“Ace lied to you again. Just like he did every time. Just like he created a sham to break your heart.”

I ignored his jab.

“How do you know his father was murdered? Who told you that?”

“Digging out Arthur’s truth as we got to know what illegal businesses he runs, I had a suspicion Achilles could have some connections with his uncle’s activities. I mean, Arthur was doing all these under his nose, and he had no idea about it? It’s difficult to believe. So I asked my cousin to look into Achilles’s past and look what I found.”

I let out a breath of disbelief.

If he was murdered, then why did everyone, even the media, say it was a suicide back then? And why did Ace lie to me about it?

“Do you have any proof? What makes you believe he was murdered? And who’d murder him and why?”

“Rich people, they can do anything with money, even hiding evidence, Em. After his death, the forensic reports said he was murdered. But the Valencians fed some cash to the cops, and all was settled,” he said. “Your Achilles Valencian did a good job of wiping all evidence of the murder and any mentions of the person who did the crime. So, we didn’t get any proof except some words from a person who was a former cop involved with the case back then. And when we asked him if he would give any statement about it to the police, he replied with a big no. We could only make him spit out this information once we got him drunk at a local bar.”

Shocked, I slumped on the bed. His voice rang into my head again and again.

His father was murdered, and he destroyed all evidence against the criminal?

Who was he trying to save? And could I even trust Warner’s information? Did Ace really do it?

But my heart said he couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t save his own father’s murderer.

“D-did that man tell you Ace did it? He bribed the cops?”

“He said ‘the man from Valencian’s side’. And as Arthur wasn’t in the country at that moment and Caleb was too good to even think of that, who do you think would do that if not Achilles?” he asked, tone mocking. “What a great man you love, Em. The man who saves his own father’s murderer.”

My jaw clenched. “Warner, you don’t know the whole truth. So, I’d suggest you don’t jump to any conclusions yet! I know Ace, he’d never do that! He loved his father!”

He did until he knew his father’s real face.

And I meant what I said. Yes, I was shocked at the revelation. But I wouldn’t doubt him like that. I’d just ask him directly. I needed him to come home.