Chapter 124: Cole Scott; Geoffrey.
You ingrate
The noise came from his father’s office, and then Cole heard a bottle smash. Quickly but quietly, he stood by his father’s
door
What was going on? Who was Patrick shouting at this time?
Since Patrick had returned from the hospital, Cole had kept his distance while making his own investigation.
Nobody seemed to know anything about his parents‘ marriage, except Mabel, of course, because she was the oldest staff member, but out of fear or unreasonable loyalty–Cole wasn’t sure which–she wouldn’t tell him anything.
He knew he should walk away. It was not his business, but when he heard another roar, he stayed.
“That’s absurd Patrick snapped, then coughed.
Now Cole was even more curious, who was this? Who had gotten Patrick this riled up?
“I already told you to drop it, how hard can it be?” Patrick asked.
Someone else was in the room. Cole heard a muffled voice but couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Then leave!” Another roar. “Get the hell out of my office!”
There was a stomp before the door opened. Cole shook but it was too late to hide, so he stood his ground. He was surprised when Geoffrey walked out of the room, with his face squeezed in anger.
“Geo?” Cole turned to him, his voice rose in surprise. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Geoffrey said and pounced away.
Cole was shocked by the action. Geoffrey had never done that before; the young man was always respectful, so what changed now?
Cole wanted to shrug it off, to walk away from it, that way he didn’t have to deal with Patrick, but Geoffrey’s angry face got to him. Fueled by curiosity and the urge to help, Cole knocked on his father’s door.
“What is it?” Patrick’s tone was harsh.
Cole cleared his throat. “It is me.”
“Come in.”
Cole pushed the door and was surprised by the mess everywhere. The desk had been overturned, papers scattered around, a bottle had been smashed against the wall, leaving a dark smear on it, with its pieces all over the place.
“What happened here?” Cole asked, his eyes darting around.
Patrick pressed his fingers against his nose and groaned. “It’s Geo, I heard him talking to… Ivy about that bullshit again.” Cole’s heart flipped at his words. “What? Why is she calling him?”
“She’s convincing him to go against us!” Patrick snapped, his eyes glinting with rage, so hard that Cole thought they would pop out. “And that idiot boy is listening to her!”
Though Cole hated the fact that Ivy was turning Geo into a rebel like her, he was beginning to think there was more to this finding a family thing.
As if Patrick heard his thoughts, he turned sharply. “Just because she’s all successful now doesn’t mean she has the right to control this household.”
Despite the anger in his father’s voice, Cole could hear the regret, the guilt and definitely the jealousy. So he pushed, ” Successful how?”
Patrick glared at him. “Have you been living under a rock? Don’t you read the news?”
Cole frowned at the harsh tone directly at him. He hasn’t said anything wrong. Instead of getting worked up by it, he just sighed before responding, “No I haven’t. I don’t care to know.”
Patrick’s glare softened and for a split second, Cole saw guilt in his eyes. “I… don’t go about reading news about her, it… just pops up on my screen. Anyways, that wasn’t the point, the point is that she is talking to Geoffrey.”
Cole arched his brow. “And what did Geo say about it?”
“What do you think? Patrick scoffed. “He wants to go look for his family.” He gestured wildly.
“Then let him.”
Patrick’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Cole folded his arms, ready for his father’s wrath. “I mean… if Geo wants, then he should.”
Chapter 124 Cole Scott: Geoffrey
“What does Geo know about making decisions?!” Patrick roared and Cole flinched. “What if something happened to him? What if they don’t want him?”
Patrick did have a point, but Cole had shown his weakness, something he hadn’t done in weeks, and he just wanted to gain control again, so he pushed. “True, but he is an adult and he can make his own decisions.”
“An adult?” Patrick said, letting out a wild laugh. “He’s nineteen! What brain does a nineteen year old have?”
“He’s still an adult,” Cole disagreed, despite the scowl on Patrick’s face. “If he wants to make that decision, then let him. After all, they are his family.”
“No! No! We are his family!” Patrick shouted. “I brought him up, where was the stupid family when he needed them?”
Cole didn’t say anything, he just observed his father. He understood that it was hard to convince his father, Patrick loved Geo like a son, but he had to let him go.
Cole stepped closer, his voice turning soft. “I understand you, Dad, but letting Geo-”
“No,” Patrick said with a cough and began to pace.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked with concern.
“Yes, I am. It’s just a small cough,” Patrick said with a dismissive wave. “I am not saying Geo shouldn’t do that, but Ivy influencing him is wrong.”
Cole knew his father was angry at Ivy; he just didn’t know it was this serious. “Alright then,” he said, giving up.
“Call Ivy, and tell her to stay away from Geo! I don’t want her messing things up,” Patrick ordered.
A knot formed in Cole’s stomach and his forehead creased with a frown. “What do you mean by messing things up? Is there something I should-”
“Forget about it,” Patrick said with a nervous half–smile, before looking away.
But right before he did, Cole caught the slight wince in his father’s eyes. “If there’s something you want to say-”
“I have nothing to say, Cole!” Patrick shouted, “if I did you won’t have to ask me.”
Something was off, Cole could feel it, but he didn’t press. “Okay.”
“Call Mabel on your way out.”
Cole got the message and nodded. “Sure,” he uttered and left the room.
He wasn’t supposed to be bothered by all these, but oddly enough, he couldn’t shake off the feeling. He went to Mabel’s quarters, and knocked on her door.
The housekeeper opened up immediately. “Hey Cole,” she greeted with a warm smile.
But Cole wasn’t in the mood. “If I find out you’re hiding something really important, Bel, I am going to be very pissed.” Mabel’s eyes widened, but she quickly composed herself, and feigned ignorance. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about Cole.”
Cole stepped closer, causing the older woman to flinch. “Oh but you do, Bel, and I will find out all about it.”
Mabel blinked, and her cheeks turned red. “I… can’t say, Cole. Your father… he’ll kill me.”
So he was right. There was something to discover.
His eyes softened and he stepped back. “That was all I needed to hear. Thank you Bel. Dad wants you,” he said and turned
away.
Cole didn’t know whether to be angry or happy that Mabel had confirmed his suspicions. He was curious to know what, but he knew this wasn’t the time to rush. It was the time to plan and be patient.
But first, he had to talk to Geoffrey, so he went over to his room, and knocked.
“Who’s that?” Geoffrey asked.
“Cole.”
There was a pause before the door opened wildly. Geo stepped outside, looking sad. “I’m sorry for ignoring you earli “It’s okay.” Cole said with a smile. “So I spoke to Dad, and I found out about Ivy’s call.”
Geo took a step back. “I know you want to scold me too, so go on.”
Geoffrey’s sad tone got to Cole, and he patted Geo on the shoulder. “I would never scold you for wanting to do something for yourself.”
Geoffrey’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What are you trying to say Cole?”
“I am saying,” Cole stepped forward, his hand still on Geoffrey’s shoulder, “that if you want to find your family, you should. I would support you.”
Chapter 124 Cam Scom Geoffery
“But dad but by Geo stuttered
“Nothing matters, Geo Only your tappiness does. And that would never change anything you’ll always be my baby brother no matter what”
“Oh, Geoffrey gasped and ran into Cole’s ans
“Love you, Geo” Cole said softly, and then Geo bursted into tears.
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