The Kleptomaniac Son In Law Is Back

The Price Of Neglect

“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

One of the police officers stepped toward Merrick, reaching for his wrist while his colleague blocked the corridor entrance.

Merrick stared at them in disbelief. “You're actually going to arrest me because this man accused me of something without a single shred of evidence?”

“Watch your tone,” Julian snapped. “You're in no position to question anything when my father is lying unconscious in a hospital because of you.”

“Because of me?” Merrick repeated, anger creeping into his voice. “I found your father attempting to jump off a bridge. I stopped him, and when he collapsed, I brought him here. If I'd left him alone, he might be dead right now!”

“That's a convenient story. Perhaps you thought saving him would make it easier to get your hands on the Vermillion family's money.”

Merrick clenched his jaw. He had spent years being looked down upon by people who considered wealth a measure of worth, but Julian's arrogance was beyond anything he had encountered.

“Search me if you want,” he challenged, spreading his arms. “Question the taxi driver and the hospital staff. You'll find nothing because I haven't done anything wrong.”

“Enough!” Julian barked. “Arrest him before he comes up with another ridiculous excuse!”

The officer reached for Merrick again, but a trembling voice interrupted them.

“P-please, Uncle Julian! W-what are you doing?”

A young woman hurried toward them, her worried gaze moving between Julian, Merrick, and the police officers. She wore a simple cream-coloured dress, and her hands were clasped tightly together.

“Sienna?” Julian muttered, his expression darkening. “What are you doing here?”

“I-I heard Grandfather was brought here, so I came as soon as I could.” She glanced anxiously toward the treatment room. “H-has something happened to him?”

“Your grandfather is unconscious, and this man is responsible,” Julian answered, pointing at Merrick. “Unless you have something useful to contribute, stop asking foolish questions.”

Sienna turned toward Merrick, uncertainty clouding her face.

“D-did you hurt Grandfather?”

“No,” Merrick replied. “I found him on a bridge and stopped him from falling. When he collapsed, I brought him here.”

Relief softened her expression, but Julian scoffed.

“Don't tell me you're actually considering his story. Have you forgotten how easily people lie when they want something from this family?”

“I-I only wanted to understand what happened.”

“Then learn to keep your mouth shut when adults are discussing important matters.” Julian stepped closer, his voice dripping with contempt. “Your father clearly failed to teach you when to speak and when to stay out of things. Now you're embarrassing yourself with that stammering, as though anyone asked for your opinion.”

Sienna lowered her head, her fingers tightening around each other.

Merrick watched the exchange with growing disgust. He barely knew the young woman, but Julian's treatment of her was enough to make his blood boil.

“There's no need to speak to her like that,” he intervened. “She's worried about her grandfather.”

Julian swung toward him. “And who gave you permission to interfere in my family's affairs? You're facing arrest, yet you still think you can lecture me?”

“I'm telling you to stop treating people like they're beneath you.”

“You pathetic nobody!” Julian spat. “You think saving my father makes you important? I'll make sure you regret getting involved with the Vermillions.”

“Uncle Julian, p-please,” Sienna pleaded. “Grandfather wouldn't want—”

“Don't you dare tell me what my father would want!” Julian thundered. “You and your father have contributed nothing to this family. Go back to him and let him teach you how to behave!”

Tears gathered in Sienna's eyes, but before she could respond, the treatment room doors opened.

The doctor who had examined Donald earlier stepped into the corridor, his stern gaze settling on the gathering.

“What is going on here?”

Julian immediately turned toward him. “I'm Donald Vermillion's son. This man brought my father here, and I suspect he had something to do with his condition. I want him detained until we establish what happened.”

The doctor stared at him incredulously.

“Your father is alive because someone brought him here when he needed urgent medical attention, and your first concern is to have that person arrested?”

“I'm concerned about my father's safety. He's been missing for three days!”

“Then perhaps you should have been concerned about him before he disappeared!” the doctor snapped.

Julian's expression hardened. “Excuse me?”

“Your father has been battling terminal cancer for months,” the doctor declared. “His condition has deteriorated significantly, yet you stand here acting as though his collapse came out of nowhere. Did you even know he was sick?”

Julian opened his mouth, but no answer came.

The doctor's expression turned colder.

“I thought not. He's been receiving treatment and requires careful monitoring, yet nobody in his family seems to have bothered checking on him. Do you have any idea how dangerous his condition is?”

“My father never told me he was ill,” Julian muttered.

“And you never bothered to find out!” the doctor retorted. “He's been fighting for his life while his own family couldn't be bothered to visit him!”

Sienna covered her mouth as tears slipped down her cheeks.

Merrick remained silent, remembering Donald's confession on the bridge. The old man hadn't spoken like someone seeking sympathy. He had sounded like someone who had already accepted that nobody cared whether he returned home.

“Your father didn't disappear to play a game,” the doctor continued. “He wanted to know whether anyone in his family would notice he was gone. He wanted to know if any of you cared enough to look for him.”

Julian glanced toward the treatment room, his confidence faltering.

“Are you saying he deliberately left home?”

“I'm saying you should be ashamed of yourself. Three days passed before anyone found him, and now that he's here, you're more interested in accusing his rescuer than asking whether he'll survive.”

For once, Julian had nothing to say.

Before the doctor could return to the treatment room, a middle-aged man in a charcoal suit approached, carrying a leather briefcase.

“Mr. Julian Vermillion?” he asked.

Julian turned toward him impatiently. “Who are you?”

“I'm your father's personal lawyer. I came as soon as I received news that he'd been found.”

“Then perhaps you can explain what's happening. My father has been missing for three days, and now I'm hearing he has cancer. Why wasn't I informed?”

The lawyer studied him briefly before opening his briefcase.

“Your father made certain arrangements before leaving home. He anticipated that his disappearance might reveal the true nature of his relationships, and he instructed me to carry out his wishes if specific conditions were met.”

Julian's brows drew together. “What conditions?”

The lawyer removed a document from his briefcase.

“Before leaving, Mr. Vermillion amended a provision in his will. He stated that whoever found him and brought him to safety would be entitled to a share of his estate.”

Silence descended upon the corridor.

Sienna's eyes widened as she slowly turned toward Merrick, while the police officers exchanged startled glances.

Julian, however, didn't look at the lawyer.

He turned his head and stared directly at Merrick.