Shattering Hearts

(S2): Testimony of Irvin Fretzie

While it was not far from the Thusenka family home, two foreign men were still paying attention to the atmosphere around him. There were still some people hanging around there especially some policemen who were still on guard there. They both looked nervous and frightened at their recent actions.

They are both shocked when their boss tells them that Lizzie is Sergei Romanov's granddaughter and orders them to kill Lizzie. Without a second thought they finally went to the house of the Thusenka family as quickly as possible before the foreign man met the Thusenka family. There they were warmly welcomed by Antonina and Petro, but soon the warm welcome ceased to take place once they knew the purpose and purpose of their arrival.

"I won't say where Lizzie is now?’’shout Antonina.

The man with the long beard then hit him until Antonina fell to the floor. Petro who saw that became emotional and hit the man until his lips bled.

"Listen Mr. Thusenka, I don't want to make a fuss and trouble here, if you say where the boy is,’’ the bearded man said in a vexed tone.

"We will not hand Lizzie over to you, because we know you're just gonna hurt him and maybe kill him like you did to his real parents.I'm sure you've been told to kill Lizzie, right? Tell me who it is?’’petro said with anger.

"We don't have to say who told us. We are just carrying out the orders of our leader and how do you know that we are the cause of death of the child's biological parents?’’

"We're just guessing."

"Now tell me where the kid is?’’ask him by leaning the gun towards Petro.

Antonina who was next to her husband looked very frightened.’’Quickly say!’’shouted the bearded man.’’Otherwise I'll kill you."

"Let's just kill it! I won't tell you where Lizzie is now."

Petro and Antonina were anxious and occasionally glanced at the door hoping Lizzie would not return home.Then Alex pointed his gun at Antonina.’’I'll kill your wife, if you don't want to say it."

"You don't kill them first, we need to know where the boy is,’’ said the other man.

"I know that."His sharp gaze returned to Petro and Antonina.

"Once again we won't say it to you."

"You guys are so stubborn."

Antonina squeezes her husband's back shirt.

’’What should we do?’’ask her in a whisper.

’’I'll do something, so calm down."

Petro who saw the bearded man talking to his partner immediately hit him, Petro tried to snatch a gun from his hand, while Antonina tried to help her husband, but unfortunately the other man prevented Antonina from helping her husband. They wrestled on the floor for a few minutes and soon a gun was heard.

They both stopped and a pool of blood appeared. Antonina screamed and worried about who had been shot. Finally she found out who was shot, her husband. Antonina cried hysterically and hit the bearded man. A second gun was heard. Antonina fell to the floor with a gunshot wound to the chest.’’Why did you kill him too,’’tujar yabg yabg other man.

"I didn't do it intentionally. Really, my finger accidentally pressed the trigger."

"Now what do we do? They're dead and we don't have any information about the boy. You fools you shouldn't kill them. We just need to pressure them into saying the boy's whereabouts."

"Maybe the boy is playing. Let's just wait for him here. I'm sure the boy will be here soon."

A few minutes they waited and the sound of the door opening was heard by them and Lizzie's voice met throughout the house.

"The boy has come."

"Ssssttt...hush!’’said the bearded man.

They both hid behind the door and when Lizzie came they went out and started a fire and set the house on fire.

"This way the child will die with his adoptive parents."

"Finally we can complete our task and our leader must be happy."

They both smiled with satisfaction and victory.

The bearded man regained his senses from his daydream when his friend patted him on the shoulder. "What should we do? Our boss must be angry, because the boy escaped death again."

"I know that. I don't understand why that kid can't have a house. Obviously we saw him at home when the house was burning,’’toward the bearded man with a confused look towards the burning house.

"Maybe the boy managed to escape."

"That's possible. I'll call our boss about this soon even though he'll be mad at us."

They quickly left the scene and stopped where they thought it was safe. The bearded man immediately pulled out his phone and then came the voice of a man from across the phone.

"Your work is not so bad."

"Sorry boss, the boy's escape was beyond our expectations. We didn't expect that the boy would make it out of the house already surrounded by fire."

"It looks like I should have killed the boy myself. Hurry up and meet me."

"Good boss."

Bearded man closes his phone.’’Get all your stuff done, we'll be home tonight."

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 Sergei fell in his chair. After receiving word from Nicola. Sergei plans to go to Zelenogradsk right now after getting word of Lizzie's whereabouts, but his plans change, as suddenly his knee pain relapses. Sergei called Nicola if he didn't come today, but he got bad news from him .

Sergei can hardly believe that his granddaughter disappeared after a house fire broke out on his adoptive parents. Sadness again touched his heart. The same feeling when hearing his son almost burned to death as if the incident had reoccurred.

His body felt weak and he could not stand up to go to his bed and sit back in his chair. He closed his eyes to absorb all the sadness he had experienced. He could not imagine if his granddaughter disappeared forever or even had died, the pain was again piercing right into his heart.

All this time he tried to understand why all this happened to his family. The condition of his body that is old and not as healthy as it used to make him anxious. He did not want to die before meeting his grandson, so he tried to live healthy again, eat and sleep regularly and even he tried to keep exercising lightly. All that he did to extend his life. The sound of knocking on the door was enough to make him surprised.’’Login!’’

A servant came in and brought mineral water for a large basket of fruits. The waiter smiled kindly at him. Sergei begins to like Victor's new servant who also doubles as Karina's nanny. She is a gentle and very caring woman. It's not wrong if Victor decides to make her his babysitter. For a while Sergei was forced to stay a few days in Victor's mansion until his mouth healed.

In Sergei's heart hope that the waiter does not make mistakes and get him fired from his job.

"I'm sorry sir!’’

"Alice,’’call her.

"Yes sir."

"Is Victor being nice to you?’’

"Mr Viktor has been nice to me."

"good. Do you feel comfortable working here? I hope you're comfortable here."

"Don't worry Mr. Sergei, I like my job here."

"It's nice to hear it." sergei smiled kindly and gently at Alice.’’You can go!’’

 The next morning Sergei tells Victor about his surviving granddaughter, as he thinks it's time Victor knew everything. Victor, who was told by his mother, pretended to be surprised, had learned of it from his family's lawyer Anthony Lennox. Sergei also said that his grandson was missing again.

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Jack Carver was having breakfast at Honeydeep. He had just returned from Moscow to meet with Irvin Fretzie. He forced Irvin to tell him the truth, although it was difficult at first, but with a little coercion he finally wanted to confess a little.

Irvin says he is innocent . Jack who heard it was relieved. Irvin told me about the Romanov mansion fire. Someone had called him to come there and when he got there he was drugged to unconsciousness when he realized he was already in police custody.

He was found with a gun and a gas company near his body, but finally Irvin was released, because shortly before he was drugged being with his brother, Thalita.

Thalita and Irvin parted ways when gunfire broke out and smoke rose. They went inside to find the origin of the gunshots by splitting up. Thalita tried to find Irvin, but did not meet, finally Thalita went from the Romanov mansion to ask for help and met Irvin back in prison after being accused of being the culprit. It was Thalita's testimony that led Irvin to be released, but some people didn't believe it.

"Who do you think called you that night?"

"I don't know. His voice is disguised."

"The guy wants to frame you or he chooses randomly among the servants there to serve as the prime suspect and it just so happens that we're chosen."

" The possibility exists."

"It's really interesting. Is there anything you remember that night? For example before the fire happened, is there something strange there?’’

Irvin began trying to remember something that could have been missed by him.’’I remember now, that afternoon when I was going home, I saw Mr. Victor there with an angry face."

"Mr Victor?’’

"really. I don't know what happened to him. He walked back and forth in front of Mr. Dimitri's study with an angry and upset face maybe they both had a fight."

"Then what happened?’’

"I also saw Mr. Anthony Lennox there trying to appease Mr. Victor. I didn't hear what they were talking about, because I saw it from behind the door and I was in a hurry to get home."

"Any, because Victor had not said anything about his visit to Dimitri on the night of the assassination attempt. He said that night he was at his house and there were people who confirmed it."

"Who is that guy?’’

"Anthony Lennox."

"Mr Lennox said that, but she was there that night, too."

"That's what makes me weird. As the investigation progressed Anthony said that on the night of the incident he and Victor never went to visit Dimitri. Anthony also said all night they were talking about the business Victor was going to run and Victor told him to come to his house to ask for his opinion."

"I think they're both lying and hiding something."

"I think so too."

They then quietly busy with their respective thoughts, then Jack stood.’’I think our conversation got here first. I'll be right away looking for the truth."

"Thank you Mr. Carver."

Irvin's face sparkled happily and stared at his departure.’’May you succeed Mr. Carver,’’gumamnya.

Jack flinched and his daydreams about his conversation with Irvin broke, after he heard his phone ring and he saw Nicola's name on his phone screen. ‘’Good morning Nicola!’’

"Morning! Where are you now?’’

"In the Honeydeep inn."

"Hurry to Lenixton manor there's something I'm talking about with you."

Jack quickly finished his breakfast the next morning and then he left the inn.

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Meanwhile Ivander and Juliana are busy caring for the injured Lizzie. On Lizzie's hands were some burns that were not too severe, only minor burns, so they decided to treat her at home. Ivander feels grateful he was able to save Lizzie just in time before the fire actually burned her tiny body.

If only he had not forgotten to leave his gloves at the Thusenka family home and decided to return to that house again, Lizzie might have been burned to death by now. Ivander headed for the room where Lizzie was. His gray eyes looked grim and sad to see him lying on his bed.

Ever since the fire of her house and knowing her parents were dead, Lizzie had not spoken a single word. Ivander also saw the food last night he had on a small table by the window not touched in the slightest by it. He sighed, then approached Lizzie.

"You must eat, if you want to heal quickly. I know this is hard for you to accept."

Lizzie is silent even though Ivander knows Lizzie heard what she said. He believes this incident has made him shocked and traumatized and what Lizzie needs now is calm in living his life.

Ivander left the room and closed the door slowly. After Ivander left, Lizzie got up and walked to the front of the window looking out where the snow was beginning to fall back. His eyes were reddened and glazed and he could not hold back his sadness anymore. The details of the tears re-wetted his cheeks.’’Mother...father...’’gumamnya interrupted sobs.

Lizzie knew that her life from now on would not be the same as it used to be. There was no warm and loving welcome from his parents when he returned home. The warm atmosphere of his home kitchen and the fragrant smell of his mother's cooking aroma will never be felt again. Ivander, who heard Lizzie's bitter cries, shed his tears and hit the wall . He regrets not being able to protect or save Lizzie's adoptive parents.

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Nicola had been dressed neatly as she was about to have breakfast with her family. His wife and children looked at him. Nicola seemed to know what his wife and children wanted to ask.

’’I'm going to Ivander's house with Jack, I decided to call him to accompany me to his house."Nicola returned to feed her stroberry pancakes.

"I'm coming,’’said Vladimir suddenly.’’I want to meet that guy."

Vladimir looked at his father with a pleading face and Nicola couldn't bear to turn him down.’’Alright. You can follow’’.

"Thank you dad."

 After breakfast they went to Ivander's house shortly after Jack arrived. They drove Nicola into the birch forest and down the snow-covered forest making it difficult for the car to walk, so they decided to walk. It was not until ten minutes that they finally arrived in front of Ivander's house that looked very quiet.

Nicola knocked on the house but there was no answer. The house looks dark and quiet.’’Looks like no one is home,’’ Vladimir said.

"It seems so,’’ answered Nicola while rubbing her hands to keep warm.

"Maybe they're going out. Let's just wait a while longer,’’ Jack said.

Nicola and Vladimir nodded in agreement.But after waiting for some time and they had already started to get cold Jack said with a shiver of coldness.’’Se..seba..fine ki.kita pu..return sa..ja.Ki.we to..back be.sok only."

"It's better just like that."

Just as they were about to leave there was the sound of broken items from inside the house.

"You heard that,’’seru Jack.

"I also heard it,’’ Nicola said.

"There may be someone inside the house,’’vladimir said.

Jack knocks on the door hard.’’Is anyone at home?’’

While Nicola and Vladimir went to the back of the house pasting their faces on the window to see the state of the house. Faintly they saw a beam of light from a room that was not tightly closed.

’’I think there are people at home, we should rejoin Jack,’’ said Nicola and Vladimir agreed.

Jack was still knocking on the door hard and he looked impatient .The winter wind was getting stronger and the snow came back down very heavily making them freeze to death .’’It's best to just break down the door,’’saran Vladimir.

"Good idea,’’ujar Jack. They both tried to break the door. On the third attempt they managed to break it and the atmosphere in the house was dark and quiet there was only the sound of the wind.

’’Halo! Is anyone at home ?’’exclaim Jack.

Vladimir traced every corner of the room that was nearby. At first glance he saw a movement coming from the family room. He went in and found a girl hiding behind curtains.

’’Who are you? Come outside! It's free that you hide there because your legs look so clear. I'm not gonna hurt you."

For a few seconds the atmosphere returned to silence, then slowly the girl came out.

"Please ! Don't hurt me!’’

The girl looked very frightened, and then Vladimir called his father and Jack.

’’Dad, Mr Carver come here! There's someone here."

Nicola and Jack came to the living room and saw a young girl standing with a trembling body. Nicola approached the girl and patted her closely.’’Fear not! We're not bad people."

"Be.really ?"

The girl still looked frightened, then looked one by one at the faces in the room with a look of disbelief.

"My name is Nicola Kalashnikov and this is my son, Vladimir, then this is Jack Carver. We came here to find Ivander Armaturov."

"Why are you looking for him?’’

"We wanted to ask him something and only he could answer our question. You who's miss?’’

"I'm Milly Constantine."

"So you're Milly? ‘’thya Nicola.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Milly, can you tell me where Ivander is?’’

 Milly kept quiet and watched them with a suspicious look. He didn't think anyone would recognize Ivander and they even knew that Ivander lived here.

"Milly?’’

"Ah sorry. I don't know where he went. I came here to clean up this house on his orders. This morning I got a message from Mr. Armaturov and he said he was going somewhere for a while."

"Go? Where?’’

"I don't know, when I read the message, I was surprised too. I really don't know where they're going."

Milly could see the disappointment on their faces.

"Actually what do you guys want from him?’’

"We just want an explanation from Mr. Armaturov to straighten out a problem, if he's gone, we can't do anything,’’ Nicola replied as gently as possible so that Milly would not be frightened.

"Milly, we all know that Lizzie is Sergei's granddaughter."

Milly was shocked and her mouth opened to say something, but she closed her mouth again and said nothing. ‘’You know who Lizzie from Ivander is and you say it to your mother."

"Where do you know?"

"Your mother told Sergei."

Milly fell down. He did not expect his mother would tell Mr. Sergei everything when his mother had promised not to tell anyone. ‘’Surely you already know what has happened to the girl right?’’

Milly nodded again. ‘’I don't know how the villain was able to find who Lizzie really was, because I never told anyone except my mother. Who knows who Lizzie is Mr. Armaturov and his wife, me and my mother. No one else knows.

Nicola, Vladimir, and Hack looked at each other.

‘’So only the four of you know?’’ask Vladimir. Milly then nodded. ‘’Not four more but five. Remember your mother told Sergei's grandfather, then Grandpa told me, so six before I told him."

Valdimir walked pacing back and forth in the living room while thinking ', then he flicked his finger.’’ I think Sergei's grandfather told someone about Lizzie to someone else."

"Grandfather Sergei will tell who Lizzie is to the closest person and his trust. Like me for example. Sergei's grandfather told him about his grandson who is still alive and there is a possibility that he will also tell it to the closest people and people he trusted very much. Who do you think?’’

Then they looked at each other. ‘’This is just my guess,’’ Vladimir said.

"Wait on! ‘’seru Nicola.

"Maybe you have a point and the only person he trusts and is close at the moment is just that person."

"Who?’’ask Jack, Milly, and Vladimir at the same time.

"Anthony Lennox and Victor."

"The lawyer was right,’’ Vladimir said.

"Anthony and Victor were your grandfather's confidants . Sergei always tells everything to the two of them and one of them may be the brains of the murder and the cause of the fire that happened Romanov mansion, he said, if Anthony were the one, he would be very upset because Anthony is the best lawyer I have and I trust him too."

"If Anthony did it, what motive would he have? Is Anthony holding a grudge against Dimitri's uncle or what? Then if Uncle Victor did it what motive did he have? It could be an inheritance. All I know is that Victor's uncle is very ambitious and selfish, including his children, and their relationship is not very good . The two of them were always caught arguing."

"That's. I don't know. But right now our conjecture is not reinforced with hard evidence. It's all just our guess. We must not accuse them before there is evidence and it is possible that our allegations are false,’’, Nicola and Vladimir agreed.

"And maybe Mr. Sergei has other confidants. It could have been , right?’’said Jack.

’’It seems like there's nothing we can do here. We'd better get out of here, maybe we're out of luck today’’ Jack said.

‘’I think so too. All right, Milly, we'll excuse you to come home and I'm sorry about the door. I'm going to get someone to fix it" Nicola said. Milly was just speechless and her face was extremely pale.

"Milly, you're okay right?’’

"Ah i.iya I'm fine."

He knew which one of them was the killer, but he did not have the courage to say it.

Milly escorted them to the front door and stared them off until the figure of the three disappeared from her sight. He sighed in relief and now his face looked more relaxed.

Valdmir looked up at the gray sky as he was already outside. His blue eyes look dark.’’Lizzie,’’gum.

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Michael, Aleandra's father who was looking at Dimitri's state was shocked. Dimitri suddenly came out of his coma. Michael quickly calls the doctor and then informs Sergei that Dimitri has regained consciousness from his coma. [ ]