Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Chapter 35:
Hailey’s Chance “We think… your father may be alive”
The words that left officer Baker’s lips echoed in Carlos’ head. He did not know for how long he sat there, thinking. Ilis mind wandered back to his father’s wake Carlos recalled how his mother never let him sec Manuel’s lace because of his father’s injuries. He felt a headache coming his way, Irying to identify those who peered inside his father’s coffin.
The accident that resulted in his father’s death was a head on collision with a truck and resulted in a fire, barely recognizing the bodies of both vehicle drivers,
‘Uncle Ethan and aunt Sam, I’m sure they had a look,’ Carlos thought. Then, Carlos’s voice came through with the recollection of how the police went to his mother about the accident. He stammered into his reply, “I think… the police identified him properly. I remember how, aside from his private things, there was a DNA test done.”
“Teeth. I already checked,” said officer Baker. “They identified your father’s DNA through his teeth.”
“I prepared the findings of your father’s death for your reference,” the police officer said. “It says there, your mother failed to order a DNA test ahead before his body was embalmed, but since there were teeth pieces in the crash site, they matched it to your father’s.” “I can’t blame your mother, though. She must have been so broken-hearted. Sometimes, loved ones find it hard to decide on such matters. They tend to be more focused on their grief.”
Carlos fell silent again. He massaged his jaws and said, “If my father is alive, I see no reason for him to hide and deprive us of his presence. He – he loved my mother so much. They were so in love that my mother fell sick. She became depressed and followed him to death.”
“Unless there is a reason for that too,” said officer Baker. “Anyway, Mister Ronaldo. I could be wrong. Signature analysis is not a hundred percent reliable, considering we only had a few samples of your father’s signatures to compare it to.” “It’s just that this discovery of how this signature matches your father’s just… baffles me,” he added.
“This could be a case of forgery too, a good one at that,” Carlos suggested. The officer nodded but still countered, saying, “Yes, but we tested it. You are right. If it’s a forgery, it’s a perfect one.”
Carlos walked out of the police headquarters with many questions in his head. He was already prepared to have his father’s body exhumed should it come to that.
Police officer Baker promised, however, they would dig deeper. They meant to ask Hugo Bonnet about how he made the will and interrogate his men about it, too. He certainly hoped the answers to his questions would be answered soon.
***
“Wow,” Alexander exclaimed, looking at the stock certificates. He looked at Carlos and asked,” Are you going to sell these stocks?” “Hello? Earth to The Devil?” Alexander asked again, seeing how Carlos’ mind was elsewhere.
Carlos was leaning on the sofa of Alexander’s living room, his hand covering his jaws, his eyes not looking in a specific direction. When he heard his friend call for him, he asked, “I’m sorry. What?”
“I asked if you were going to sell these stocks?” Alexander repeated.
“I came to you for that reason, Alexander. I trust you with this,” Carlos said. Alexander had helped Carlos in trading over the past years. That was how he doubled a few of his earnings. Alexander was very good at both forex and cryptocurrency trading. Alexander checked his phone, searching for the recent stock market prices. He described,” Well, all these corporations are good. Even if some of these
companies have erratic fluctuations, if you sell any of these, you won’t lose any money because your dad bought them at a time when stock prices were much lower.”
“Your father bought A-m-a-2-0-n stocks for twenty dollars? But today, it now costs a hundred thirty-four dollars. Tesla is the biggest win so far. Your father bought them at around fifty dollars, but now each stock costs nine hundred dollars. Bam!”
Alexander banged his head like a rockstar, saying, “Amazing!” “Carlos, I know that our lives, especially yours, had been held up because of this police operation we got ourselves into, but many things came to light. You found your father’s murderer, and you learned that he was not the irresponsible husband and father others claimed him to be,” Alexander added. With a long sigh, Carlos nodded. How could he forget how his father’s old friends had looked down on him after his death, claiming he wasn’t the role model many thought he was. He said, “I know. I have no regrets. At least I know now that my father never forgot about my future.”
“And potentially? He is alive?” Alexander asked.
“I don’t know, nor do I want to get my hopes up for a mere signature comparison,” Carlos
said.
While the two good friends were discussing what to do with the stocks in Manuel Ronaldo’s nane, Kendra, Alexander’s girlfriend, was up in one room, calling a dear friend.
Kendra was Alexander’s girlfriend of three years. Alexander fell in love with Kendra at first Siglu shie was a model and a jewelry entrepreneur with red hair and a slender body. Taking part in Carlos’ out aslonal celebration party, she became acquainted with Hailey Mckenzie, and thal was how they set alle pood Inends
“Pick up! Puck up!” Kendra sald
“Hello, wie dieard lialley on the other line
“Gosla, Hailey Wiat took you so long to answer!” Kendra sought. “I’ve been calling for ages!” “Well, I’m at a hotel where the police have taken Cartos to “Forget that,Medley Return to New York at once Kendra ordered “Carlos is here! He isn’t in
“What? But I’m looking at taim right now
Hailey objected. Carlos is here!”
“No, le is not WIPvt talis is for Carlos be use this bere, chaling with Alexander dowrastas,* Karadta Sarket. Itway will pralke lenis anal Friday, aut you know how these two Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
drink up in the evening to celebrate their practice match.”
“What are you saying, Kendra?” Hailey asked.
A mischievous grin became painted on Kendra’s face. She suggested, “I’m going to give you a chance to finally have Carlos, of course! Didn’t you always joke about seducing him to bed? Maybe even drugging him? We’ll I’ll figure out a way to get him to sleep in Alexander’s Penthouse, and then you’ll get your chance. And when you finally have sex, Carlos would have no choice but to commit to a relationship… Because! You are going to get yourself pregnant.” 2 “Oh, my god, Kendra!” Hailey exclaimed. “I’ll go to the airport and book a flight to New York asap!”
Continents away. Hailey Mckenzie was at the Sheraton Hotel lobby, eyeing the man who looked like Carlos. She was ninety percent sure that it was Carlos. He had the same build and the same height. He also has similar features to Carlos.
How the police circled him like his life was constantly in danger added to her confirmation that she was looking at Carlos. Plus, this was the same man who the police had transported from the hospital.
When Kendra called, Hailey was about to pay off the front desk personnel to give her the key card to Carlos’ room.
“Forget that, Hailey. Return to New York at once! Carlos is here! He isn’t in France!” Kendra said on the other line.
Hailey could not believe her ears. She silently wondered, ‘Carlos was back home the whole time? So who is this man posing as Carlos?’ When Kendra suggested she would help her sleep with Carlos, excitement filled her chest. She loved Carlos so, ever since they were in high school. However, Carlos only had eyes for Kate.
She tried in many ways to drive Carlos and Kate apart. Hailey had paid off Tyler to woo Kate, malang Carlos jealous and lose hope. She also convinced her father to manage Carlos’ career and pushed Carlos away from Braeton and from Kate Wright.
There were many things she did, including having secretly tampered with Carlos’ phone during the early years of his training Hailey had deleted all of Kate’s messages on social media, and even orchestrated a meeting with Tyler when Carlos returned to Braeton on one od asion
During social gatherings, she had thrown herself at Carlos repeatedly, but Carlos never looked at let the way he looked at Kate
When Hailey saw kale at Carlos’ birthday party a few months back, she panicked, she knew if Carlos sw Katrinen hopes of becoming Misses Ronaldo would end Thus, she made a show for Kate to bar, kassing Carlos on the stage, making everyone assume they were together
Watle Hailey nudlayed to drive Kateway, that backfired on her. Carlos lemminated his todiant with the later their communication had become less ever since
Whet Halley le atted Kate was working for Carlos’ company, she lost it. She stalked Kate for days, eager to hinder kitelrom being with Carlos
Between her and kile, Halley concluded that she was more deserving of Carlos. After all, she
had been there for Carlos since high school, and Kate was just a girl that rejected him in the past. Whereas, she… she loved him ever since.
When Carlos announced how her claims of being in a relationship with him were untrue, Hailey was deeply saddened. It was the first time that Carlos had purposely hurt her publicly, and she could only blame it on Kate. What else could it be?
Now, hearing how she would finally get a chance of a lifetime to be with Carlos, Hailey smiled maliciously. She understood how time was running out for her, especially since Kate Wright was working for Carlos’ company. Hailey knew she had to act fast. 1 Taking a deep breath, Hailey muttered, “Carlos. You’ll be mine… you’ll see.”