After delicately phrasing the gruesome scene she had witnessed… Damian's riddled corpse, barely recognizable, she added, "Lastly, Miss Eva and her 'young' lover have not returned to their residence since that day... the same day Mr. Damian died."
"Moreover, no leads have surfaced on where they might have gone."
"...There's no evidence pointing at them at all. But I'm confident that they were the ones responsible for killing Mr. Damian."
Layla continued to offer her conjecture regarding Eva and her lover, elaborating further, before she said,
"Anyway, there's still Brian, his assistance, the now most likely suspect, we discovered that the company behind him had no involvement in this incident at all. They simply intended to use the information they gathered about Damian against you, if the opportunity ever presented itself, but they had no intention of taking such drastic measures."
Vincent Quinn didn't seem bothered at all when he heard about the private information of his son being gathered. He didn't attach any importance to it… as truly, he didn't see the significance. And Layla, sharing the same sentiment, didn't think Damian's weakness could affect them in any way.
"We found a lead on the country where Brian, the assistant, ran to, and in no more than three days, we should be able to catch him."
When Layla finished speaking, detailing her plans to even continue searching more extensively for Eva and her lover, Vincent Quinn suddenly raised his hand in a slow, deliberate motion and said, "Don't."
The word was spoken in a low tone, but it carried the weight of an absolute command, leaving no room for debate.
He had once held tiny expectations for this son, but Damian had failed him miserably. Not even able to become the unbreakable chain between them and his daughter, Olivia.
Being her father was the only thing Damian had ever done that could be considered praiseworthy, after all. Yet, instead of nurturing their bond, he had ignored her throughout her life. So now, was there any need for him?
Was there any need to go through all this hassle just to uncover the truth behind his death?
Vincent's expression hardened, and he added, "Stop searching for anyone... just stop looking at this case altogether."
"We have many more important things to focus our manpower on in these tumultuous times."
"As for that trivial assistant? I met him once... and he doesn't have the courage to do something like that. So, drop everything."
"Olivia's here anyway... she is under our watch, and doesn't seem intent on running away."
"So, you'll likely come across Eva in the future... you can ask her directly when that time comes."
Layla's professionalism was put to the test at that moment. Her usually composed expression nearly faltered as she processed his command. She was not satisfied… far from it.
Eva's actions had already been disgraceful enough… having zero intention to hide the lover she had made lately. And now, to make matters worse, she had vanished with him on the very day of Damian's murder, making her a prime suspect.
It was outrageous. And Layla couldn't accept simply leaving things as they were.
Yet, despite the dissatisfaction simmering beneath her composed exterior, she merely lowered her head slightly, suppressing her emotions. Thoughts raced through her mind… this scandal was already circulating within their circle, after all, and she didn't want it to tarnish their image. She couldn't allow anyone to underestimate them over something .
But then again… she knew the truth. Their reputation, built over decades, wouldn't crumble over a single scandal, not even one as messy as this. Even so, this wasn't just anyone. It was Vincent Quinn's son… the son of the president of Infinitel company. So, even if not for Damian himself, Layla felt this case deserved pursuit.
But knowing Vincent Quinn's commands were absolute.
And Sensing there was no chance of him changing his mind, she clenched her jaw subtly, then bowed in silence… and left.
And in the office that returned to its heavy silence, time seemed to stretch, each second dragging on in the stillness.
Vincent stood motionless, his gaze fixed beyond the glass, the city's lights flickering like distant stars beneath him. The quiet was almost deafening, until, without shifting his stance, he finally opened his mouth and spoke, his voice low and contemplative.
"You too think that Eva is the one responsible for killing Damian? Even when there was no need for that?"
The words hung in the air, seemingly spoken to no one… or perhaps to himself.
"Yes... she at least has a hand in his death."
It was hoarse, rough with the weight of years, as though it hadn't been used in a long time. It emerged from the shadows of the room, breaking the stillness like a sharp crack in glass.
Vincent didn't turn. He didn't need to.
The voice belonged to someone who had been there all along… silent, unseen, but very much present.
There was a brief pause before the hoarse voice added, "Even if he was under her thumb all his life, it still doesn't justify his recent actions toward her lover, after all."
Vincent hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He didn't question his loyal shadow's logic, nor did he comment on his hidden presence… remaining unseen was simply how things were.
Instead, Vincent shifted the focus.
"Then tell me," he asked, his voice calm, "what do you think the Infinitel company will gain from this connection to Eva… and, by extension, my granddaughter Olivia?"
He paused briefly before adding, "Profit… or loss?"
Vincent seemed more talkative this time, and the man in shadow found it hard to decipher his mood… his true intentions. What made it even more difficult was navigating this complex situation, one that didn't require the use of physical strength, and demanded something else.
After a brief moment of thought, he still responded though, "There's still room for maneuver for either of them."
Vincent nodded in agreement, seemingly satisfied with the answer, before he said, "You're right... that's the logic."
A pause followed, and then Vincent's voice took on a more contemplative tone, "But… I don't think I'm going to benefit from them. Not to mention profit... if we don't lose anything, that's actually enough."
His aged eyes, filled with a deep wisdom, held steady as he spoke, and the shadow, though unsure of the reasoning behind Vincent's words, didn't dare to express a differing opinion.
So, it's finally the end of the second volume, and the third volume, is really starting. what do you think of it?
How was it compared with the first volume?
Any advice that I should take into consideration?
Thank you very much, for following me, along this journey until now :)