrid.”
Vernon didn’t let go of his father.
“I can’t believe you! Why did you do this to your granddaughter?!” Vernon exclaimed to his father. Sharlene dragged him away, since their father was already in stress. “Dad!!” yelled, Vernon as he pulled away from his father.
“Wait, did Sophia do that?”
He nodded because he had nothing else to hide from them.
“Dad…”
“Are you a traitor?”
They all turned around, stunned by their parents’ arrival. The children of chairman Knight.
“What is going on?”
“Where are Erin and Rios, where are our sons?”
Rianne walked up to their parents and shook her head.
“Dad! Answer me! Where is Scarlett? Where is my daughter?!” Vernon shouted.
Chairman took a deep breath and grabbed his tight chest, but he forced himself to remain calm because he couldn’t leave until it stopped Scarlett from doing what she was about to do.
“I-I know. It’s all my fault. I did that… not because I wanted to, but to protect this family, to protect Scarlett from him,”
He turned to face Erin and Rios’ parents.
“You did well, son. Rios was smart. He was one of the first to know my secrets, and he was also one of the first to know who Soledad was and who Sophia truly was, and for me for being a traitor,” he said, and Erin and Rios’ father just frowned.
“I knew it! That’s why Rios is secretive! He knows something! I’ll kill that asshole!” Ara grumbled, shaking her head because Rios had kept it from them for so long.
They just shook their heads and grinned before turning to face Carter in front of them.
“You can’t blame chairperson; if I were him, I’d do the same. Put your anger aside for now; we need to save Erin first,” Carter said to them.
“Wait, what happened to Erin?”
Carter let out a sigh. “Soledad’s men caught him while on a mission.”
“Oh, my goodness! We have to do something!”
Carter smirked and raised his hand to his aunt. “Don’t worry about him; Erin knows what he’s capable of.”
“We can’t sit here and wait, Brother Carter!”
“Yeah! While Scarlett, Rios, and brother Erin put their lives in danger for our family!”
Carter gave them a laugh. “Who said we’d just sit here and wait?” he asked.
They raised an eyebrow.
“We’re going to San Martín; it’s time to show them what the Knight can do; who is more powerful; remember, we’re Knight?”
“Damn you, you make us nervous!”
“This is exciting!”
“I can’t wait to slap Sophia in the face.”
Carter and chairman Knight exchanged glances and silent, thanks.
Chairman Knight just looked up, and there was no thorn in his chest, and he could breathe easily. But he looked at his Nurse, who was staring at them, and his smile faded, but he won’t think about it. Because he should think about how to restore and protect his family.
“What are you planning, Scarlett?”