Secrets of the Solomons

3. Unknown:

*24th July, 2023*

It's been 17 days, 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds since I have seen Fiona, the bane of existence. I feel lifeless. I haven't seen her and cannot even see what is happening in the prison. Is she alive and well? Are they too hard on her? I can't help but wonder if Fiona is enduring the same emotional turmoil as I am. The lack of information about her well-being only intensifies my anxiety.

Wait, what is wrong with me? I am the most powerful, and it wouldn't take me a minute to discover her whereabouts. I quickly leap off the couch and rush downstairs for a drink. As I pour the drink, I can't help but feel a mix of frustration and guilt for not taking action sooner. The thought of Fiona suffering in silence fuels my determination to gather any information I can, no matter the cost.

"Are you okay?" my stepmother asks as she walks into the kitchen.

I smiled and responded, "Yeah, I was just momentarily lost in thought. Thanks for asking." Deep down, I know I can't let anyone else see the worry and urgency that consume me.

"Your father asked you to visit his office." I nod and make my way to my father's office, trying to push aside the thoughts of Fiona for now. As I enter the room, I can't help but notice the seriousness in my father's eyes.

"Do you need anything, Father?" I ask, trying to mask my concern.

He looks at me momentarily before speaking, his voice filled with worry and determination. "There's something important I need to discuss with you," he says, motioning for me to sit. I sit and look at him, my face stoic and emotionless.

"Why did you go to court on the 7th of July?" His question takes me by surprise, but I don't show it.

"There was a trial I was interested to see." My father's expression remains unchanged as he continues to speak. "Interested or involved?" he probes, his tone becoming more serious. I pause for a moment, carefully choosing my words.

"Just interested, Father. I had no personal involvement in the trial." I respond calmly, maintaining my composed demeanor.

"Good. Make sure Canopy Ltd. signs the contract with us."

I nod, understanding the importance of securing the deal. "I will ensure that Canopy Ltd. signs the contract, Father," I assured him confidently. "Their partnership will be beneficial for our company's growth."

He nodded, and his eyes wandered around as he continued speaking, "About your mother."

He always knows how to worsen my mood. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. "What about her, Father?" I ask, my voice steady.

He hesitates for a moment before replying, "You don't blame me for her death, do you? I know I have made some mistakes in the past, but her death was not my fault." I look into his eyes, seeing a mix of guilt and sadness. Seeing him speak like this makes me want to grab that pen from his hand and kill him. But I am not such a person like him; I never will be him. That is not a statement, but a fact.

"No, Father," I say softly, "I don't blame you for her death." His shoulders visibly relax as he lets out a sigh of relief. "She killed herself, and she was a cruel woman who didn't think of anyone except herself. But that doesn't mean I have never blamed you for her death." His eyes fill with panic and guilt as he looks at me. "She would've never done it if you both compromised for my sake and loved each other. Even if it wasn't romantic, you could've done that. I don't blame you or her. I blame myself for being so naive back then." His eyes fill with regret.

"I couldn't care less about you. You neglected me and were never there. So I moved on." I say it with an annoyed tone. Of course, I couldn't care about him. Why should I, when I was raised not by him but by his second wife and a butler? The room falls silent as my words hang in the air. I can see the hurt in his eyes, but it's too late to apologize now. The years of absence and neglect have taken their toll, leaving me with a sense of detachment that can't be easily undone.

"I am sorry. I know no amount of sorry will ever fix our relationship. But please know that I love you, son." I hear his words, but they feel hollow. Love cannot erase the pain and emptiness that I have carried for so long. The damage has been done, and it will take more than an apology to repair our broken bond.

"I shall excuse myself." I dismissed his feelings and left the office, leaning against the door after I closed it. While I stand there, just breathing, I can hear my father crying and sniffling. As I listen to his sobs, a part of me wants to comfort him and believe that his remorse is genuine. But the wounds run deep, and forgiveness cannot come so quickly. The weight of our fractured relationship hangs heavy in the air, leaving me uncertain of what lies ahead. I don't have sympathy for him anymore. To me, he is a cruel monster who has hurt me since the moment I was born. And it's better that way.

I have spent too many years hoping for change, hoping he would wake up and be the father I deserved. But hope has turned to resentment, and now I find solace in the distance between us. It's better to keep my guard up to protect myself from the pain that his presence brings. The scars he has left on my heart may never fully heal, but at least I can finally see him for who he truly is, and I can move forward knowing the truth. And I deserve better than what he has to offer.

I cannot waste my time on such silly matters. Fiona is my only priority right now. And the first thing I must do is find out what's going on in that damned prison.

I can't sleep. When I lie down and close my eyes, I only see her. She's on top of me, her back bare, and she's smiling at me as if I were the sun of her life. She's in my arms and on the bed with me, and I can feel the warmth of her body against mine. I can feel her touch and her warmth. I can feel her. But reality quickly sets in, reminding me that she's locked away in that prison, far from my reach. The longing to be with her grows stronger with each passing day, fueling my determination to uncover the truth and bring her back into my arms. Though she was never in my arms to begin with,.

As I sit on my chair and start typing on my computer, the first thing I do is try hacking into the security system of the prison she's kept in. It's a risky move that only I can take and still ace, considering my expertise in cybersecurity. I know that breaking into the prison's security system will require meticulous planning and flawless execution, but I am willing to take any risk necessary to reunite with her. With each line of code I write, I can't help but imagine the moment when she will finally be free and we can embrace each other without barriers or restrictions. . The adrenaline courses through my veins as I navigate through layers of complex coding, hoping to find a vulnerability that will grant me access.

It's easy. Way too easy. I feel a surge of excitement and confidence as I bypass firewalls and encryption protocols effortlessly. The prison's security measures, designed to keep inmates locked away, are no match for my skills and determination.

After finally managing to hack in, I start looking through their CCTVs as I sip my coffee. I carefully observe the live feeds, scanning for any signs of her presence. The familiar sight of her brings a sense of relief. She seems okay. She's reading a book in her cell. I continue to monitor her activities, ensuring she remains safe and undisturbed. As I watch, I can't help but feel satisfaction at being able to keep an eye on her from the outside. My actions are necessary to ensure her well-being in this dangerous environment.

As I watch her through the live surveillance, I decide to check the prison records. There were frequent visits from her friends. But she was mostly visited by Vladimir. I wonder what their relationship is and why he visits her so often. It's important to gather more information about him to ensure her safety and understand their connection. But the feeling that they might be romantically involved arises. A thrash of jealousy hits me as I imagine the possibility of them sharing a deeper bond. However, I quickly remind myself that my primary concern is her safety and well-being, not my emotions. It is crucial to remain objective and focused on gathering concrete evidence before jumping to conclusions about their relationship.

There are too many visits from him. Due to the law, the audio of what they talked about cannot be listened to. It's time I pay a visit to my darling.