Chapter 786

Chapter 786:

Neal, Rosita, and Hamilton remained away for three days, finally returning to Esaham on the evening of the fourth.

“Ms. Morgan, we’ve gathered the information,” Rosita announced to Fernanda. “Neal’s father has indeed been a long-time drug addict. However, we discovered something unexpected—Neal himself once reported him.”

Fernanda, unshaken by the revelation, simply said, “Tell me everything.”

“When Neal was in middle school, he reported his father’s activities to the police, leading to his arrest and mandatory rehabilitation. We checked official records, and it’s all documented. We also spoke to a retired officer who vividly remembers the case. He said he’d never seen a child with such an unwavering sense of justice—reporting his own father, no less.”

“But his father relapsed after the rehabilitation?”

“Yes,” Rosita nodded. “We also spoke to their neighbors, and without exception, every single one had high regard for Neal. Their family had once been prosperous, a picture of happiness, until his father wrecked it all. At first, Neal distanced himself from his father entirely, focusing solely on his mother. Every penny he earned from part-time jobs went straight to her, but she, in turn, handed it over to his father.”

Rosita sighed, rubbing her temples. “Neal’s mother was a gentle soul, always yielding to her husband’s demands. Maybe the weight of it all became too much. After Neal graduated high school, she took her own life… She left a letter behind, asking Neal to take care of his father and for the two of them to live well together. That was when he started giving money to his father. It wasn’t out of love—it was the last wish of the only person who had ever truly loved him.”

Even Rosita, who had written about life’s darkest corners countless times, felt the weight of Neal’s story pressing on her heart.

He was obviously a wonderful young man who should have had a wonderful life but was brought down by his family.

But in spite of his family history, he remained resolute and independent.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing,” Rosita tapped the table lightly. “When we spoke with Neal’s neighbors, they mentioned something curious—someone else had come asking about Neal’s family a few months ago.”

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺: ⳑ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⸬𝖼𝗈𝗺

Fernanda’s expression sharpened. “Who?”

“It was Beckett Ramirez.”

Fernanda blinked, the name catching her off guard. “Beckett visited Neal’s hometown? Months ago? What exactly did he ask about?”

“He inquired about Neal’s family, specifically the whereabouts of Neal’s father,” Rosita explained. “They didn’t know who that person was at first, and the three-month-old surveillance footage was irretrievable. I pulled up the picture of Beckett you had previously sent me and presented it to them for identification when I…”

Fernanda recalled that you had told me Beckett had set Neal up. They verified that Beckett was the one.”

Fernanda lowered her gaze slightly, already calculating her next steps. “Alright, I get that. I’ll handle the Beckett-related matters,” she concluded. “You guys should write an article as soon as possible, focusing on the information you gathered during your visit while improving Neal’s image.”

.

.

.