The party went on until late evening before it finally ended.
Immediately after the party, everyone dispersed, each leaving with different thoughts about what had happened.
Jason and Annabelle also left the banquet together.
The drive back to the villa was quiet.
Annabelle sat beside Jason, staring through the window.
She couldn't stop thinking about the old man who had caused the disturbance.
There was something about the way he had looked at her that made her uncomfortable.
After a while, she finally broke the silence.
"Jason."
"Hmm?"
"Do you know that man who came to the banquet?"
Jason looked at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.
"No."
"You don't know him?"
"No."
Annabelle frowned slightly.
"But your grandfather and my grandfather seemed to know him."
Jason remained quiet.
"I noticed that too," he finally said.
"And your grandfather looked scared when he saw him."
Jason didn't answer immediately.
He had noticed the same thing.
"I'll ask him about it."
Annabelle nodded.
"Okay."
She looked out of the window again.
There was another question she wanted to ask, but she wasn't sure if she should.
After a few seconds, she turned back to him.
"Did you notice the way your aunt reacted when I mentioned my mother's name?"
Jason's eyes moved towards her.
"My aunt?"
"Yes. When your grandfather introduced me to her, she asked about my mother."
"And?"
"When I told her my mother's name was Maria, she suddenly looked shocked."
Jason's expression became slightly serious.
"I noticed."
"Do you know why?"
"No."
Annabelle sighed.
"I don't know either."
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
Annabelle looked down at her hands.
"It's strange."
"What is?"
"I have always thought I knew everything about my family."
Jason glanced at her.
"Maybe you don't."
Annabelle looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes there are things people don't tell us."
His words made her pause.
"Are you talking from experience?"
Jason didn't answer.
Instead, he looked ahead.
Annabelle studied his face for a moment before deciding not to ask again.
The rest of the journey was quiet.
Neither of them knew that, only a short distance away, someone was sitting alone and thinking about a secret that had been hidden for fifteen years.
Meanwhile, in a study room at the Grayson mansion, Jason's grandfather sat quietly with a worried expression on his face.
He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened at the banquet.
The secret he had kept hidden for years had finally come back to haunt him.
He closed his eyes as the memories came rushing back.
**Fifteen years ago.**
"Mark, do you think it is fair for David Bradford to take away the woman I love?" a well-dressed man asked.
Mark looked at him.
"You know both of you are my friends, and I can't be the judge of that. But honestly, I thought we had all moved on."
"Moved on?"
The man laughed bitterly.
"Even though it has been twenty-five years since this happened, I still can't get over it. I can't get over her. I am still single till date."
"You can still try to find someone else. And if you really can't, the least you can do is allow her to be happy with her family."
"No."
The man's expression darkened.
"I don't think I can do that."
He picked up his glass and took another drink.
"She can't have a child with David. I will kill their son."
Mark stared at him in shock.
"Are you fine? What are you saying? You want to hurt your friend because of a woman? You want to kill the very boy whose growth you have watched? Are you mad?"
"Yes, I am."
The man pointed at his chest.
"I can't get her out of my mind. I am hurt here."
He picked up his drink and swallowed it.
"You know what? I think you're drunk. Let me take you home."
Mark stood up and helped the drunken man out of the bar.
The memory faded.
A knock on the door brought the old man back to the present.
"Father, can I come in?"
It was his elder daughter, Victoria.
"Yes, come in."
Victoria opened the door and walked inside.
"Father, I need to speak with you."
"You can have your seat. What is it about?"
Victoria sat down and looked at her father.
"Father, I know you are aware of what I want to say."
The old man looked at her carefully.
"How did you find out?"
"I saw your confession letter by mistake on the table a few years ago."
She paused.
"You were planning to give it to him, right?"
The old man lowered his head.
"I regret not telling him."
His voice was filled with regret.
"I regret keeping it all to myself. I shouldn't have believed what my other friend said."
"I know, Father. But you can still tell Annabelle's grandfather. I am very sure he doesn't blame you."
"I am not sure of that."
He sighed.
"Since they all think it was an accident, let it remain an accident."
"Father, that's wrong."
"I know."
The old man looked down at his hands.
"But I am scared."
He paused for a moment.
"Jason just got married to his granddaughter. I can't ruin their marriage."