However, Ethan couldn't sleep, his mind restless.
The phone call earlier lingered in his mind like a hook, refusing to let go. The words "Turn on the TV, watch the news" seemed absurd, yet he couldn't shake them off. His mind kept circling that one call.
Time ticked on, slipping away moment by moment. Minutes passed. Maybe half an hour. He still sat for a long time. Until, finally he stood up.
For some reason, he still wanted to confirm. Confirm whether the phone call was a prank or a deliberate provocation.
If it was the former, he'd make sure the person regretted dialing the wrong number. If it was the latter... they'd have to face the wrath of the Forrest family.
He put on a sweater and quietly went downstairs. The night wind seeped through the window cracks, causing the lights to flicker.
The large living room was empty and silent, except for the sound of his footsteps echoing through the space. He walked to the TV and pressed the remote control.
The screen flickered for a moment before lighting up.
"Breaking news!"
The anchor's voice was shrill and urgent. "Tonight's news is centered on the Oswald Group and the incident..."
Ethan brow furrowed deeply. The Oswald Group belonging to the Oswald family?
He rarely paid attention to them, but there was a connection between him and the Oswald's, that being the arranged engagement to their daughter, Becky Oswald.
Becky Oswald is a talented and perfect heiress of the prestigious Oswald family, with impeccable family background, education, and talents. However, Ethan had never shown any interest in her. Or for any of the alliances his family tried to arrange.
His eyes flicked to his fingers resting in his thighs, particularly the silver ring. Ethan had his eyes on someone else.
The news anchor's voice was sharp, urgent: "…The Oswald family confirmed that their only daughter, Miss Becky Oswald, was involved in a tragic incident earlier tonight…"
The news footage flickered, showing ambulance lights and police tape. A body covered with a white sheet was being carried out, the fabric fluttering gently in the wind.
Ethan's eyes narrowed at the TV.
He didn't need to see the face to know something was wrong. Did Becky Oswald die?
The camera panned, and the subtitles at the bottom of the screen clearly displayed a name...
The TV screen seemed to blur as Ethan's eyes locked onto the name, his pupils constricting in shock.
The body was labeled under a name—Adrian Cross.
Adrian Cross? This name, he had heard it twice from that one unknown caller who called Liam Hayes. How….?
For a second, his heart stopped.
The sound from the TV seemed to vanish into static.
"According to witness reports, Miss Oswald was attacked by a man identified as Adrian Cross—someone so relatively close. Surveillance footage shows the two at the hospital rooftop shortly before the fall. Miss Oswald claims that the suspect attempted to push her off the edge. In self-defense, she pushed him instead and she played recordings that proved her statement as well. The body was found moments later."
Ethan stood still, his jaw tightening. Adrian Cross… again.
Ethan exhaled slowly, a chill emanating from his entire being. How did this relate to Liam Hayes though?
Just then, his phone buzzed by his side. He glanced down, his eyes narrowing at the screen.
One word glowed on the screen: "Father".
He didn't answer right away, instead taking a deep breath to calm the sudden surge of emotions. The ringing persisted, and it wasn't until the third ring that he finally slid his finger across the screen to answer.
"Hello?" His voice was low and cool, tinged with a hint of restrained fatigue.
His father's low voice came through the line, devoid of pleasantries and carrying the weight of authority, as always. "You should come back to the Forrest estate."
Ethan's expression froze, and he hesitated for a moment before responding. The last thing he wanted was to return to the estate, but he knew he couldn't disobey his father's orders all the time.
"Father…." he began, but his father's voice cut him off, cold and detached.
"Haven't you seen the news? The Oswald girl almost died at the hospital today."
Ethan's brow furrowed slightly. "Wasn't she supposed to be recovering? What happened?"
"She was hospitalized after her hands were wounded due to her over zealousness in her arts and paintings. It shouldn't have been a problem."
"But someone got into her room at late 10pm tonight..." "Someone she and the whole Oswald family trusted tried to kill her."
The words sent a chill through the air, like a cold draft.
Ethan's fingers tightened slightly. Adrian Cross was someone the Oswald family trusted? "Someone she trusted? Who?"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before his father's low voice responded, "Come back tomorrow, and ask yourself."
He pressed his lips together, his voice low and rough. "Father, do I have to come?"
"You will go, of course. The Oswalds have helped us, and they've helped you. That girl grew up with you; she's not just anyone."
"I know you don't want to be forced into loving someone, and I know you left home to prove to me and grandfather that you can stand on your own. But even so, she almost lost her life... You should at least go see her."
Ethan listened in silence, his shoulders tense, but his expression remained unreadable.
"...Fine. I'll take the private jet back to the main city tomorrow."
A satisfied sigh came from the other end of the line. "Good."
The call ended, and the room fell into a deathly silence. The only sound was the soft glow of the TV casting an eerie light on the floor, the blue and white hues alternating in a cold rhythm.
Ethan slowly lowered his phone. And in that instant...
Bang!
The sudden sound of shattering porcelain came from behind him. Ethan spun around, his eyes locking onto a figure standing at the top of the stairs.
In the dim light, Adrian stood frozen, dressed in pajamas, his expression dazed and disoriented.
A white porcelain plate lay shattered at his feet, the fragments reflecting the light and casting eerie shadows on his face. His eyes were vacant, yet filled with a deep-seated fear.
Ethan's pupils constricted, and he whispered, "Liam Hayes?"
But the young man didn't respond. Instead, he looked up, and for a moment, their gazes met in mid-air.