Chapter 9 Unveiling Secrets of the Gray Family

Detective James asked again, unsure, "Your father’s name is John Gray? Mr. John of Gray Corporation?" Arthur nodded slightly. John and Raelynn had always told him not to let anyone at school know he was the young master of the Gray family. They claimed it was to avoid making Zac feel inferior. For years, he had only worn his school uniform and a shabby appearance. He rarely spent any money on himself, so who would suspect that he was the young master of the Gray family? Everyone only knew he had offended Zac, the young master of the Gray family, but the specifics of how remained unclear. Detective James’s frown deepened. The Gray family was one of South City’s most prominent and affluent families. But as far as he knew, they had only one young master named Zac. He had no idea there was another son named Arthur. Arthur wasn’t wearing his school uniform today. His outfit was an old piece of clothing Raelynn had bought for Zac two years ago. It had been too large for Zac and was handed down to Arthur. In the past two years, Arthur had grown taller, and the outfit was now slightly short on him. Aside from his school uniform, these two pieces of clothing were all Arthur had, and they had already faded from countless washes. Although he wasn’t short, his thin, bony frame and pale, malnourished face made him look nothing like a rich family’s young master. Clearly, there was some hidden story behind this. Since Arthur was a minor, the law required his parents to be contacted. "Call your parents," Detective James instructed with a furrowed brow. No matter the situation, letting this child endure prolonged bullying and sustain such injuries without intervention was a blatant failure of the Gray family’s parental duties. And according to his ID, today was his birthday! Arthur hesitated before asking, "Do we have to call them? They might not be available." At this time, they were probably busy comforting Zac, who had just been discharged from the hospital. Zac’s birthday was only three days away, and he wouldn’t want to spend it in the hospital. Detective James caught Arthur’s reluctance and immediately understood. He despised parents who cared more about their own lives than their children’s well-being. The mental and emotional health of teenagers was incredibly important. If Arthur were emotionally fragile, who knew what kind of tragic outcome could have occurred? Although the Gray family held a prestigious position in South City, Detective James had no intention of sparing them criticism for such neglect. Softening his tone, he reassured Arthur, "Don’t worry, kid. I’ll handle the call for you." Under Detective James’s insistence, John and Raelynn finally arrived at the station as the evening approached. Julie, Rosie, and Susie remained at home to care for Zac. The moment John entered, he erupted, pointing at Arthur and shouting, "Arthur! Another fight? And now you’ve brought it to the police station? Can’t you behave for once? Can’t you think about the family and stop making us worry?" Raelynn, shaking her head with disappointment, added, "Arthur, you insisted on living in the dorms, and you even upset Zac so much that he ended up in the hospital. We’ve been completely exhausted taking care of him, and now, in less than a day, you’re causing trouble and starting another fight! Calling the police like this will make the Gray family a laughingstock tomorrow. Can’t you stop causing trouble for once?" Both of them acted like parents heartbroken by a wayward child who refused to listen. Arthur responded with a mocking laugh. His thin figure seemed weighed down by loneliness. Detective James had clearly explained over the phone that Arthur had been severely bullied and was badly injured. Yet, even after hearing this, they didn’t ask about his injuries or show the slightest concern. Instead, they began scolding him for damaging the family’s reputation by involving the police. Even though Arthur had prepared for this, the reality of it still stung. Ashley, who had just finished her statement, overheard their words and felt a surge of anger. "Your son was bullied! He was nearly beaten to death! And you’re mad at him for calling the police? Why don’t you take responsibility as parents for once?" What she despised most were parents who ignored their child’s feelings and refused to take responsibility—parents exactly like her own. John looked at the young girl in front of him with a frown. She was undeniably stunning, but her brash and aggressive attitude marked her as a problem child. It wasn’t surprising she was siding with Arthur; troublemakers always stick together. Among the major families in South City, he hadn’t seen her before. Clearly, she wasn’t from a wealthy background. Annoyed, John said, "Who are you, kid? So disrespectful! Is that how you’re supposed to speak to adults?"