I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind-Chapter 52 - 50: Reckless Kisses

On the way here, Silas Grant had someone look into Hayes Hughes’s whereabouts.

He had barely arrived at the base of Hayes Hughes’s apartment building when his subordinate pulled up Hayes Hughes’s itinerary and the surveillance footage from downstairs.

"Mr. Grant, it’s all here." The subordinate didn’t dare to look, turning to hand him the tablet.

The itinerary showed that Hayes Hughes had landed in Jynsia yesterday afternoon.

The surveillance footage also showed that right after getting off the plane yesterday, Hayes Hughes had returned to his apartment, which was near the hospital.

Hayes Hughes only had this one residence in Jynsia.

Silas had been here before, and he knew the passcode.

Next was today’s footage.

He watched it frame by frame.

The footage showed Hayes Hughes coming and going frequently today, looking listless and unwell.

He fast-forwarded to two hours ago.

This was the last time Hayes Hughes appeared on the surveillance video today.

He was returning from outside.

He got out of the car.

Everything seemed normal up to this point. In fact, his expression looked even better than when he had left earlier.

Silas Grant’s eyes followed his figure. He saw that Hayes didn’t rush inside, but immediately circled around the front of the car to the passenger side, opened the door, and reached a hand inside.

Silas Grant stared intently at the screen.

Then, he saw a small hand extend from inside the car, taken by Hayes Hughes.

Seeing this, Silas Grant already had his answer. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

He knew who it was.

But, as if torturing himself, he watched the video to the end.

He watched her get out of the car. He watched Hayes Hughes carry many bags; they must have gone shopping and bought a lot.

He watched Hayes Hughes free up a hand to hold hers again. He watched her skip along beside Hayes Hughes as they entered the elevator...

He switched to the footage from inside the elevator.

The girl was nestled against the man, hugging his arm. She looked up at him with sparkling eyes, her red lips opening and closing as she chattered incessantly, sharing amusing stories from school.

In the recording, the girl’s voice came through clearly, every single word boring into his ears, repeatedly striking his eardrums.

She called him "brother" over and over, her voice sweet and her tone familiar as she flirted with the man.

From both her actions and her tone, it was clear that the girl was incredibly dependent on the man beside her.

She liked him.

There was no need for her to admit or deny anything.

Silas Grant was absolutely certain: Mia Grant liked Hayes Hughes.

He had vaguely sensed it before.

Between him and Hayes Hughes, she was always more reliant on Hayes.

Just like when she ran into trouble at the Grant Family estate, she would always hide behind Hayes Hughes.

A person’s subconscious reactions don’t lie.

’That’s why I’ve never paid any mind to Yates Donovan, and even Kian Keller doesn’t matter.’

’The only one who can threaten me is Hayes Hughes.’

’She’s so beautiful, so smart, so endearing.’

’There are countless men who desire her for her looks or love her for her soul—one or the other.’

’This world has never been short of people who like her.’

’Of course, many have caught her eye as well.’

’She’s just a child, after all. Always captivated by flashy, superficial things that distract her.’

’But that’s all just passing smoke.’

’The only one she’s ever truly taken to heart... is him.’

In the footage, the two walked out of the elevator arm in arm, like a newlywed couple returning home at sunset after a long day.

The scene was picturesque, so loving that one couldn’t help but marvel at how good their relationship was.

They entered the passcode and went inside. The door slammed shut.

Silas Grant leaned back in his seat, propping his head up with one hand. A faint smile played on his lips.

’What is the young couple doing now that they’re inside?’

’Did they impatiently drop everything the moment they entered, kissing each other wantonly in the entryway?’

’When passions deepen, does the man lift the girl, pinning her against the door?’

’Maybe I’ve been watching for too long, my eyes are playing tricks on me.’

’I actually think I see the door shaking in the video.’

Sweet, and yet it seared the eyes.

BANG! The assistant whipped his head around in fright.

In the back seat, the man’s features were hidden in the shadows, his expression dark and unreadable.

But he saw the shattered tablet, which had been smashed against the window, as clear as day.

The assistant didn’t know what had happened. All he could hear was heavy breathing. The man was desperately holding back, on the verge of losing control.

About a minute passed.

The assistant noticed that the man seemed to have composed himself.

A rustling sound came from the back seat. The assistant cautiously raised his head to sneak a glance.

He saw the man adjusting his attire.

From his cufflinks, to his suit buttons, and then his tie and tie clip—

Finally, he picked up his glasses from the small tray table and pushed open the door.

Seeing this, the assistant was about to follow, but before he could even open his door, a cold, deep male voice stopped him.

"Don’t follow me."

「 」

Hayes Hughes lived on the twelfth floor. The elevator ascended without interruption.

Silas Grant stood in the elevator, his eyes fixed on the steadily climbing numbers.

His expression was as placid as ever, betraying no hint of the silent tsunami raging within him.

When he reached the floor, he walked with a steady, composed gait and stopped at the door.

He didn’t rush to open it.

’So much time has passed. What are the two of them doing inside?’

’No.’

’Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.’

’They’ve probably just moved to a new battleground.’

’So where are they now?’

’The living room.’

’The bedroom.’

’The bathroom.’

’In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.’

’They bought a lot of food. They should be getting ready to eat.’

’So, the kitchen? Or the dining room?’

’Hmm, that seems fitting.’

’I remember clearly that the dining table in Hayes Hughes’s home is a long one, large enough for eight people. It’s covered with a vintage green tablecloth with a beautiful pattern.’

’A lush cluster of flowers.’

’It was just too plain before.’

’Now it’s just right. The good little girl will use the purest dew to evenly water every flower.’

’Under the dim candlelight, flickering specks will sprinkle onto every petal, slowly blooming into suggestive, dark circles.’

Silas Grant’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

’It seems a good memory isn’t always a good thing.’

’Like right now.’

The man adjusted his glasses. ’Better not to think about it.’

He was afraid that if he kept thinking, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from strangling his dear, obstructive cousin the moment he walked in.

「 」

Silas Grant pushed the door open and walked in.

His footsteps were neither heavy nor light, as if afraid of disturbing someone.

In the living room, the first thing that caught his eye was the girl’s jacket.

She had been fond of the English style lately. In the video, she was dressed like a female detective who had walked straight out of a novel.

But she couldn’t look serious at all; her eyes smiled, and her expression was always so adorable.

’That outfit doesn’t suit her.’

’Hayes Hughes seems to share my opinion.’

’That’s why he was in such a hurry to help her take it off that the jacket has now slipped from the sofa onto the floor...’

There was no one in the living room, nor in the kitchen.

Following his memory, he walked toward the master bedroom.

For the first time, he cursed his excellent hearing. The moment he reached the slightly ajar door, he heard heavy, ragged breathing from inside.

Silas Grant’s eyes went cold. He kicked the door open.

’Some people truly deserve to die.’