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Chapter 6 : Name of Kyle Seymour

During Aishleen's high school years, there were a few notable instances when she heard the name Kyle Seymour.

The first time was when she entered high school. Kyle's name was mentioned briefly as the recent graduate who achieved record-breaking grades and completed his studies in the shortest time ever. Aishleen would see his photo displayed throughout the school, along with articles showcasing his accomplishments in both academics and sports, as well as the medals he won in various academic competitions. However, she never had the chance to meet him in person, even though she occasionally visited the Seymour family's residence to work on school projects with her younger brother, who happened to be Kyle's classmate and project partner for two consecutive years.

The second time Aishleen encountered Kyle's name was during her second year of college. She was dating the captain of her college's basketball team, who would often talk about Kyle Seymour, the former captain of a rival university's team. Kyle was known for his ambition and passion, boasting about his achievements while enjoying a few glasses of wine. Aishleen would sometimes accompany her boyfriend to Kyle's tournaments to support him, and occasionally stay for the post-game parties when her boyfriend had no early morning classes. However, Kyle was always occupied with his group of admirers, making it difficult for Aishleen to interact with him.

The third significant event happened years later, which nearly caused Aishleen and her family to face a profound crisis.

After completing her college studies, Aishleen declined her father's request to work directly in his company. Instead, she chose to move out of their family home and live in a minimalist apartment on the outskirts of New York City. It was during this time that she met a European tourist who happened to be vacationing in the United States. He taught her about wine production and everything she needed to know to start her own business. Aishleen meticulously planned every aspect, from building and managing vineyards to storage, employees, branding, and distribution. She was ready to embark on her entrepreneurial journey.

One morning, as Aishleen sat down for breakfast under a bright sky, she turned on the TV and heard Kyle Seymour's name mentioned on the live morning news. The news anchor happened to be someone Aishleen had a crush on during her first year of high school. However, she could barely recognize Kyle as his face appeared on the screen. He looked much older, with a thin mustache and beard obscuring his features, and visible wrinkles around his eyes that showed his anger as he shouted towards the camera. Aishleen couldn't take her eyes off the television screen, trying to decipher his words through his lips' movements. Almost unnoticed, a headline appeared at the bottom of the screen:

"HEIR OF SEYMOUR GROUP BUSINESS CAUGHT RED-HANDED IN MONEY LAUNDERING AND INVESTMENT FRAUD."

At that moment, Aishleen didn't dwell on it much, only reminding herself to reach out to Keenan's older brother and her old school friend, Keenan himself, to ensure their safety. She had lost touch with her former classmates over the years, and her father had no connection with the Seymour Group or its business ventures.

Little did Aishleen know that her family would become entangled in this turmoil later on. It wasn't until about a year later when her father called one morning and said, "Aishleen, we might be in trouble."

Those words sent a chill down Aishleen's spine as she listened intently, realizing that the repercussions of Kyle Seymour's actions had now reached her own family. Her mind raced with questions and worries, desperately seeking answers from her father. What had happened? How were they involved? And what did it mean for their future?

Aishleen's father explained the grim reality. The Seymour Group, the very business empire associated with the Seymour family, had been embroiled in a scandal of money laundering and investment fraud. Kyle, the heir apparent, had been caught red-handed, and the fallout was rippling through the company and its affiliates.

As Aishleen absorbed the shocking news, she couldn't help but feel a mix of disbelief, anger, and concern. The Seymour name, once synonymous with success and prestige, was now tarnished by scandal. The implications for her family's reputation, their financial security, and even their personal lives weighed heavily on her.

Aishleen realized that their connection to the Seymour Group, even if indirect, could have serious consequences. Her mind raced with possibilities of legal entanglements, damaged relationships, and the potential loss of everything they had worked so hard to build.


"They killed Darrel. The Seymour family killed Darrel."

Those words echoed in Aishleen's mind ever since she first heard them. Aishleen, who had no suspicions about the sudden death of her beloved fiancé, especially after authorities ruled it as an accident. But when her own mother approached her, carrying those words, right after Aishleen returned home with news of her plan to accept Keenan Seymour's proposal, she couldn't help but ask, "What really happened that night?"

Aishleen was first introduced to Darrel when she returned home from her unfinished search. Darrel was an experienced and skilled young man who had climbed his way up to become her father's right-hand man. Initially, she was suspicious of him, even resenting him for capturing her father's attention, with his name constantly mentioned at the family dinner table. Aishleen resented him for stealing her father's attention away from her and even declaring directly in front of her that Aishleen saw him as a rival. However, in the end, he managed to win Aishleen's heart, as well as her mother's.

Aishleen knew how much her mother loved him like her own child. She could see the genuine sorrow in her mother's eyes, and perhaps his death was even more painful for her than it was for Aishleen, and only Aishleen knew the reason why.

Even so, her mother remained an enigma. A woman who was eccentric, with a character that could never be explained in mere words. She always had her own ways of showing love and deep thoughts, and she truly had her own way of grieving, whether it was for what happened to her father's company or Darrel's death. Venting her anger on everything around her, including Aishleen.

That's why, at first, Aishleen refused to accept her accusations until one day she found a reason to embrace them.

"What makes you think he's any different from his brother?" her mother asked Aishleen one night when she attended a family dinner. Aishleen didn't give an immediate answer then, silently stating in her heart, "Because unlike his brother, Keenan has never been a ghost to me."

Her mother's question lingered in the air, filled with doubt and suspicion. Aishleen knew that her mother's words held a weight of accusation, hinting at the possibility that Keenan might be involved in the dark events surrounding the Seymour family. But Aishleen couldn't easily accept that notion.

In her mind, she replayed the memories she shared with Keenan, the moments they spent together, and the connection they had formed. Unlike his brother, Keenan had always been present, attentive, and supportive. He had been her confidant, her best friend, and her pillar of strength. She could count on him, trust him, and feel his genuine care.

While the shadow of suspicion loomed over Keenan's family, Aishleen couldn't let go of the belief that he was different, that he held a distinct character separate from the troubles that surrounded the Seymour Group. He had never been a ghostly figure, detached or distant, but someone who had been there for her, even in the darkest moments.

Aishleen knew she had to uncover the truth, to dig deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Seymour family.

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