One Hundred and Twenty

CHAPTER 120

Kevin sits with Hailey and Louis at the dining table. A variety of food was available there, including salads, sandwiches, steaks and fresh fruits that had just been served by the maid in the house.

The food looked good, although the atmosphere between them suddenly turned uncomfortable. The usual small talk that Louis used to make to Kevin, asking how he was doing in college or how his experiments were progressing, was nowhere to be heard.

Everything was hidden behind an awkward silence. They were all silent, staring at each other, letting the aroma of food waft into their nostrils without them eating at all.

It wasn't until five minutes later that Louis cleared his throat and opened the conversation. "Kevin, let's talk."

Kevin's face lifted. He looked up at his father who was sitting at the dining table dressed all in brown, with a relaxed gaze. His face showed no remorse or guilt.

"Is it true that you caused the accident that night?" Louis was to the point.

And the young man who was considered good at chemistry in his college swallowed. Kevin's breath caught in his throat at the direct question from his father. He gripped the edge of the table, feeling the weight of every eye in the room on him. Hailey, his mother, she sat tensely, her fingers fidgeting with the napkin in her lap.

The memories came flooding back-a stormy night, the sound of screeching tires, and broken glass. She hadn't anticipated this confrontation, not at a family dinner she thought would go normally.

"I..." Kevin's voice trailed off. His father's unwavering gaze pierced him, demanding honesty.

"I wasn't the one who caused the accident," he whispered at last, his words barely audible in the thick silence. "I was there, yes, but I'm not responsible for the accident."

Louis leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Then why were you at the scene? Why did you run away?"

Kevin hesitated, his mind racing. How could he explain without revealing the truth that could destroy their family?

"I panicked," he admitted, his voice beginning to strengthen. "I saw what happened, but I wasn't involved. I was scared... I thought staying would make things worse."

Hailey's hand found his under the table, a comforting reassurance. But Louis remained steadfast, his scrutiny unyielding.

"Enough, Kevin," Louis said finally, his tone firm. "The truth will always come out, one way or another. And when it does, it will define who we are."

The weight of his father's words hung in the air, promising an impending storm that would challenge their family structure. Kevin swallowed hard, his heart heavy with the weight of his secret.

"Please help me, Dad," Kevin pleaded. He looked up at Louis with an expectant gaze.

Kevin knew that he couldn't avoid the inevitable confrontation anymore. With Louis' unwavering gaze fixed on him, he realized the enormity of the decision he faced. The truth is a double-edged sword, capable of healing or destroying their fragile family union.

"I can't," Louis replied, his voice measured yet filled with disappointment. "This is not something that can be buried or hidden. It's time for you to face the consequences of your actions."

Hailey's grip on Kevin's hand tightened, a silent plea for him to reconsider, but Louis' resolve was already made up. Kevin understood - the truth was an unwavering force, ready to destroy their lives. "You can't let them arrest Kevin, Louis! Our son is innocent. It's all because of a girl named Brittany, our son is getting the short end of the stick because of them."

Louis sighed, he was tired of the whole situation. He looked at his wife, then at Kevin. "I really don't like those cops, maybe I'll talk to my lawyer to get them to let you off the hook. After all, you're not in a difficult position, all this trouble can still be avoided."

Family tensions crackled like static electricity in the room. Louis, torn between upholding his principles and protecting his son, felt the weight of responsibility pressing down from all sides. He couldn't understand how they had come to this precipice, where the truth threatened to dismantle everything they held dear.

Hailey's eyes pleaded with Louis, her desperation evident. "Louis, please. Our child's future hangs in the balance. Don't let them take him away. Kevin is our only child. Are you that evil to do that?"

A thick silence enveloped them, the air thick with unspoken fear and regret. Kevin, caught between confessing and maintaining his innocence, struggled with the repercussions of his choice.

Louis turned to Kevin, his expression softened with a father's concern. "Son, the choices we make will define us. It's not just about the immediate consequences; it's about recognizing our actions. I'll do what I can to protect you, but we can't run from the truth forever."

"I really didn't do it and please believe me, Dad," Kevin pleaded once again.

In the end, Louis made a decision. He would defend his son. He would not let Kevin go to jail and ruin the image he had worked so hard to build.

Louis, determined, stood up from his chair, his gaze fixed on his family. "We will fight this together. We won't let the only son of the heir to the family fortune go to prison and have a bad reputation in the eyes of others." Hailey breathed a sigh of relief, she knew that her husband should be reliable. But she chose to stay silent and observe the two men in front of her, hoping that they would find the best solution that could help Kevin out of this problem.

He reached for his phone, dialing a familiar number. The lawyer, a friend for years, picked up on the third ring. "James, this is Louis. I need your help. They've implicated Kevin."

As he spoke in hushed tones, Hailey leaned closer to Kevin, her touch a calming presence in the storm of uncertainty. "We'll get through this, Kevin. Your father won't let anything happen to you."

And hearing that, Kevin grinned secretly. He felt accomplished, having manipulated both his parents.