Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 783: What’s Preston’s secret? - Part 2

Chapter 783: What’s Preston’s secret? - Part 2

Preston dithered for a moment as he glanced at the three men one by one. Since his truth was already out, he felt fairly relieved and for a moment, he wondered if should have come clean before everyone else sooner. But then, a face flashed before his eyes and he shook his head, eliciting a questioning look from Noah who was watching his every move.

"I guess there is no reason for me to keep silent anymore." Preston’s lips thinned into a straight line and he looked at his feet before raising his head to meet Noah in the eye.

Noah didn’t speak a word as he examined Preston. He didn’t know his backstory, neither did he know what the man had gone through. But from his eyes, it was evident he was not a bad man. In fact, he had done his best to sabotage Jared’s plans. Otherwise, it was impossible for Oliver to find out about Mission Code X that quickly.

"More than any of here or anyone around you, I hate Jared the most." Preston’s expression changed all of a sudden. His eyes burned with rage, hatred and another emotion which Noah couldn’t decipher.

"He destroyed everything I had. Everything damn thing including my family and he thinks I’m oblivious to it."

Preston sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "There are some things I will tell you, some which I’ll keep to myself. They are too personal and painful for me to share with everyone else."

Noah thought for a moment as he observed Preston and nodded at him lightly.

"I’ve known Jared since I was born and let’s say my fate was intertwined with his since then," Preston recalled his life as he stared ahead in melancholy.

"For the past few years, I’ve been trying my best to foil all of his plans as much as possible and it’s hard to be discreet before him. Jared is a cruel, cunning man. He is suspicious by nature and I need to think and plan carefully before I take a step against me." Preston started explaining slowly.

"It indeed was I who sent Mr. West the details regarding Mission Code X. I couldn’t do it on my own and needed a better person to handle the matter. To be precise actually, I sent the details to Valerie’s father who was Mr. West’s colleague and friend and they started working on the issue together."

"Why couldn’t you tell Deputy? She could’ve helped you better. Couldn’t she?" Noah intervened and Preston shook his head immediately.

"No, she couldn’t. Don’t forget who our Chief was at that time. It was Jared’s father himself. I was under scrutiny all the time and it’d be detrimental to my plans if I were to raise suspicions."

Noah nodded in understanding and urged him silently to continue.

"I wanted to use Valerie’s father’s help to stop Jared and his wicked plans and we were successful to some extent. After the incident three years ago, Jared remained low for some time and nothing significant happened until you know...." Preston hesitated and Noah narrowed his eyes instantly.

"The virus that spread in our city followed by the war with our neighboring country, which to be honest I had no idea about until the incidents happened."

Noah’s expression instantly darkened when he recalled the two dreadful incidents. While one of them had almost killed his Aria, the other had put her in the forefront of danger even though it was she who had decided to join the war herself.

Preston noticed Noah’s dark expression and he smiled faintly. "You must be wondering why I didn’t kill Jared myself. I could’ve stopped a lot of mishaps from happening."

Noah remained unresponsive for a moment before he nodded faintly.

"Jared has something very important to me. Moreover, he has bombs hidden in various places which I’m yet to find out, and mind you, I’m the only one who knows about it."

Preston’s words were like a huge thunderbolt to the three people and Noah stood up immediately in shock.

"Since I’m the only one who knows about this secret, if I don’t succeed in killing Jared in one shot, he’ll destroy everything, every damn thing," Preston revealed his secret, the undeniable truth he had been hiding for years.

"I don’t know how he smuggled the bombs inside the country and who helped him. But trust me when I say he somehow did and we’re all in danger. Not just us...." He pointed at the four men in the room in a circular motion for emphasis. "But the entire country and I can’t put all their lives at risk."

"If Jared really intends to destroy us, why is he still waiting?" Noah couldn’t quite fathom Jared’s mind. and Preston smiled helplessly.

"I’ll have to thank you for that."

"Me?"

"Yes. Jared has quite an obsession with you and for what reasons, I don’t know. He seems to be hellbent on wanting to defeat you, show you who holds the ultimate power. And until he accomplishes the task, he won’t detonate the bombs." Preston explained.

"When did he start importing the bombs?"

"Let’s say sometime after the virus spread. Since his plan failed, he thought of another method."

"Hmm. Why didn’t you kill him before that? I’m sure you had abundant opportunities then. The country was not in danger as well."

"Do you think it’s that easy? If it was, why have you been unsuccessful at it?" Preston shot back and Noah, for the first time in his life went speechless.

"It’s not easy for me to get close to Jared. He is quite vigilant and he only speaks to me on encrypted devices. Every time, I’m taken to meet him, I’m searched thoroughly for weapons. Even a small needle is not allowed, let alone a gun or a knife. How do you expect me to kill him?"

"Why are you telling us this now?"

"Do I have a choice?" Preston shrugged lightly and Noah coughed twice to hide his embarrassment. "Moreover, I don’t know who I can trust. Jared has spies everywhere, especially around you."

"Right."

"I’m sorry for what happened to Ivy. As I said, there are a lot of his plans I’m oblivious to. I didn’t know he’d start targeting the ladies. According to the structure he followed, it had to be either Theo or your grandfather, not Ivy."

"What do you intend to do now?"

"First and foremost, I need to find the locations of the bombs. Since Jared is obsessed with you, there is no way in hell he’ll detonate them before he ruins you."

"And to do that, you’d need manpower. Am I right?"

"Yes."

"I hope all that you said is not a lie."

"It’s not. I have no reason to lie to you."

"You better not. Otherwise, you’ll regret even being born."