Jaime thought about Umberto’s face and felt increasingly aggrieved. Suddenly he remembered something and his expression was a little tense.
He looked at Alfredo for a long time before saying:
-Grandfather, I admit a mistake to you.
Today, when Pedro had sarcastically criticized him, Jaime had already guessed that Alfredo knew about the car accident he had deliberately created. After a moment’s hesitation, he revealed his plan and told the truth.
-I should not have taken advantage of the car accident to stay in Sogen City, which caused irreparable consequences. I was wrong.
Alfredo knew this beforehand and did not scold him about his foot injury.
-Okay. I have asked an expert to help you with your recovery plan tomorrow, depending on your condition. Try to recover soon and get back to normal.
Jaime nodded and continued:
-In fact, Grandpa, there’s something else.
-Tell me.
His mysterious look aroused Alfredo’s curiosity.
Jaime recalled the scene of the car accident as he said:
-When I made the plan, I thought that even if I caused a car accident, I couldn’t injure myself that much. So everything was under control when I stepped on the brakes.
The more he said, the more skeptical he sounded.
-But when I hit the brakes, the car didn’t stop like I thought it would. I was about to run into the car in front of me, so I swerved and somehow the tire blew out. The car flipped over and my whole body was crushed….
He didn’t remember much of the rest because he blacked out.
-I mean…
Alfredo’s face was serious, with a contemplative look.
Jaime gritted his teeth and said:
-I suspect someone has been plotting in secret -he looked at Alfredo. I currently have two suspects…
Jaime stopped mid-sentence, and when Alfredo saw his hesitant look, he said:
-Go on.
Then he spoke directly the suspicions of his heart:
-The first is Umberto, who is extremely vengeful. If he killed him, with his character, how could he not take revenge. Even if he pays so much, he won’t be satisfied. So he wants to use this incident to teach me a lesson.
“What he said was right, but…”
-Familia Seco is so guarded that few people can enter, let alone set traps in the car.
-This aspect also occurred to me -Jaime nodded, looked at Alfredo and stammered- -That’s why I have a second suspect.
Alfredo had a bad feeling.
Indeed, he said next:
-I suspect Pedro.
-No, that’s not possible.
Alfredo immediately shook his head and denied the matter.
Jaime’s eyes darkened downward.
Pedro was indeed Alfredo’s most beloved grandson. He had heard that Alfredo had already taught Pedro how to manage the company. This was the training of an heir.
If Jaime had not returned, perhaps Alfredo would have handed over the entire Grupo Seco to him.
Seeing that Alfredo did not hesitate to deny his suspicions, Jaime controlled his anger and said quietly:
-At first I didn’t want to suspect him either -Jaime explained- -In the last two days, Pedro came home often, and he had more access to the car. I selected the car the day before I left and he was able to get the information in advance.
Alfredo became especially serious.
In an attempt to make him upset with Pedro, Jaime continued:
-Pedro and I haven’t gotten along since we were kids. I know it is because of my sudden appearance that I have stolen your care and the inheritance of Grupo Seco. But it is not my fault. I am the grandson of the Seco Family.
He sounded a little aggrieved and looked at Alfredo, who had a pale face.
And Alfredo was now caught in a dilemma.
He knew Pedro, and though he was childish, he was still generally kind. He might hate Jaime, but not so much as to do something like that.
But the more he listened, the more he felt in his heart that it was a possibility. Because what Jaime said made a lot of sense.
Alfredo had mixed emotions, which finally returned to calm.
-Don’t say anything to the public. I’m going to check it out.
Jaime nodded obediently, and only when Alfredo left did his face turn somber.
“I’ve already said it, but Alfredo still doesn’t believe me. It seems that Pedro is very important in his heart.”
“However…”
Jaime had just seen the suspicion on Alfredo’s face. Once a person planted the seed of doubt, it would take root and sprout into a huge tree.
“I’m afraid that in the future, Grandpa won’t be so trusting of Pedro.”
Although Jaime had told him two guesses, in his mind, Pedro was much more likely than Umberto. Even the matter of being provoked by Pedro before leaving this morning proved to be a point of doubt.
***
Alfredo returned to his study with a somber face, thinking about what Jaime had said.
He had someone check the surveillance in the garage, only to be told that it had broken down a few days ago and he hadn’t had time to install a new one.
And the place of the broken one turned out to be the parking space of the car in which Jaime was traveling today.
This would be too much of a coincidence.
There was also a shot of Pedro in the garage. But it was normal for him to be photographed in the last two days, as his car was coming and going from Familia Seco.
But it was this coincidence that made Alfredo increasingly suspicious.
The police soon called and checked the car. It was discovered that the brakes had failed because they had not been properly checked and the parts had deteriorated. The reason the tire had blown out was that it had accidentally hit a nail in the road.
All the checks turned out to be causal causes, not artificial.
Alfredo found the driver and questioned him as to why he had not gone to check the vehicle in time.
The driver struggled to explain:
-I was going to take it in for service a few days ago, but my wife was in the hospital giving birth and I forgot. Yesterday, Mr. Seco casually pointed at the car and said he was going to drive it out of town, and I didn’t remember that I hadn’t done the service, so… this accident happened….
Alfredo saw that his expression didn’t seem to be lying and dismissed him with annoyance.
Things seemed to have fallen into disarray. It was obvious that everyone felt there was something suspicious about the car accident, but they couldn’t get half a trace of it.
However, even if no evidence was found, the old man was still suspicious of Peter and found an excuse to move her out of the Dry Group that day.
Pedro understood in his heart that he owed for Jaime, and hated him even more.
With the major problem solved, Jaime went to his villa in the suburbs to recuperate.
When Yolanda learned of Pedro’s transfer, she felt even more regretful of her actions towards Jaime.
So she followed Jaime that night and tried her best to make him happy.
The two were soon back together.
The next day, Yolanda was rested and ready to go back to the office to prepare for tomorrow’s news release.
When she received a call from Julio, her eyes widened and then filled with amazement.