Kalvin saw Elsa's face on the screen. She was surprised to see Kalvin back on the call.
"Kalvin? Where is Olivia? I see you have passed the storm. What's the problem?" Elsa inquired as she carefully examined the tracking details. Kalvin's piercing gaze towards Elsa spoke volumes about his anger towards the situation. He would shoot her right now if he could shoot through the screen. But Elsa didn't seem to realize Kalvin's anger. She kept checking details and radars.
"I just want to talk to Bell," Kalvin said calmly. Elsa looked at him in surprise.
"But he must be asleep right now. If there is any issue I can help you..." Kalvin interrupted Elsa.
"He's awake, I'm sure. I need him right now, also Maxwell if that's possible. Nobody else can help." Kalvin explained and Elsa looked at him still surprised. She knew about Kalvin's bond with Bell. She has seen Bell carrying Kalvin to the hospital in Kalvin's training season. She knew how much Bell cared for his children and she dialled to Bell.
"I'll try to get him here," Elsa said looking at her tab and dialing to Bell. Kalvin nodded lost in thoughts.
Meanwhile, Olivia went to Melvin's room with Melvin. Olivia looked at Melvin after she locked the door.
"So what are you going to do now? Keep me locked up?" Olivia whispered confused. Melvin looked at her with a smirk.
"Come on I know you are not that stupid" she said, her tone tinged with sarcasm as she turned to Olivia. Olivia eyed her with a quizzical expression.
"Honestly, I just can't make heads or tails of these Snow siblings - correction, Turner siblings," she muttered under her breath. Melvin glared at Olivia and declared,
"Kalvin was right. I should have let him kill you instead of trusting you." Olivia was understandably bewildered, and asked,
"Then why did you bother bringing me here?" in utter confusion. Melvin sighed. Melvin's voice was heavy with concern.
"I'm pretty sure Kalvin is calling Bell for a confession now, after all that I did." Olivia's eyes widened in alarm.
"But Bell is a ruthless leader. He would kill you both. He's the only chancellor who performs the death penalty himself."Melvin shook her head, her eyes intense.
"You don't know Bell like I do. He's not a monster who shoots people like you're thinking. He only does it when he has to. He's not heartless, he's just pragmatic. And I know for a fact that he cares for Kalvin deeply. He'd risk his own life to protect Kalvin."
Olivia listened in silence, her expression thoughtful. Melvin's words had given her pause. Perhaps there was more to Bell than she had realized.
"What if he disagrees? He can't make the decision alone. A council vote for a pardon will be called. Murder is unforgivable" Olivia questioned considering every possibility.
"That's why you are here," Melvin said pointing to Olivia. Olivia felt like she was being played for a moment.
Melvin looked at Olivia and said, "If you think I would risk my brother's life for you just because you once saved me, I'm sorry but I'm not that stupid." She then gestured for Olivia to join her on the sofa. Olivia looked at Melvin unpleasantly.
"What do you want me to do?" She asked directly feeling exhausted. She knew where this convocation led. Melvin came straight to the point.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
" OK. I want you to talk to Elsa and make her agree to vote for our side in the vote for pardon. She can also make Madam Brown agree with her. They both are haunted by the case of Asia. Chancellor Johnson will vote for us because he is very impressed with my talents. " Melvin said and Olivia looked at her with burning questions in her head.
"But yet you want one more vote to win. It's clear neither Jupiter nor Jessy vote for you. So is Shallow.He's a puppet of Jupiter and Jessy" Melvin looked at Olivia, shrugging.
"Madam Evens is satisfied with my talents. As I'm still new in her sector she doesn't know much about me. I'm not sure about her vote.If Madam Evens agrees we win but already we have half of the councillors have agreed. They will have to decide through discussion or there will be a blind vote." Olivia still seemed unsatisfied and asked,
"What if the vote ends with the same result?" Melvin sighed and replied,
"Then Bell will have to use his five-year, one decision' chance. He won't hesitate to do so." Melvin said drowning in thoughts. Five years one decision was a chance every chancellor gets once every five years. They can approve one decision skipping the vote which means it's a one-sided decision. Olivia looked at Melvin who was looking at her smirking. She understood Melvin's plan.
"You don't like to waste Bell's five-year one chance.do you? You want to use my mother's chance" Olivia asked.
"I knew you were smart," Melvin said standing up dramatically.
"I want your mother to fix what she messed up and give Kalvin a full pardon for all crimes" She said standing up face to face with Olivia. Olivia glared at her while all her brain was considering every possibility.
"Seem like a fair deal on your side," Olivia said and Melvin smirked.
"Isn't it fair enough from your side too? You can forgive your mom and have a proper goodbye before we die in Bermuda Triangle" Melvin said and Olivia stood like she heard something inappropriate. Melvin stared as Olivia was fighting her own mind.
Kalvin saw Bell's face on screen, Maxwell standing beside him.
"Hey little monkey," Maxwell said smiling and Kalvin felt helpless. He tried to fake a smile.
"Is everything okay, little one?" Bell asked with a smile, but his eyes searched Kalvin's face for an answer. He knew something was wrong. Kalvin's heart dropped the moment he saw Bell's face. How could he say he was a criminal to this man's face? He wanted to disappear and hide somewhere where no one would be judging him. But where does such a place exist in this universe? Kalvin looked at Bell and then looked down, feeling guilty.
"Bell" He raised his voice finally gathering up all his courage to confess. Oh gosh, how could saying what you did be harder than doing a crime?
"I have to tell you something ...Something you don't want to listen to but.. I need some privacy. I need you to stop every recorder. It must be you, me and Max listening to this" Kalvin said as his voice started to crack. Bell looked at Kalvin worried. Kalvin was close to having a meltdown.
"OK. I'll," Bell said, turning off the recorders and every camera in the room. Then he looked back at Kalvin.
"What did you do Kal?" Maxwell asked curiously. He felt something terrifying was about to happen. Kalvin looked at the screen with teary eyes.
"Are you sure it's safe?" He asked and Bell nodded reassuring him.
"100 presents, sure. Now what do you wanna say, boy?" Bell asked, imagining the worst possible outcome. But it wasn't even close to what Kalvin was about to say.
"Bell I'm sorry. I wasn't worthy to be your son. I should've refused it when you asked to adopt me but... I...I couldn't help feeling desperate to be your family. I'm sorry I'm not worthy" Kalvin said tears streaming down his face. Bell was shocked by Kalvin's reactions. He felt helpless to see Kalvin crying. Maxwell took his eyes off the screen and momentarily looked at Bell. He knew how much Bell adored this boy. He looked back at Kalvin with eyes widened from wonder. What is he trying to say?
"What did you do?" Maxwell asked looking at Kalvin astonishingly and worried at the same time.
"Did you kill someone?" Maxwell asked and Kalvin broke down. He tried so hard to hold back sobbing but one sobe could barely manage to sneak out of his mouth.
"Kal" Bell whispered shocked.
"It's worse" Kalvin said swallowing the cry, barely managing to control his emotions.
"Kal, tell me what's wrong. I don't care about what you did or what happened, you're my child and I will protect you. If you want me to keep it a secret, I will. Just please stop crying and tell me," Bell pleaded to his son. His heart was heavy with concern for his child, and he would do whatever it took to make Kalvin feel safe. Maxwell, Bell's other son, saw the pain in his father's eyes and offered to leave the room if Kal didn't want to share in front of him. But Kalvin spoke up, insisting that Maxwell stay and listen.
"I can leave if you can't say it in front of me, I understand," Maxwell said turning to leave. But Kalvin hurried to answer.
"No, wait! You're my brother," Kalvin said, wiping his tears. "I'll tell you both."