Chapter 160: Old Secrets.

CALEB. It'd been three weeks. Three weeks since I saw Uncle Kelly at the hospital. Three weeks since I asked myself a million questions at once. I didn't let it affect me, no, not at all. I couldn't. I had to mask the swirl of emotions threatening to explode from within. I had to exercise the self control I had taught myself to build over the years. Kyle had fully recovered, and Brielle's graduation was in a few weeks. Everything seemed fine. Except it wasn't. I knew. I knew it all too well. Especially since I stood in the middle of Uncle Kelly's living room, inside his reputable mansion, within his ruthless reach. I had come here because the curiosity was eating away at my insides, with the intention of leaving me scarred and jarred. I was here because I didn't understand the look of hesitation on Cynthia's face when I asked her who he was last week after she had woken up. I was here because of how abruptly she ran off after I confronted her. I was here because even after I tailed her, she sent men to blow up my fucking car and warned me to stay away. I was here because she wasn't who I thought she was, and as heart wrenching as it felt, I chose to accept it. I was here because I wanted answers. And one way or the other, I was going to get them. The sound of firm but soft footsteps against carpet pulled me out of my thoughts, and I swiveled my head in the direction of the sound. Donned in a gray suit that seemed to amplify his aura, and a stubble I hadn't noticed up until now decorating his face and chin, Uncle Kelly stood, observing my frame. My muscles tensed involuntarily, but I remained calm, careful not to betray emotion. But for some reason, I couldn't get the image out of my mind…Uncle Kelly, the man who had always been a distant figure of authority and power, sitting by Cynthia's hospital bed. He'd been so out of place, unlike he was right now, and that had thrown me off completely. It was baffling. Cynthia was just a girl I knew from the few interactions we'd had. She was eccentric, intriguing, and I was attracted to her more than I cared to admit. She also wasn't someone I'd never seen Uncle Kelly interact with before. Why was he there? It didn't make sense. My curiosity had turned into an obsession, and I needed answers. I'd never been in this position before, asking Uncle Kelly about something so personal, especially something that involved family secrets. Part of me knew to back off things like that from a young, young age. But I had to know. The stakes felt high, and I couldn't ignore the feeling that there was more to this story than I was seeing. Even before he was fully inside, I felt the shift in the atmosphere. His presence had a way of dominating the space, his aura so commanding that it made you forget your own name. He was a man who was used to being in control, and it showed in the way he walked—his stride confident and unyielding. He didn't acknowledge me immediately, just took his seat behind his desk with a smooth, practiced grace. His gaze, as cold as ever, met mine. 'Caleb," he said, his voice deep and calm. 'What brings you here?" I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. 'I saw you at the hospital," I began, trying so fucking hard not to explode. 'And I know her." Uncle Kelly's expression didn't change. He remained calm and composed, as though my observation was of little consequence. 'Is that so?" he said, the casual tone so not matching the gravity of the situation. 'Yes." I continued, my heart pounding. 'You were there the day she had the accident. I don't understand why." His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something behind his facade—surprise, maybe, or just the slightest hint of discomfort. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. 'Why are you asking about this?" he asked, his tone suddenly sharp. It was a question, but it sounded more like a challenge. Not today. 'I need to know," I said, trying to keep my voice even. 'What's your connection to Cynthia?" Uncle Kelly leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. For a long moment, he was silent, his gaze fixed on me. It felt like the seconds stretched into minutes, the silence between us growing heavier. It was the kind of silence that makes you question everything, makes you wonder if you've stepped into something far deeper than you intended. And God help me, I know I did. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. 'Caleb, what I'm about to tell you changes everything. It doesn't make any sense keeping it from you anymore." The way he said it made my heart race. I'd been expecting answers, but this sounded like more than I was prepared for. His eyes locked onto mine, and I could sense the weight of his words before they even left his mouth. 'Cynthia is my daughter." he said, his voice steady but carrying an underlying gravity that threatened to shake me. The declaration hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt my face pale, my mind reeling as I tried to process the words. Cynthia was his daughter? It didn't make sense. I'd never heard anything about this before, and the revelation turned everything I thought I knew on its head. I stared at him, my mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. The room seemed to spin around me, the reality of the situation crashing down like a tidal wave. Uncle Kelly, always so distant and aloof, had a daughter, and Cynthia was the one. In a world of outrageous possibilities, this was the most outrageous of them all. 'Why?" was all I could manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. 'Why didn't you tell anyone? Why was she in that accident?" Knowing Uncle Kelly, Cynthia's relation to him was probably the cause. But what did I know about the man? Nothing. Uncle Kelly's expression didn't waver. He looked at me with an unreadable expression, his gaze steady and unflinching. 'Some things are not meant to be known by everyone," he said. 'Cynthia's situation was private, and it remains so. It's complicated." His words were vague, and I could sense the depth of the secrecy surrounding this. It wasn't just about family connections; it was about something bigger, something that was being kept hidden from everyone. I wanted to press him for more answers, to demand an explanation for everything. But as I looked at him, I realized that this was as far as I could go. Uncle Kelly was not a man who would give away his secrets easily. He had his own reasons, and if he was choosing to reveal this much, it was only because he felt it was necessary. The silence between us stretched on, heavy with the unspoken truths and unresolved questions. I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the revelation settling around me. It was clear that there was much more to this story, but I wasn't going to get any more answers today. Probably not ever. But I wasn't giving up. And just like that, everything stopped. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in that tense, charged space. Uncle Kelly's gaze remained fixed on me, and I knew that this was where our conversation would end—for now. The door to his office seemed like a distant escape, but I knew I had to leave with more questions than answers. As I turned to walk out, I could feel the enormity of the revelation pressing down on me. Cynthia's connection to Uncle Kelly changed everything, and I had no idea what to do with this new piece of the puzzle. And with that, I drove away from the fog, leaving me standing in the middle of a storm of confusion and uncertainty.