Noah’s words hit Jonathan and Theo straight. They were family....Family which Theo had stayed away from for more than three years, hiding from them while they remained oblivious to him being alive. He glanced at the old Carter who seed to be thinking about sothing before he darted a glance across the room.
Everybody present in the room was related to the matter sohow and if they did not co clean that day, they would not just lose an opportunity, they’d not have a family anymore.
"It all started with a project." Theo started and glanced at the old Carter who nodded at him lightly when he sensed his gaze on him.
"It was almost six years ago when the project was initiated. You know the project as Mission Code X." Theo stared at Oliver in particular when he spoke of the project and the man in return, did not avert his gaze from him as he listened to him intently.
"It was a mission we ca up with where most of the hospitals in the country would be linked. Through this project, it will beco easier for a patient who needs an organ transplant. After a person passes away and with their family’s consent, the organs to be donated will be updated to the system. The system will then choose the patient based on priority and the critical situation of the recipient."
Theo explained what exactly Mission Code X was and Oliver’s brows quirked up for a mont. He had long known that the project was sohow related to organ donation. But he learned the details only now.
"Master and I ca up with the project. But we needed cooperation from major hospitals. When other people found out about the project, they wanted to invest in it. So, after all the paperwork was done, we started the project." Theo continued and this ti, his attention was fixed on Noah, Ian and Joshua.
"At first, everything was going fine and the project was fruitful. However, things started going down when the priority was not given to the needy or patients who were in the critical stage. Instead, the highest bidder got it. And it was not just the people who passed away whose organs were removed after seeking consent from their family mbers. Even people who were well and fine were targeted in so hospitals and that too without their consent, illegally."
He explained, carefully gauging everyone’s expressions. While so looked disgusted and aghast, others were burning with rage and Theo sighed before glancing at the Old Master again.
"Master and I were uninford about this matter for quite so as he had handed over the responsibility to soone else, soone we had trusted. However, he had long been bribed by Jared and his group and he betrayed us after gaining our trust."
"It was my fault for not following the project closely," Jonathan added all of a sudden, his voice hoarse and filled with remorse. "If only I had paid more attention, it would not have reached this stage and Jared would not have been able to harm anyone. I am at fault."
"Master, please do not bla yourself. You trusted that man. It was he who switched sides and joined hands with malicious people." Theo tried to pacify the man whose emotions were fluctuating madly. He looked at Noah, his eyes pleading with Noah to comfort his grandfather. Just a word was enough.
But all he got in return was Noah’s cold expression and his silence. He made no effort to speak, let alone comfort the old man.
Theo was disappointed. But he did not reprimand the young man. He could under Noah’s stance on this matter. It was true that they were at fault in the first place and their negligence had put all their loved ones in the frontline of danger. If only they had co clean earlier, they could have avoided a lot of mishaps. Alas....they could only regret it now.
"By the ti we found out, it was too late and the mission that was supposed to help people had turned to exploit them."
"Didn’t you seek help from the police?" Joshua interrupted, voicing out the question everyone had in mind.
"We did. We even sought help from the Intelligence" Theo sighed and shook his head in defeat. "Although they caught a few people, we couldn’t prove that they were related to Jared on his people. Other people took the bla for him while he portrayed himself as an innocent bystander. He outsmarted us in this matter. Moreover, you know how Frederick, the Chief of Intelligence was related to Jared. He manipulated the case and helped his son. On the surface, it still looked like a project that could help and save many critical patients."
Valerie could vaguely imagine what must have transpired behind the scenes once the old Carter had approached Frederick or anyone else in the Intelligence.
"We imdiately distanced ourselves once we found out that most of the people who had supported us and invested in the mission had joined Jared and were trying to use unethical ans to earn money." Jonathan raised his head finally and faced his audience. Although he still looked exhausted, there was a fighting spirit in his eyes which surprised everyone, including Noah.
"What happened after that?" Ian leaned forward, his face not giving away his thoughts or emotions.
"After that, Jared went into hiding and we couldn’t trace him for quite so ti. It was at that ti Oliver started doing sting operations to reveal the truth of organ trafficking." Theo returned his gaze to Oliver and smiled faintly in sadness. "If you rember, Oliver, we first t when you were escaping from a few people after you were caught while doing a sting operation."
"And you saved ." Oliver was not an ungrateful and heartless person. He rembered the kindness Theo had bestowed upon him when they were strangers. It was one of the many good mories he cherished when Theo was dead to the world."
Theo stared at him for a few seconds without speaking and observed a myriad of emotions pass through Oliver’s face.
"Wait a minute." Oliver sat straight when a thought popped up in his mind. "Was it you who secretly provided with the leads about the hospital involved in this illegal work?"
Theo’s smile widened and he nodded in affirmation. Oliver’s lips parted in shock and he glanced at Valerie who was yet to digest all that she had heard.
"Deputy, your father and I started working on this case and we would follow Theo’s leads every ti," Oliver explained, his heart twisting in pain every ti he rembered his good friend and colleague. "It was three years ago when we finally got all the clues that could put Jared behind the bars that things went out of hand."
"Yes. Jared had co out of his hiding and started targeting us. Oliver had put his years of work in jeopardy and if this continued, he would lose everything. He had to co out of his hiding." Theo took back the reins of the conversation and everyone held their breaths. The suspense was killing them. But the truth was no less daunting.
"Mr. Evans was murdered, Oliver was injured and he fell into a coma and I had to go undercover," Theo explained the truth which everyone wanted to hear.
"How did you survive the shot? I saw them putting a bullet through your head." Oliver was still confused about this part and he could not stop himself from asking this question.
"I was lucky to have missed the gunshot by a thin line. It was dark and it was soone else who was shot in the head, soone from our team. His features are similar to mine, especially his silhouette. It is easier to mistake him for if you do not see our faces."
All the people who were familiar with Theo knew who he was talking about. There was a man whose features were similar to Theo’s and many people had easily mistaken him to be Theo especially from behind.
"After going undercover, I have been trying to find and eliminate Jared so that he would not be a threat to our family. But I never expected him to have spread such an elaborate and perilous web. I wanted to keep you all away from danger’s hold. But unintentionally put you all in the arms of danger instead."
"Why did you not inform us about this matter earlier?" Noah finally opened his mouth and his stare was directed at his grandfather. Although he sohow understood the old man’s helplessness in this matter, he could still not bring himself to forgive him yet. He felt betrayed and his heart was unable to accept it.
"I am so sorry, Noah. I’m sorry. I couldn’t face you or anyone else here. Although I was not involved in the cris, it was still my negligence that led to this situation. If only I had been careful." Jonathan cried, his tears rolling down his cheeks as his lips trembled. "Please forgive . I have sinned."
Samuel was shocked to see his father cry. As far as he could rember, his old man was strong and formidable and had never shown such a vulnerable expression before. He could brace against any thunderstorms or raging sun and never complain about it. But now, he was bawling like a little child and he did not know what to say. He glanced at Noah, appreciating any help from him. Only he could calm the old man.
Noah sighed softly and closed his eyes, only to open them when he felt Aria pressing his palm lightly. Even though no word had been spoken between them, he understood what she was intending to say.
His fury and disappointnt vanished the mont his grandfather started crying. He could face anything in the world calmly, anything but tears in his grandfather’s eyes. He held a special spot in his heart and he couldn’t see him aggrieved and even more so after the truth had co to life.
He stood up and approached his grandfather who was still crying pitifully. He kneeled before him and wiped his tears.
"What is this, old man?" He rebuked him as if he was speaking to a little kid. "Look at you crying like a bullied kid. Grandmother will despise you if she sees your ugly face. Wipe your tears."
Jonathan did not know whether to laugh or continue crying at his words. He froze in his seat, his expression utterly comical and amusing. If it was any other ti, Noah would have burst out laughing. But the situation was not right. So, he controlled himself.
"Noah...do you..." Jonathan hesitated. He was hopeful but scared at the sa ti. What if it was all his imagination?
"Yes, Grandpa. Now, wipe your tears. Otherwise, I will not speak to you again. You do not want to test on this."
Jonathan who had stopped crying started crying again and pulled Noah to a hug, startling him by his actions. Noah composed himself imdiately and wrapped his arms around his grandfather, his heart finding peace after a long ti. His grandfather was not a criminal, he was not a bad person and that was all he needed.
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