Not twins novel (Natasha and Kenneth)

Thalia looked at Dave, suddenly at a loss for words.

Seeing that she was livid to the point that words eluded her, Dave questioned, "Why, you've got no rebuttal to that?"

"I just can't understand how a grown man can blatantly lie," Thalia scoffed, her voice low and dripping with mockery.

Dave's expression remained unchanged, and he stared right at her. "This matter is already a done deal. Regardless of whether it's true, we've been carrying the blame all these years. Would my denial make any difference? Is it important? Or do you think that this lie can change the facts?"

"So, you're implying that I'm lying?" Thalia retorted, her voice colored with an icy undertone.

"Were you at the scene then?" Dave countered.

Thalia paused for a moment before pursing her lips awkwardly. "Even though I wasn't there, all this was recounted by Holden personally!"

Dave laughed, his amusement clear and evident.

"Sometimes, when hatred runs too deep, it can blind someone." He gazed at her intently.

"Are you suggesting that Holden lied?" Thalia demanded, a hint of hostility flashing across her face.

"You're the one who said that, not me!" Dave denied that nonchalantly.

Thalia snickered, her red lips curving up into a radiant smile. Yet, the darkness in her eyes grew increasingly dangerous. "You don't need to insinuate anything here. If Holden hadn't witnessed it himself, he wouldn't have been so sure. Do you think we would have jumped to conclusions just because of a bullet?"

"That's your business."

"How dare-"

"All right, that's enough!" Anthony abruptly interrupted just then.

The two of them swung their gazes at him. Upon glimpsing his tense expression, they finally realized something and gradually began to rein in their emotions.

"I think I've got the gist of it," Anthony said. Then, he turned to Dave. "You can go on with your work, Mr. Dave."

Without giving it much thought, Dave nodded. Subsequently, he turned around and walked away without a glance at Thalia.

Watching as Dave's figure disappeared from sight, Thalia couldn't help but add, "How ridiculous! Even if we wanted to frame them, we didn't need to resort to such a lie!" Anthony studied her. Their reactions affirmed that neither of them were lying.

As the mediator, Anthony also believed that they wouldn't deceive him over such a matter.

Therefore, the entire situation indicated that there was a problem in the matter.

As he ate, his brows furrowed slightly. Something seemingly brewed in his ebony eyes.

At that exact moment, Thalia glanced at him. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Anthony snapped back to reality and looked at her. "What should I be saying?" "Who you believe, of course!" said Thalia.

"I believe you both!"

"What on earth do you mean by that? It's definitely Dave making up stories in this matter!" Thalia asserted with absolute certainty.

At that, Anthony held her gaze. "If my belief in someone could make a difference, then I'd rather put my faith in Mr. Dave. At the very least, there'll be room for things to turn around for real!" Thalia suddenly froze. She had forgotten that the person involved in this matter was Kenneth, his father.

Seeing his troubled expression, she sighed. "I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant. I just wanted to prove that neither Holden nor I lied."

"I know."

"I'd rather I'm the one making up stories too, but this was what Kyle told me himself. Do you think he would lie to me on purpose?" Thalia countered.

"For that reason, I believe both of you!" Anthony stated sincerely.

"But in this matter, someone must be lying. If you believe us both, this whole thing doesn't add up!" argued Thalia.

"Perhaps that's the truth of the matter?" Anthony suddenly remarked with his gaze fixed on her.

Thalia was taken aback. She looked at him, her exquisite face lined with confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

Anthony took a deep breath. He knew that everything was just his speculation at the moment, and he lacked evidence. Therefore, it was better not to say too much, lest he got his hopes up, only to end up disappointed.

"Nothing. It was just a casual comment," Anthony said slowly, trying to bluff his way out of it.

However, it was clear that Thalia was not easily fooled. Her years of vigilance were still evident then.

Scrutinizing him, she shook her head. "No, something's off about you."

Anthony continued to eat with his gaze lowered, acting as though he hadn't heard a thing.

"Something is amiss with you, Anthony Watson," Thalia repeated.

"What's amiss?"

"Shouldn't you be the one telling me that?" Thalia asked.

"But I'm perfectly fine!"

Thalia narrowed her eyes, a glint of sharpness flickering across them. "What were you up to last night that kept you awake?"

"Thinking about things."

"What are you thinking about?"

"About the matter between Daddy and Holden."

"So, what have you gathered?"

Suddenly, Anthony fell silent.

Thalia stared right at him, a subtle hint of darkness flickering in her eyes. "Why have you stopped talking?"

"Nothing much. If I had something, I wouldn't have asked." Anthony remained stubborn, refusing to admit anything. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

However, Thalia suddenly leaned close to him. "Anthony, I may not be the brightest person, but I'm certainly no fool. I have all the intuition and sharpness needed. Plus, I've interacted with you for such a long time. Do you really think I don't understand you at all?"

"So, what have you understood?"

"Something has been off about you since last night, and you even asked Dave such a question in front of me, so you must have wanted me to hear it. Well, what have you gathered?" Thalia pressed. Anthony looked at her, hesitating for a few seconds. "I'm afraid you wouldn't believe me even if I were tell you.”

"You wouldn't know that unless when you tell me."

"I don't think it was my daddy who killed Holden's girlfriend," Anthony said.

Thalia was stunned for a moment before looking at him. "Anthony, I know you really want-"

"I know what you want to say. You think that I'm just eager to mediate the situation between Holden and my daddy. Indeed, I really want to do that. But just like your argument with Mr. Dave, if it truly were my father who killed her, what would be the difference between doing it intentionally and accidentally when he had already committed such a crime? He wouldn't deny such a fact," Anthony enunciated. "But Holden witnessed it with his own eyes."

"That's why something is not quite right," Anthony said.

"So, what is not quite right?" asked Thalia.

"I don't know the answer to that. But I know that once we figure it out, everything else will fall into place," Anthony murmured.

Thalia looked at him. She wanted to argue but then felt there was some truth to Anthony's words.

Moreover, during her stay there, she had personally bore witness to Dave's character and conduct. Even though someone could lie, the specifics never did so. The man could indeed be described as an upright gentleman and wouldn't stoop to lying to her in such a matter since it would make little difference anyway.

In this case, could Anthony have hit the nail on the head, and something isn't quite right? But Holden witnessed it with his own eyes. What could be amiss here?

As Thalia pondered upon it, her eyes narrowed a fraction.