"My father would never do something like that. Perhaps that young man was fabricating stories to deceive you. I am well aware that my father has a fondness for women, even though he was married at the time. It's no secret that he has a wandering eye, but as you yourself mentioned, the woman in question was also married and expecting a child."
"Are you blind or stupid, Adrian?" Logan knew he was crossing the line but he just couldn't stop himself. "You are thirty-five years but God, you behave and think like Goerge and he is only five.
"Have you ever considered that the rumours about your father might hold some truth? Have you made any efforts to investigate, or do you blindly uphold your idolization of a father who might not be the person you believe him to be?"
"For heaven's sake, he even murdered his own brother. He conspired to eliminate his brother's wives because he couldn't bear the thought of them giving birth to heirs who might inherit the throne if something happened to him." Logan didn't want to utter these words, but Adrian's unwavering blindness was exasperating.
"Stop fighting you two." His mother said as she joined them in the living room. "Why don't you sit down and talk like adults? Adrian, you should listen to what your cousin has to say and Logan," she looked at him. "You shouldn't talk to your cousin like that, he is older than you and for goodness' sake, you shouldn't compare him to Goerge!"
"I didn't want to say that but he is surely behaving like a small child who just learned that Santa Claus doesn't exist." He looked at his cousin and sighed. He did as his mother asked and sat down. Adrian did the same thing.
"Tell me what you found." He carefully told his mother everything that Anthony told him and his desire to help them find Tiara and Arianna. He then looked at Adrian.
"Even after telling him everything that I just told you, he still insists that his father is innocent."
"I just don't understand why he would do all that. He is the king, he has everything he could ever want in this life." Adrian said to no one in particular.
"Adrian, your father clearly doesn't want my brother back here. He is the one who kidnapped his wife and my fiance. I know you don't want to believe it but it's true.
"We spoke to Anthony and Axel has verified what he told us. Everything is checked out. We asked around and a lot of people know what happened with your father and Anthony's parents. It's not a hidden secret."
Gail, sensing the tension in the room, intervened once more.
"Boys, this is a difficult situation for all of us," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "We must approach it with care and consideration. Logan, I understand your frustration, but I think Adrian still needs time to process this information. And Adrian, it's essential to keep an open mind. Let's try to find a solution together."
Logan nodded reluctantly, recognizing the need for patience. He glanced at his cousin, whose expression was a mix of confusion and distress. Taking a deep breath, Logan continued, "Adrian, I know this is hard to accept, but you know I'm desperate to find Tiara and Arianna. We can't let personal feelings cloud our judgment and I know that. I wouldn't just accuse your father if I believed he couldn't do something like this."
Adrian finally spoke, his voice filled with uncertainty. "What should I do then? How can I help you find them? If not for anything, just to help resonate my father from the crime of kidnapping his own family."
Logan knew it was going to take time for Adrian to finally accept that his father was evil. He just hoped that that didn't happen when it was already too late.
Logan leaned forward, his tone softening because he didn't want to provoke his cousin further. "Adrian, first, I think it's crucial for you to have an open and honest conversation with your father. Ask him about the events surrounding the disappearance of Tiara and Arianna. Don't accuse him, but express your concerns and ask for the truth. He might give you answers that help clear his name or reveal more about what happened."
Logan knew that maybe his uncle might let everything slip because he trusts Adrian and he knows that Adrian trusts him too. It would be easy for him to share everything with Adrian because he would believe that Adrian would never go against him. Dedrick had said that their father knew that Adrian loved him and that it may be the reason why he mostly shared things with him and not all his sons.
He was still sceptical though because if his uncle shared everything with Adrian, then Adrian should know that his father was not a saint. If it wasn't for the fact that almost everyone in the palace has described Adrian as a man of honour, he would've thought the man was just pretending to be blind about his father's crimes.
"I will see what I can do," Adrian said as he left the room. Logan looked at him, wondering if he would really help them take down his father and find the whereabouts of Tiara and Arianna.
"You have to give him time, son." Logan didn't even realise he spent a long time looking at his cousin's retreating back until he heard his mother's voice.
"I know Mom, I just wish that time wouldn't be too long. Arianna doesn't have that luxury." It's been five days since their disappearance and Logan didn't want to think what will happen if they don't find them in time.
"I know and I'm worried as well but you have to understand that your uncle has always been your cousin's hero. He doesn't want to believe that man could be evil. It's not that he doesn't doubt him, it's just that he doesn't want to believe it.
"We've already planted the seed of doubt in his mind and believe me, it won't take long for him to see the truth. Even though I had hoped that he would listen to you and believe your every word, I can't blame him."
The room was silent for a while and Logan was kind of grateful because he didn't exactly know what to say. That gratitude was short-lived because his mind went back to his wife. He couldn't sleep last night because he was dreaming about her, in bed.
The dream had felt so real he didn't want to wake up from it. His wife was so eager for everything he did and gave to her. It felt different from their usual love-making but still, he enjoyed every last minute of it.
He had woken up covered in sweat and frustrated when he realised it was just a dream. Even his hands couldn't release the tension in his d**k and that alone had kept him awake all night.
"Logan, are you okay?" He looked at his mother and by the look on her face, she'd asked him that question several times before she caught his attention.
"I'm fine." He didn't explain further because he didn't trust himself to say something normal.
"You don't look fine." She looked at him, really looked at him this time and her face was full of concern. "In fact, you look like you haven't slept at all. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Mom. I just couldn't sleep last night." He just hoped his mother would drop it because he wasn't going to tell his mother that he couldn't sleep last night because he was dreaming of s*x and that his hands had decided to abandon him after being together for years.
He'd never had a problem with giving himself an orgasm with his hands before he met Tiara but ever since that little minx came into his life, his hands decided to break up with him or maybe they didn't, his c**k wanted only her hands around it.
He found himself smiling at that. He hadn't thought of that because with his wife always with him and willing to pleasure him, he didn't exactly need his hands.
"Now what has brought that smile to your face?" He looked at everyone in the room, they were all looking at him curiously except for Clayton. His little brother was amused for some reason.
"Nothing." He dismissed his mother's stare and looked at Axel. "Have you made any progress with what we got from Anthony?"
"Not yet but I have asked one of my tech friends to keep an eye out. He said that he might have answers for me by the end of the week. I know we would've appreciated receiving them sooner but that's the fastest he can get information."
Logan nodded in understanding. Waiting for answers felt excruciating, but he knew they needed to be patient. Every moment counted in their quest to find Tiara and Arianna, but rushing into things without proper information could be even more detrimental.
As the day wore on, Logan couldn't shake the restlessness that had plagued him since his sleepless night. He decided to take a walk in the palace gardens to clear his mind. The lush greenery and serene surroundings provided a temporary respite from the overwhelming thoughts that had been consuming him.
He wandered among the carefully cared-for vibrant flowers, his mind a whirlwind of emotions and questions. Where could Tiara and Arianna be? Were they safe? What had really happened that morning? And, perhaps most troubling of all, what if they never found them?
His footsteps took him to a small gazebo tucked away in a secluded corner of the garden. It was a place he and Tiara had retreated to for a private moment when they came to the palace. The memories flooded back, and for a moment, he closed his eyes, relishing the warmth of her smile and the feel of her hand in his.
But reality soon pulled him back. Tiara and Arianna were out there somewhere, possibly in danger, and he couldn't afford to dwell in the past. He had to focus on the present and the future, on finding them and ensuring their safety.
Just as he was about to leave the gazebo, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Logan."
He turned to see his cousin, Adrian, standing at the entrance. The weariness in Adrian's eyes mirrored Logan's own, but there was also a hint of determination.
"I spoke to my father," Adrian began, his voice low. "I asked him about the night Tiara and Arianna disappeared."
Logan's heart raced. This was a crucial moment. "And what did he say?"
Adrian hesitated for a moment before answering. "He denied any involvement in their disappearance. He said he was at the palace that night, and he had witnesses to vouch for his alibi."
Logan's disappointment was palpable, but he couldn't afford to lose hope. And besides, it wasn't like he believed his uncle would tell the truth. "Did he say anything else? Any information that might help us?"
Adrian nodded. "He did admit that he had heard rumours about Tiara and Arianna being taken, but he claimed he had no knowledge of who might be responsible. He seemed genuinely surprised."
Logan mulled over this information. It was frustrating to hear his uncle's denial, but it was a start. "Did he mention anything about the rumours? Any names or details?"
Adrian shook his head. "No, he didn't provide any specific names or details. He said he dismissed the rumours as baseless gossip."
Logan had to give it to his uncle. After days of searching for Tiara and Arianna, he had described their kidnapping as mere rumours. The man was beyond redemption.
Logan sighed, feeling both relieved and frustrated. At least Adrian had taken the initiative to confront his father, and the denial itself proved what Logan was already suspecting. His uncle didn't trust Adrian as everyone seemed to think. "Thank you, Adrian. I appreciate your efforts. We'll continue to investigate and follow any leads we can find."
Adrian looked conflicted but nodded. "I hope you find them, Logan. And if my father is involved, I hope he faces justice."
Logan was stunned. He hadn't expected that from his cousin. His mother was right, the seed of doubt had been planted and it was only a matter of time until Adrian saw his father for who he truly is.