Never See You Again

Charlie and Lyra examined the contents of the leather suitcase with magnifying glasses. The group had gathered at Maeve’s house.

Maeve sipped her tea nonchalantly. She’d already seen everything inside the suitcase. Besides the ring, nothing seemed particularly remarkable.

Lyra rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Based on my knowledge of jewelry, that old hag’s collection is worth at least 300 hundred million dollars.”

Charlie stood up. “Not just that. Including the ring Ms. Scott is wearing, the total value is at least 1.3 billion dollars.”

“Leaving 1.3 billion just lying around the house–Mrs. Brooks Senior sure knew how to live.”

“Absolutely! Charlie slammed the table. He was puzzled. “But does this treasure have anything to do with what you mentioned earlier?”

“According to Levi, the four major families back then were the Hackett family, the Scott family, the Spencer family, and the Foster family.

“The Brooks family rose to prominence later and wasn’t part of the original four. But when I went with Sergio to the Brook’s family’s memorial hall-”

At this point, Zion suddenly interrupted, “Why did he take you to the memorial hall?”

The memorial hall was a place where only family members were allowed. Maeve chuckled awkwardly. “He just wanted to… show me around.”

“Really?” Zion’s eyes narrowed as he was clearly skeptical.

Maeve cleared her throat and continued, “That’s not the point. What matters is that I saw two memorial plaques there.”

Charlie said, “Isn’t it normal to have memorial plaques in a memorial hall?”

“True, the Spencer family’s memorial hall has quite a few plaques too.” Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“But these two memorial plaques were for Sergio’s great–grandfather and great–grandmother. Sergio also mentioned that the Brooks family didn’t originally settle in Seathburn City.

“It’s possible that they moved here later. He didn’t go into details, but I think the Brooks family isn’t the nouveau riche as they’re rumored to be. They seem more like a long–standing, secretive family.”

Lyra remarked, “The more you explain, the more mysterious it sounds. But if the Brooks family were so significant a century ago, why weren’t they one of the four major families?”

Charlie sprawled out on the couch, crossing his legs. “My parents talked about the four major families before they moved overseas, but they stopped keeping up with old news.

“It’s a shame I’m the only one handling the Foster family’s business now. With my grandparents gone, I can’t get more details from them.”

Lyra said, “I think the four major families were just a business alliance formed by our closely–knit families to control the market. It’s probably not as mysterious as Levi made it out to be ”

Maeve fell silent for a moment. “But if it’s not about the secrets of the four major families, why are all these people showing up now?”

Instantly, the room fell into silence as no one had the answer.

Charlie absentmindedly lit a cigarette and offered one to Zion, who declined.

“Why?”

“I’ve quit.”

Zion’s simple reply left Charlie wide–eyed. “You? Quit smoking?”

Lyra couldn’t help but tease, “A chain smoker quitting? That’s a first. Love really does work wonders.”