2025-05-12 23:58:13
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CHAPTER 66
"Why shouldn't he?" Janelle snapped. "Why shouldn't anyone?" "That's what everyone always did, isn't it? Took your side. Mom. Dad. Everyone except Grandpa. And he's gone too." Owen said with a scoff. "And when I reached out to you..." Her voice was low now, but it carried a rawness that made Killian go still. "Wasn't that enough? I loved you. I thought I had a special bond with my older brother. But all I got was rejection." She scoffed and looked away. Owen looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. "What?" Janelle snapped, her glare sharp. "Cat got your tongue?" "Watch it, Janelle." Owen bit back. "You're still just as selfish, aren't you?" "Me?" She scoffed, her voice rising. "I'm the selfish one?" But before she could say more, Janelle suddenly clutched her chest. Her breathing quickened. "Janelle?" Killian rushed to her side. "Hey, hey, breathe. Look at me. Just breathe, okay?" "She's having an asthma attack." He said, his voice low but urge
CHAPTER 65
Janelle couldn't believe her eyes. Standing right in front of her, as smug as ever, was Owen. "Janelle?" Owen blinked, equally surprised. "Wait! You two know each other?" Killian asked, looking between them. "Yes." Janelle said flatly, crossing her arms with a scoff. "Killian, meet my estranged older brother." She added, giving Owen a look that screamed annoyance. "Brother?" Killian repeated, clearly taken aback. Now that he thought about it, he didn't actually know that much about Owen's family background. He'd always assumed Owen had no close ties, after all, the guy had left home at eighteen… or was it that he'd been kicked out? But a sister? "Is that how you introduce me?" Owen asked, putting a hand to his chest dramatically. "What? Should I have rolled out a red carpet for you?" Janelle shot back. "Hold on a second..." Killian cut in, still processing. "You both have the same parents?" "Yes." They both answered, in perfect sync, as if it were the most unfortunate
CHAPTER 64
After dinner, Janelle leaned back in her seat and casually asked. "So… won't your girlfriend be upset I'm staying at your house?" Killian looked up, expression unreadable. "I don't have one." "Oh, that's right. You're gay." She muttered under her breath, but not quiet enough. Killian raised a brow. "What did you say?" "Nothing..." "Why would you assume I'm gay?" "I… no reason." She replied, looking away. "That's a lie." Killian stood, walking toward her. His slow, deliberate steps made her instinctively back up. She kept moving until her back hit the wall. "Why did you say that?" He asked again, voice low. "Fine." She said with a sigh. "I heard it at your office, okay?" "What?" Killian's brows furrowed in disbelief, his expression a mix of irritation and surprise. Killian stared at her, clearly trying to process what she had just said. That was what people at his own firm were whispering behind his back? "You heard this when?" He asked, voice tight with disb
CHAPTER 63
Janelle saw her father seated comfortably in her chair, flipping through a few papers like he owned the place. "Mr. Ian Thorn." She said with a raised brow." "Don't be silly, Ellie." Ian teased. "Hi, Dad." She murmured, stepping inside. "Sweetie." Ian stood up and immediately pulled her into a warm hug. "What are you doing here?" She asked, trying to keep her tone light. "I went by your apartment earlier, but you weren't home." "Yeah… I… spent the night at a friend's." she said, hoping her voice didn't sound too off. "A friend? Kiara's back?" "No, just… another friend." She offered a tight smile. "Oh, okay. I got a bit worried." He said, his tone soft. "Why'd you come to my apartment so early in the morning anyway?" Janelle asked trying to change the subject. "I just wanted to give you something. And… I missed you." He said honestly. "I missed you too." She replied, quieter this time. Ian looked at her with quiet affection, no matter how much had changed,
CHAPTER 62
Neither of them spoke during the drive, when they pulled into his driveway, Killian noted with quiet relief that Owen was gone. He didn't need distractions tonight, he unlocked the door and stepped aside. "Make yourself at home." Janelle hesitated at the threshold, then stepped inside. "I didn't want your pity." she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. Killian turned to look at her. "What?" "That's why I didn't tell you I was asthmatic." She explained, eyes downcast. "I didn't want you to see me as weak or… fragile." Killian exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. "You're not weak." he said simply. She gave a small nod, her eyes glistening but refusing to shed any more tears. "You can take the guest room. Would you be okay on your own?" "I'll be fine." She replied, her voice steadier than before. As she turned to head down the hallway, she paused and looked back at him. "Thank you. For saving me." Killian gave a small nod,
CHAPTER 61
Earlier, Killian had spent the better part of the afternoon digging into the list of suspects Janelle had given him. But a throbbing headache made it hard to focus. He finally gave in, returned home, took a shower, swallowed some painkillers, and laid down for a short nap. When he woke up a few hour later, he felt clearer, rested and ready to dive back into the case. He had just settled into his study, flipping through one of the more promising files, when the doorbell rang. Killian frowned at the thought of it, this was a disturbance, there were very few people who ever came to his home uninvited. When he opened the door, he immediately regretted it. A young man with dyed gray hair stood at the entrance, grinning ear to ear. Before Killian could say a word, the man threw his arms around him in a dramatic hug. Killian resisted the urge to knee him in the gut and peel him off. But instead, he stood stiffly and endured it. "Why are you here?" Killian asked flatl
CHAPTER 60
The next day, Janelle was jolted awake by the sharp buzz of her phone vibrating on the nightstand. Groaning, she reached over and answered groggily, "Hello..." "Good morning to you too." Killian's voice teased. "You sound half-dead. Still in bed?"She blinked hard. "Killian? Do you know what time it is?" "Don't be such a crybaby. It's already seven." he said casually. "Also… I forgot to bring your mother's gift yesterday. Sorry about that." "Yeah," she muttered, sitting up. "I was going to bring that up today." "Well." He said, "I opened it last night." "You did?" "There was a necklace inside." "Okay..." She said slowly, unsure why he was calling just for that. "And also..." He paused. "What?" She asked. "I found a key." Janelle blinked. "A key?" "Yeah. Hidden under the box lining." Her heart skipped. "I'll come take a look." "Alright, it's the weekend you busy this morning?" "No." Janelle replied. "Okay, I'll pick a different location.
CHAPTER 59
Janelle took a deep breath, steadying herself before she began. "That day, I decided to visit my mom. It had been a week since I saw her. And even though I liked the new apartment Dad got me… I just wanted to come home. To her." Killian's brow lifted. "Wait. Your father is still alive?" "Yes. Why?" she asked, puzzled. "That makes him a suspect." Janelle's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?" "This is a murder case, Miss Thorn. Try to keep an open mind." "You can call me Janelle." She said, her tone softer. He blinked, slightly taken aback. "Huh?" "You're too cold and quite impassive." She added with a light chuckle. "Whatever." he muttered. "Let's get back to the story." "I saw Mrs. Lorin." "Who's that?" He asked. "My mom's housekeeper." Janelle replied. "She's also a suspect." "What? Why?" "Just keep talking. Don't ask why someone’s a suspect, for now." Killian said, leaning forward slightly, "In cases like this, no one is innocent until they're proven to be."Janelle
CHAPTER 58
Killian kept staring at the gift in her hands, the bloodstain on the edge bothered him more than he let on. There was no clear explanation yet, because if Celeste had been attacked and killed in the living room, how had blood ended up on a wrapped present, something so carefully placed? "Can I go to your room?" he asked, his tone calm but clipped. "Of course." Janelle replied, a little surprised. She had wanted some time alone, but if him snooping around could help, she'd allow it. She led him up the stairs and pointed to the door on the left. "That one." Killian nodded and entered, her room was neat, though layered with the quiet dust of a place untouched for months. He scanned everything quickly, his instincts guided him more than logic now. He opened her drawer and there it was, another faint trace of blood, hidden in the corner where the gift must've originally been placed. "Something happened here." he muttered to himself, brows furrowing. "I can't put my finger on
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