"I think you are being too defensive right now." Uncle Dang commented.
"Uncle Dang, she was taking care of me and the children after midnight and before that she was busy arranging the children's room. She really didn't have any time to put the incense there." I chimed in before this escalated.
Athena's fists are already tightly clenched and the look in her eyes tells me that she might punch Uncle Dang soon.
"Alright, if you say so. Don't leave town little girl." Lieutenant said before he left and let the two detectives look around some more.
"Ignore Mark. He's just a little protective of his friends. Though, it is also hard for me to believe that Sam would do something to hurt me and of course, I know you wouldn't hurt me. Maybe there's another explanation." Grandfather said to Athena placatingly.
Maybe there is another explanation but Athena was pretty sure that it was Uncle Sam who did it. The detectives had stayed in the house for the whole morning before leaving. We let grandfather rest after lunch and let the older girls watch over grandfather.
I also told Athena to take an afternoon nap as she hasn't really slept at all but she ignored me and started baking. I guess that's her way to release stress or anger so I let her be before those fist hits me.
The investigation was slow. Nothing really came up as the evidence is sparse. After 3 days, grandfather's health was a bit better. Grandfather told us not to inform the main house about what happened and let Uncle Sam come back for duty. Since grandfather has already spoken we had to let Uncle Sam back to work.
Athena didn't look too happy when grandfather decided that but she didn't say anything. She just kept her guard up since Uncle Sam came back. She never left him alone with Grandfather so she looked more haggard as days passed.
"Athena, we're going to start opening the shops a few days from now. Should we go back to the main house tomorrow?" I asked her while she took out some small cakes and cookies from the oven.
Other than hovering around grandfather, Athena also bakes a lot and I have to say her skills are improving, not that they are bad but it's on the level that we can sell them. Should I suggest it?
"Can we bring grandfather to the main house? His health is still not good." Athena asked worriedly.
I know she's worried to leave him here with Uncle Sam but I don't think grandfather will like that idea.
"I don't think grandfather will agree to staying in the main house." I replied honestly.
"Then can me and the younger children stay here and watch over grandfather? I think you can handle the shop for a few more days, right? Just until grandfather feels better." Athena pleaded.
I looked at her and can't understand why she's so sure it was Uncle Sam. Is it because of her dream? I mean it's not like I'm not doubtful of Uncle Sam but I also don't understand why Uncle Sam would do it now? He and grandfather have been together for a long time, surely he would have done it before if he really wanted to kill grandfather, right?
"I know you don't believe me when I claimed that it was Secretary Choi who did it but I'm sure it's him. There were only two of us that time that were awake. It's either me or him and I'm sure I didn't do it." Athena told me seriously.
She looks so sure and so helpless. You know what, maybe she's right but how can we prove it?
"Why do you think he did it?" I asked seriously.
"I don't know. Do you know if Secretary Choi has a family he's hiding or something?" Athena asked.
What does his family have to do with it?
"What are you two doing here? The twins are crying in the living room." Secretary Choi suddenly came in and both of us were shocked.
"I was just asking Athena, if she wanted to open a bakery. Her pastries are really good. Wanna try some Uncle Sam?" I asked innocently as I offered the cookie in my hand.
"Yes, have some. I'll bring the rest outside." Athena said and excused herself.
I gave Uncle Sam a cookie and he ate them.
"What do you think? Would our bakery be successful?" I asked proudly.
"Are you going to ask your grandfather for money again? Don't you think you've asked your grandfather for too much money already?" Uncle Sam criticized.
His eyes narrowed at me with lips pressed together. Is he angry?
"My family has a little savings and I think it would be enough to open a shop. I know I've borrowed a lot of money from grandfather but don't worry Uncle Sam, we will pay him back." I hurriedly explained so he won't get the wrong idea.
Wait, I just made myself sound guilty.
"Really? Pay him back? Are you sure? All I hear from you is buying this and buying that." Uncle Sam commented hostilely.
I was shocked to hear him say that. What is he getting angry about? It's not like we ask grandfather to buy us things and not pay him back. Why do I even need to defend myself to him? This is a family matter and I don't think he has the right to scold me. This is crossing the concerned citizen line.
"Your grandfather already bought you two shops, a truck, sent your children to school, and even gives you money allowances. Is that still not enough for you? You still want to ask him to buy you another shop on top of asking him to buy you a house?" Uncle Sam criticized some more.
"Uncle Sam, I don't think you have any right to question me regarding how our family spends our money especially if you don't know the whole story." I replied angrily.
Uncle Sam was really going over top with his rant regarding me borrowing money from grandfather and what does he mean he bought us the shops? Is Uncle Sam checking grandfather's finances? Is he interested in grandfather's money? Is that it? Is that his motive?
I looked at Uncle Sam who was looking at me like I'm a stain in his white shirt.
"You should learn how to stand up on your own rather than keep on asking money from your grandfather. You're not a child anymore." Uncle Sam said before he left angrily.
I looked at his back that was leaving and can't believe that I got scolded for things I didn't do. Sure, I borrowed money for the truck and I'm sure we are paying back grandfather with not one owo missing.
I stood there in shock for a long while. It wasn't until Athena came back with the dirty dishes that I got my senses back.
"What happened?" She asked curiously.
"I think I've found a motive." I replied, still stunned with the possibility that Uncle Sam would hurt grandfather for money.
Grandfather would have given him some if he asked him too. Why would he need some?
"Motive? In grandfather's case?" Athena asked me, surprised.
"Yes but I'm not sure. It doesn't make sense." I replied as I shook my head pacing back and forth.
"Why do you think Secretary Choi would do it?" She asked curiously as she grabbed both my shoulders so I could look at her.
I explained to her the conversation I had with Uncle Sam.
"Money?" Athena also commented unsurely.
She looked at me suspiciously. Maybe she's wondering if I'm just making it up. Even I can't understand why it would be for money but it really sounds like it's for money or maybe I'm just really wrong about this and Uncle Sam has nothing to do with it.
"Do you think that's it?" I asked curiously.
Athena was deep in thought. Maybe she's trying to understand why Uncle Sam would want money.
"What would he do with the money?" Athena asked.
"That's the part I don't understand. If it's for money, Uncle Sam can surely ask for it from grandfather and he doesn't need to go through all this trouble just to rob him." I answered.
"Should we try to trap him? To make him confess?" Athena suggested reluctantly.
Should we? But it might become dangerous for my grandfather. We don't know what Uncle Sam was capable of plus he has military training. I'm not sure I can win against him in a fight.
"Should we just tell it to Uncle Dang?" I suggested as I shrank back from her grip.
"Would he believe us?" Athena asked as she glared at me.
Uncle Dang might not believe us. What should we do? Should we try it? Or should we just leave it to the authorities to figure it out? But what if Uncle Sam tries again? Should we really transfer grandfather to another house?
Ah but we don't have another house. Grandfather doesn't like staying in the main house too. He doesn't like breathing the same air with my stepmother or should I send stepmother on a vacation? I don't have that much money and I don't think my stepmother would just agree to that.
"What do you think we should do?" I asked her.
"I think we need to resolve this. Secretary Choi needs to go. If he had done it once, what is stopping him from doing it again?" I said, trying to convince Seth.
I know he doesn't really believe me but I know it was Secretary Choi who did it. I saw him do it.
"What plan do you have?" Seth asked defeatedly.
I held his arm and looked at him reassuringly.
"We will get him and we will end this. Trust me on this one. Please." I told him and he nodded tiredly.
I told him to watch the children first as I'm going to rest. I am tired and I needed a rested brain to think of a good plan. I went inside our room and laid down. I didn't realize how tired I was until I was lying comfortably on the bed.
I said that we will trap him but I don't really have any concrete ideas. Should I just use the luck talisman again?
I think I'm getting too dependent on the luck talisman. I can't base everything on luck but how should I bring all the necessary people here for them to hear Secretary Choi's confessions without alerting him.
Should I first find the reason why he would need money? Is it for his son? But like Seth had said he could just ask grandfather about it.
It's weird. Am I too stuck on the thought of Secretary Choi having a son? But the system couldn't be wrong, he said when I used the future insight that this is for his son. There must be a son who needs money? But why couldn't he just ask for the money from grandfather?
Is the amount too big? Is that why he got angry when he thought we kept on asking for money from grandfather? Is that why he couldn't ask grandfather because he thought grandfather wouldn't have enough money?
I sighed as I still couldn't understand what was happening. I decided to finally close my eyes and sleep to let my brain rest.
Two days have passed and grandfather was feeling better so Seth and I decided to celebrate grandfather's recovery. We invited Doctor Le, and Lieutenant Dang to join us in this celebration. Father, Stepmother, William, and Arthur also arrived. They found out what happened to grandfather somewhere so we invited them to join too.
"I would like to thank everybody for coming here to celebrate grandfather's recovery. It has been an uneasy week but finally, Doctor Le announced that grandfather's clear from all the toxins." Seth said as he raised his glass and the rest raised theirs too.
We had a hearty meal and I've asked the helpers to buy us some good alcohol to celebrate today. Grandfather also looked healthy but Doctor Le who was sitting beside him had been scolding grandfather for trying to slip some alcohol to drink.
Lieutenant Dang seems way too happy to chat with Secretary Choi about their past glory while William and Arthur were listening to their heroic stories.
Stepmother kept glaring at the food on the table and kept murmuring. I'm sure she's complaining about the money we spent on preparing this dinner. Father had told her to shut up more than once since the meal started.
My children were on a different table busy eating their meals, the youngest twins were being fed by Ashley and Brittany.
When I noticed that everybody seemed to be finished with their meal, I stood up and took the expensive wine I've asked the helper to buy and began serving them the wine.
"That is such an expensive wine, where did you get that?" Stepmother asked, surprised.
I explained that I've prepared this wine for today to celebrate grandfather's good health.
"How can you buy such an expensive wine? You woman, you really don't know how to save money! You only know how to spend and spend." Stepmother complained and father glared at her.
"What are you saying Sarah! We are celebrating father's health!" Father reprimanded.
"I'm just saying. We haven't even captured the culprit and yet we're already celebrating like this." Stepmother quibbled.
"Then should we not celebrate my health?" Grandfather asked unhappily.
"Madam, I'm sorry that we still haven't caught the culprit." Lieutenant Dang apologized to stepmother and also apologized to grandfather but grandfather told him it was alright.
"How was the investigation going, Lieutenant?" I asked curiously.
"Sad to say, we still have no leads." He replied heavily.
The table became quiet after that.
"It's sad that we can't help anymore in the investigation. It was only Secretary Choi and I that were awake before and we both don't know who put the incense there, right Secretary Choi?" I asked sadly.
"No." Secretary Choi replied.
"No? It wasn't only us that were awake? Was there someone else there?" I asked, pretending to be shocked.
Lieutenant Dang was also curious and stared at Secretary Choi.
"No, it was only us." Secretary Choi replied.
The others looked disappointed too.
"I thought Uncle Sam knew who lit up the incense." Seth commented disappointedly.
"Secretary Choi also doesn't know how the incense got there, right Secretary Choi?" I asked again.
"No.I know." Secretary Choi replied.
He looked like he was having a hard time.
"You know? What do you mean Sam? Do you know who put the incense in the Captain's room?" Lieutenant Dang asked,surprised.
"I put it there." Secretary Choi answered and we all looked shocked at him.
"You put the incense there?" Lieutenant Dang asked in disbelief and Secretary Choi answered yes.
"Did someone ask you to put it there?" Lieutenant Dang asked.
He must have been too shocked to believe what he was hearing.
"I put the incense in the Captain's room. No one asked me to do it." He answered.
"What are you talking about Uncle Sam, surely you're not telling us that you were the one who tried to kill grandfather, right?" Seth asked, shocked.
"No, that's impossible. Secretary Choi has been working for grandfather for so long already. He wouldn't do it." Stepmother commented.
"I did it. I tried to kill Captain Zhang." Secretary Choi suddenly said.
Everybody looked at him in shock.
"Is someone pressuring you to say this? Did someone threaten you to say that you tried to kill Captain Zhang?" Lieutenant Dang asked in disbelief.
"No one did. I tried to kill Captain Zhang." He admitted.
"Why? Why would you try to kill Captain? It doesn't make sense." Lieutenant Dang asked as he grabbed Secretary Choi's collars.
"Mark, calm down. There must be a reason for this." Grandfather finally said.
We all looked at Secretary Choi and waited for him to talk. I looked expectantly at Secretary Choi as I have been wondering why he did it. I have thought of a lot of scenarios but I can't figure out why.
I also can't help applauding the system for its truth serum. The serum looked very effective. It's sad that this is the only truth serum I have. I can buy another one but they cost 1,000 owo each. It's too expensive.
"Sam, tell me why did you do it?" Lieutenant Dang asked.
He looked really betrayed. He really didn't expect Secretary Choi to do it. It really makes me wonder what drove Secretary Choi to do it.
"I did it for my son." Secretary Choi replied.
"Son? You have a son?" Grandfather asked, surprised.
"Yes. I have a son." Secretary Choi answered.
Everyone looked shocked at Secretary Choi. I guess no one really knew he had a son.
"Secretary Choi, you must be drunk. You are talking about random things now." Stepmother commented anxiously.
"I'm not drunk." He replied.
"Athena, you must have given Secretary Choi such a strong alcohol for him to talk nonsense like this." Stepmother accused me.
"I gave Secretary Choi the same alcohol as the others. The wine came from the same bottle. How can I give him a different kind?" I replied, a little sarcastic and stepmother glared at me angrily.
What's her problem?
"Uncle Sam, what do you mean you did it for your son? Why do you need to kill Grandfather for him?" Seth asked.
"Because of you! You keep on spending Captain's money! You kept on asking him to buy you stores and even a house!" Secretary Choi exclaimed.
"What does that have to do with your son?" Lieutenant Dang asked, confused.
"We should talk about this again when he's not drunk anymore. Let's call it a night everyone." Stepmother said again.
"Stepmother, don't you also want to know why Secretary Choi tried to kill my great grandfather?" Ashley asked curiously.
"You child! This is adult business. Stop running your mouth here!" Stepmother replied angrily.
I saw the children flinching and looked angrily at stepmother.
"Sarah! What do you think you are shouting at my great grandchildren?" Grandfather asked, angrily.
"You shut up and stop meddling. Secretary Choi already admitted that he did it." Father reprimanded her.
"Mother, don't say anything anymore and let Secretary Choi talk. If he really did it then he needs to pay for sins." Arthur said.
"That's right. We can't let this go even if he had taken care of grandfather all this time." William also chimed in.
Stepmother has no choice but to keep quiet.
"Sam, what does spending money on my grandson have to do with your son?" Grandfather asked solemnly.
We all looked and waited at what Secretary Choi would say.
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