"So you are saying that the princess wasn't actually a princess," Gregory said after hearing everything that happened from his son.
"And we plan to…" Lenon glanced at Tiffany.
"Take her in if she wishes to pursue her talent in writing or acting," he finished.
Gregory was silent for a good while.
This is a bit complicated because of Wynter's background.
It would have been easier if she had not been part of such a prominent family. But she was, and what's more, it was the family reigning in the technological area.
"Well, isn't it alright? Knowing that such a young lady is suffering, yet still leaving her alone. That is not how our family is," Amelia said.
She is Gregory's wife and Lenon's mother.
Gregory took a deep breath, "Well, it has happened, so be sure to take responsibility until the very end."
Lenon and Tiffany nodded firmly.
"Yes, Father."
"And, don't hesitate to ask for help. If that Charlie Morgan goes overboard, I can step out any time. I think the same goes for Jonathan," Gregory said again.
"Yes, Father," Lenon replied.
On the other side, Dominick and Sabrina also told Jonathan and Freya, Dominick's mother, about what happened.
And just like what Gregory told his son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan said the same.
"Since you took this responsibility, finish it until the end."
"Yes, Father," Dominick replied.
In the end, it was his grandson who started all this, there is nothing more that Jonathan could say. Even if he did not like the way things unfolded, they could only keep a close eye on what the Morgrave Family would do.
"There is only one thing me and Lenon were sure of," Dominick said, seeing the look on his father's face.
"What is it?"
"They wouldn't try and pin faults on any of us out in the open because of what they did to the young lady," Dominick replied.
Indeed, if they are to go public with this, they would be the ones receiving serious backlash.
"Then be more vigilant, because once in the dark, it is easier to take lives," Jonathan said seriously.
Dominick sighed.
This is the reality of the world.
Not all prominent families are clean.
Of course, their families, Ashcroft included, were ones of those who did not try and dabble in the underworld. They were upright from the start till now.
…
Shawn told his friends what exactly had happened upon Gabriel's arrival and once they got a hold of Beatrice. Everything that Wynter had revealed to him, even what happened when they were in high school.
Beatrice fell into deep thought after hearing the whole story.
"I did hear from my vice captain back then that I should not trust her. There is something more about her because of what happened to the class president's family back then. So it was her family who did it," Kenneth commented.
"With her warning on that voice recording, it really is not her intention to take down Patricia's family," Justin added, remembering her tone and words back then.
Though Shawn had already deleted that recording.
"Ruthless," Kathrine sighed.
Not that they are excusing what Patricia had done, but to make them go bankrupt, it was ruthless indeed.
"That is what you will have to face if you want to become the best lawyer out there," Gabriel reminded her.
"People who are heartless but are rampant in doing bad while acting like the good ones. They can escape the law most of the time because of how big their names are," he added.
Kathrine looked at him before sighing, "Yeah, I really should prepare myself that the adult world was actually a big, dark world."
With Wynter's condition, all of them realized that they were indeed about to enter the adult world.
"Yours will be filled with different kinds of schemes and darkness. It might be the brightest side of the world, but it also hides the darkest side. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow," Gabriel then said to Kenneth and Beatrice.
"The same goes for you. It may not be as bright as their world, but it is also hiding its own darkness," he said to Justin.
"What Wynter is experiencing now is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are already affected by it, then etch that feeling in your mind. So that you will no longer be too shocked once you face more of it."
He was like the eldest brother of their group, so everyone couldn't help but listen attentively to his words.
Silence filled the room for a good while.
"What have you been thinking about all this time?" Kathrine asked, noticing that Beatrice may have been listening attentively, but she was also in deep thought.
"I was remembering her words, that we were alike," Beatrice replied.
"Back then, I just brushed it off, knowing full well that she would not say anything about it. But now, it seems that she was talking about our circumstances."
She looked at Wynter, who was unconscious, as the camera was also facing in her direction.
"Back when she helped me out for my audition. She once spoke in a way that tells me she was like me who was running towards something. When I asked her if that was the case, she answered yes. And when I asked how sure she is that she will achieve it, she answered that she is putting everything she had into achieving it."
She couldn't help but to smile in admiration, "It seems that we are quite alike but she is a lot stronger than I was."
She spoke in a past tense manner because that was the truth.
As for the present, she would not compare because they both have their own strengths now.