The Miracle of You

The Callahan family mansion was massive, built with a modern design of smooth white stone with dark steel accents. The garden was also huge, with different kinds of flowers growing everywhere.

In front of the entrance, after entering through the gates, there was a large fountain and several paths leading to various places, such as the greenhouse, the driveway, and the swimming pool area.

It had been a while since Christian had last visited this place. After he and Camille got their own place, he hardly had a reason to come here.

It wasn’t that he hated his father’s company. Rather, he was too busy to visit and just have tea and small talk with his aging father.

Gregory Callahan was no longer the almighty and intimidating presence he once was. As the years passed, age had taken its toll on his features, making him look weaker than before. Though his vitality and intelligence still shone as brightly as ever, Christian was clearly the more domineering and intimidating one in the family.

‘Such a large home yet barely anybody lives here except for the servants,’ Christian thought to himself in distaste as he glanced at the fountain after getting out of his car.

The Callahans had several members in the family. Gregory was the second youngest son of his parents, who had a total of five children. He had two brothers and three sisters.

Personally, Christian never really cared for any of his aunts and uncles. They just basked in the glory of Gregory’s accomplishments and visited only to ask for money or to borrow some for ‘investments’.

Gregory didn’t really care and gave them whatever they asked for – but of course there was a limit to the amount of money he would give each time – but Christian didn’t really like that kind of attitude. It just made his aunts and uncles more used to it, and they would just blatantly use Gregory as their money tree.

And soon enough, once the time would come for Gregory to pass away, Christian was sure that they would be flocking to him next, trying to curry favor with him.

Such things disgusted him.

There were times during the year when his aunts and cousins came to stay at the mansion, but they never stayed permanently. After all, they were busy traveling around the world and spending their money on various investments that always seemed to fail miserably. It was just pathetic at this point.

As for his younger sister, Patricia…

God only knew what that girl was up to these days. As far as he knew, she was still living her bubbly life overseas, having graduated a year ago. Gregory wanted her to learn about the business and take over a branch, but it seemed she had another goal in mind.

Besides, being a restless spirit who loved adventure, Patricia rarely stayed at the mansion. She only came home for the holidays, and that was it.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if she has had her 100th boyfriend by now,’ Christian thought to himself with a shake of his head. Patricia went through boyfriends every few months like she was changing clothes. She always seemed bored and eager for new experiences and adventures.

Fortunately, she and her exes often ended on good terms, which was more than enough.

On the other hand, he really wasn’t one to talk. He also had affairs with several women over the years, though he couldn’t really call it ‘dating’. They were just there to satisfy his desires, nothing more. They were well compensated afterwards, so no harm done.

As for Patricia, she just liked to date. She was really different from him and her father.

Although it was annoying for Christian to get messages on his phone every day because Patricia was buying all sorts of things with his credit card, it was fine. Gregory didn’t trust her enough to give her an unlimited card because she might use it to buy a car for her boyfriend – which she had done once before, that foolish girl – so in the end, Christian offered one of his own credit cards.

He had several of them, so it didn’t really matter to him. Besides, he could see what kind of things she bought, so as long as it wasn’t something outrageous like a house or an expensive car, he didn’t care. She was free to do as she wished. She was still young.

“I’ve been expecting you,” Gregory said as soon as Christian entered the mansion and the butler opened the door for him.

Gregory was already standing there, looking solemn.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

“I assume you already know the reason why I am here,” Christian said flatly, allowing the butler to take off his coat.

Gregory smiled thinly. “Word gets around, unfortunately. Although I can see that you’ve been doing a lot of things lately without caring about the consequences.”

The last part was said in mild distaste.

Christian’s features twisted in annoyance. “What do you know?” he asked, testing the extent of his father’s knowledge.

Gregory shook his head. “Nothing much. Just that someone made a racket weeks ago and said something important. I did not get the details, but I assumed that you would come and explain it to me. I understand that it’s been a busy period, though.”

Christian’s eyes narrowed. “He knows,” he said flatly.

“Who knows about what?”

“Harold Huckington. Does the name ring a bell?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. He’s a notorious fellow, that one.” Gregory shook his head. “Hasn’t he worked together with you a few times before?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, the little rat got hold of information that he wasn’t supposed to have.” Christian crossed his arms over his chest and stared into his father’s eyes. “He told me explicitly that he knows the truth about my mother and her death. What did he mean by that?”

A tense silence instantly fell in the air, coating the atmosphere with a thick, transparent haze that seemed to envelop them.

But Christian, undeterred, continued to stare at his father, his expression not changing in the slightest.

Finally, Gregory let out a sigh and motioned for Christian to follow him.

“Let’s go and talk in my office,” he suggested.