C304 Breaking News

Sarah frowned deeply as she processed everything her father had just revealed. "Dad..." she said quietly, "you mean they wanted Alicia's grandfather, but they couldn't get to him... so they struck his family instead?" Kelvin slowly nodded. "From everything you've told me, that seems to be exactly what happened." A heavy silence settled over the living room.

Sarah's face gradually turned pale. "Then..." she whispered, "Chris and I really aren't safe." Everyone turned to look at her. "If they can't get to Mike and Alicia..." she continued, "...they'll eventually come after the people closest to them." Tracy blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about, Sarah?" "We don't even interact with them that much. Why would anyone target you and Chris?" Sarah slowly shook her head. "Mom... that's not how war works." "When war begins, there are always casualties."

She lowered her eyes. "Alicia's mother and her aunt weren't the people the Harris family wanted..." "They were simply casualties." The room fell completely silent. Tracy's jaw slowly dropped. "What..." "You mean innocent people can be dragged into this?" Sarah nodded. "Yes." "And that's exactly why I'm worried." She slowly turned toward Ben. "Brother..." "You're already deeply involved with Jack." "What are you going to do now?" Ben froze. For the first time, he genuinely looked lost. "I..." he muttered. "I don't know." "I only agreed to become his friend." "I never imagined things would become like this."

He sighed heavily. "I don't even know whether I should betray him now." Before anyone else could respond, Samantha spoke calmly. "You didn't hesitate to betray Mike and Chris back then." "So why is it suddenly difficult to betray Jack?" Ben slowly looked at his wife. His lips moved, but no words came out. He wanted to argue. He wanted to defend himself. But he couldn't. Because deep down... ...he knew she was right. But everything he did was because he loved Samantha. The atmosphere became painfully awkward. No one spoke.

Suddenly, Breaking News flashed across the television screen. The loud sound immediately caught everyone's attention. Sarah pointed toward the television. "Dad..." "Look." Everyone instinctively turned. The news presenter appeared on the screen with a serious expression. "Breaking news this morning." "Three bodies were discovered outside Celtic Mall." "According to witnesses, a black vehicle without registration plates stopped briefly before dumping the bodies and fleeing the scene."

Photographs of the victims appeared on the television. An elderly woman... A teenage boy... And a young woman in her twenties. Ben's breathing suddenly stopped. His eyes widened in disbelief. "No..." The camera zoomed in on the young woman's face. Natalie. His entire body stiffened. The reporter continued. "Police believe this may be a revenge-related killing." "One disturbing detail is that the word 'SCAMMERS' had been spray-painted across the victims' faces." The image changed again. Natalie's face filled the television screen. Across her forehead, in large black letters, was a single word. SCAMMERS.

No one in the living room moved. No one even breathed. They all recognized her. Slowly... Every pair of eyes turned toward Ben. Sarah was the first to break the silence. Her voice trembled. "Brother..." "Is this..." "...the revenge you were talking about?" She swallowed hard. "They killed an innocent elderly woman..." "...and a teenage boy..." "...just because they were with Natalie?" Kelvin's expression darkened. He stared directly at his son. "Ben." His voice was unusually calm. "Did you send someone to kill her?" "And her entire family?"

Tracy covered her mouth as tears began flowing down her cheeks. "Oh, my God..." "If the police investigate this properly..." "They'll eventually connect everything." She pointed at the television. "The word 'SCAMMERS'..." "That alone tells the whole story." "They'll find out you were scammed by her." "It'll only be a matter of time before they knock on our door." Ben felt as though the world around him had stopped. His heart pounded violently. Confusion... Fear... Guilt... Everything crashed into him at once.

He quickly stood up. "No!" "I didn't do this!" "I swear I didn't!" Everyone remained silent. Ben looked desperately from one face to another. "Mom..." "Dad..." "I never asked Jack to kill anyone." "Why would he do something like this?" "The only thing I ever told him..." "...was that Natalie stole my money and disappeared." "That was all." "I never asked him to find her." "I never asked him to hurt her." "And I certainly never asked anyone to kill her." His voice cracked. "I didn't do this..." "I only told him because he asked about her after we were trending online."

Sarah let out a long sigh. "It just keeps getting worse..." Kelvin slowly nodded. "I believe you." Ben looked at his father hopefully. "You... you do?" Kelvin nodded again. "I believe that you never intended for this to happen." He paused before his expression became grave. "But the police..." "They won't believe you that easily." Ben frowned. "What do you mean?" "I'll simply tell them the truth." "I'll tell them it was Jack." "Why should I be blamed for something I never ordered?"

Kelvin closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, there was disappointment in them. "My son..." "Are you really that naïve?" Ben froze. Kelvin continued, "You think you can simply mention Jack's name..." "...and the police will instantly believe you?" "Where's your evidence?" "What proof do you have?" Ben opened his mouth... ...then closed it again. He had none. Kelvin sighed. "And even if..." "...even if the police somehow believed your story..." "...what do you think would happen next?"

Ben remained silent. Kelvin's voice became even heavier. "The Harris family would immediately know someone talked." "They murdered Natalie..." "They murdered her sick mother..." "They murdered a teenage boy..." "Simply because they believed she had wronged someone." He looked directly into Ben's eyes. "So tell me..." "What do you think they'll do to us..." "...if they discover you went to the police?"

Those words hit everyone like a hammer. Tracy's face instantly turned pale. Samantha unconsciously gripped the armrest of the sofa. Even Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. The room became deathly quiet. Finally, Sarah looked at her father. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Dad..." "What exactly do you mean?"