Chapter: 403

Miguel was despicable for reopening this old wound and trying to manipulate the facts to smear Alan's reputation.

"I'm fine, but I won't let him get away with it this time," Alan responded.

His eyes were blazing with a fiery determination.

“What about Beth's situation?" Kaitlin asked, her gaze drifting towards the hospital room.

Beth had been admitted, likely to shield the family from further disgrace.

Though Beth had remained silent, she had already made her stance clear.

This subtler, indirect form of pressure was the worst.

Alan had always respected his grandmother's wishes, but he had his limits. When pushed too far, he was unlikely to hold back.

Over the years, Alan had grown weary of being hurt. Tired of the emotional toll, he was done investing his feelings in those who consistently let him down.

“Out of respect for my grandmother, I've already given Miguel a chance. If not for that, he wouldn't have been allowed back in Osewood," Alan sighed.

Listening, Kaitlin felt a pang of sorrow. The Hewitt family members, each with their own motives, maintained only a facade of unity.

She moved closer to Alan, her hand instinctively reaching out to caress his gaunt cheek.

“You've been pushing yourself too hard lately. You've lost weight, and now with all this happening..." she said, her eyes brimming with concern.

With a sigh, she added, "I don't know what I can do to help you."

Alan's heart warmed. He held Kaitlin's hand, pressing it gently against his cheek again.

"Kaitlin, just stay by my side. That's all I need from you," he responded, offering a weary smile.

Meanwhile, public opinion was becoming increasingly agitated. Despite the Hewitt Group's public relations team's efforts to quell the rumors, their attempts were largely futile.

As he had promised, Miguel attended the press conference. Under the relentless gaze of cameras and probing questions from reporters, he looked worn to convincingly play the part of a victim.

Alan watched Miguel on the screen, his expression intense and thoughtful.

"I always believed it was an accident, but later I uncovered some clues. I never imagined..." Miguel trailed off.

He strategically paused to choke up, amplifying the tension in the room.

“Mr. Hewitt, why didn't you report this incident to the police back then?" a reporter asked.

“Do you actually possess any concrete evidence?" another pressed.

"Mr. Hewitt, how do you plan to address this? Are you considering legal action to defend your rights?" a third reporter asked.