Chapter 1238

Bennett was practically tripping over his own words, desperate to clear things up.

"Cole, that isn't what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Cole let out a long, tired sigh. "Bottom line, you didn't let me in to see my dad."

That just made Bennett even more anxious.

How did everything get so messy?

He started to say something, but Cole cut him off, his frustration obvious.

"Bennett, is it Dad who doesn't want to see me? If that's the case, say so. I'll leave right now—I'd never want to upset him." Cole's shoulders slumped, and he suddenly looked completely defeated.

Seeing him like that, Bennett was torn. Lying felt impossible right now.

He tried to think of an excuse, but nothing sounded right.

Just then, Oliver stepped out of the house.

"Cole."

"Oliver, so you are in there. Is it true your grandpa doesn't want to see me?"

"Cole, you've got it wrong," Oliver said, calm as ever. "Grandpa called Josie over to play chess. She's the only one who can really challenge him, and today he finally figured out how to beat her strategy. He doesn't want anyone interrupting. I I just came with Josie and heard your voice outside, so I came out to see what was going on."

Really, Oliver was just trying to buy Josefina more time inside. With Cole waiting, someone had to stall him. The last thing Oliver wanted was anyone else finding out that Brandon had been poisoned. The fewer people who knew, the better.

"Funny," Cole forced a smile. “I came to play chess with your grandpa too."

"In that case, maybe you should come back another day," Oliver said, his voice totally cool and distant.

Cole's smile disappeared.

"Oliver, I know I'm not as good as

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Josie, but I could learn a lot just watching. If you guys are too busy to play with your grandpa, I could keep him company."

He started to move past Oliver, but Oliver stepped right in front of him, eyes sharp

and cold. The tension was thick enough to cut.

Cole felt the hostility but stubbornly held his ground.

"What's your deal, Oliver? Is your grandpa's room off-limits to everyone but you? I'm your uncle, for crying out loud. Do you have to be so disrespectful?"

“Disrespectful?" Oliver's voice was icy. “Are you sure it's me?”

Cole was at a loss for words, his anger obvious but stuck just beneath the surface.

Bennett stood off to the side, caught in the middle, feeling like anything he said would only make things worse.

He'd lived a long time, but moments like this always left him rattled.

Oliver, a little taller than Cole, looked down at him with a cool authority that was hard to ignore.

"Cole, you know Grandpa's in there playing chess. Why make things difficult for everyone?"

Cole had nothing to say. If he barged in, he risked offending the old man. But walking away felt like swallowing his pride.

With no other choice, Cole stomped off, fuming.

Bennett finally let out a breath, relieved that Cole was gone, at least for now.

Handling stuff like this was never easy.

Oliver told Bennett to keep watch and headed back inside.

"Don't worry, Oliver. I'll stand guard. No one's getting past me," Bennett promised, trying to

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confident than he felt.

But as soon as Oliver stepped inside, something about the scene made him stop in

his tracks—a strange feeling of uncertainty creeping in.