Chapter 63

Chapter 63

“Where have you been last night? Sorry, I slept early. I didn't see you coming home,” Lily said while I was the one cooking our breakfast. I only stared at her for a moment.

Just like what the detective said, I should not trust anyone until the culprit is caught. As of now, my mother is the biggest suspect that we have. But knowing that the culprit is around me, I felt like I cannot trust any of them. Who knows? The person behind this might be just playing under my nose for a long time.

“Work? I work overtime,” I avoided her eyes and acted normal right in front of her.

If it is not my mother, would it be Lily? Would she plan something cruel like that? I don't know. She has been my one and only best friend in my entire life. If it is her, I don't know what I can do, but I am sure that it would break me into a million pieces. Inside me, I was hoping that she is not the culprit. I hope she's innocent.

“What else do you want? I really don't understand why you want triple sales—I mean, you're damn successful and notorious in your own field,” I shook my head when she was already drinking wine. She already made it like it's water.

“It's called upgrading another success, Lily. Besides, there's a ranking in this industry. I'm on top 3,” and I want to aim for the first spot. If I was able to come this far, it wouldn't be impossible for me to make it on top.

“And you want to be the top 1?” I didn't bother to reply anymore as I assumed that she already knew the answer to that.

“It's probably the two monkeys again,” she rolled her eyes when the doorbell rang, pertaining to Brian and Lucas. You'll know that Lucas is not busy when he's always showing up out of nowhere and unexpectedly.

“Is that a pancake?” Brian asked and even closed his eyes to sniff the captivating smell of the pancakes that I was cooking.

“Don’t you have food at home? You always eat here,” she was already glaring at the two of them but Brian just ignored her.

“Give it to me, let me finish that.” I didn't resist anymore and allowed him to finish everything. I glanced at him at that moment.

Is he the culprit? Beyond that usual broad and bright smile that he wears each of them, is there something dark that he has done behind my back? I tilted my head and bit my lower lip. It can't be. We don't know each other yet when the accident happened. It only means that he's the only one that is sure to be innocent from all of this.

But then, can I trust him? Because just like what the detective said, a crime case includes a lot of plot twists.

“Do you have fruits?” Lucas asked and checked our fridge. My eyes now shifted at him.

Is he the culprit? Is Lucas the person behind this? Because if he is, I don't know what to do as well. All my life, they are the only friends I have. Elijah, Freya, Lucas and Lily. If one of them is the culprit for Freya's death, I wouldn't know what I can do to them. I can't imagine the pain that would strike my chest.

“You look pale, have you eaten?” Brian asked, pulling me back to my senses. I shut my eyes in distress, frustrated with Freya's case. All of a sudden, I just felt dizzy. I wasn't even able to take a nap last night after finding out everything and confronting my mother.

My head keeps thinking.

“It’s because she keeps working,” Lily shook her head at me.

“Are you still going to work? You should take a res—”

“I'm fine, Brian. I'm not a baby,” Lucas whistled immediately when I replied like that.

I knew that I was harsh, but I was not in the mood. I'm not feeling well, plus I have a lot on my damn plate.

“Hey, you should eat. I would agree with Brian,” Lucas said when I was about to leave them there but he grabbed my arm gently.

I eyed Lily and Brian and they were both just eating there. Brian doesn't seem hurt with my words and how I acted because probably, he's used to this kind of attitude of mine. He has been with me for four years and everytime I'm being like this, I can't help but to think why he's still choosing to stay with me. I couldn't even give him any assurance that his feelings will be reciprocated.

Lucas joined them and they left a chair for me.

“Come on,” Brian said, wearing the same smile he always wears. Everytime I see that smile after being rude to him, it makes me feel bothered. My fucking conscience is killing me.

Having no choice and with my guilt knocking on my chest, I joined all of them, too. Brian gave me a pancake on my plate, still taking care of me as if I was not mean to him earlier.

After eating, they all failed to convince me not to work. I still drove there and worked my fingers to the bone.

“Ms. Faith, I think the issue and the reporters who are always outside the company, even in our shops, are pulling our sales down.” My secretary said as I have just arrived.

They are really not giving up. They won't get a single word out of my tongue about that damn issue.

“Talk to them. Tell them that if they don't leave, I'll call the police or I might as well file a lawsuit against them,” they won't leave if they are not threatened.

“And if they don't stand back?” Well, they are journalists. Journalists do not stand back to anyone.

“Pay them, then.” That's the last card we do have.

“I'll do that right away,” she replied. When she opened the door, ready to leave, the same visitor invaded my sight all over again.

“If it is not about the house, just fucking leave.”

I am not in the mood to talk to him. I am only enduring his presence.

“You know that I won't leave,” he said and sat on the couch.

“I bought us lunch,” he added and wore that shining smile all over again.

I shook my head and ignored his presence.

“Are you certain that it's your mother?” I paused from writing when he brought that topic up again.

“It's strong evidence,” I defended.

“It is. But she might be framed up by the real culprit,” that made me silent. It's because I knew that he had a point there. The culprit might do that and the culprit might not do it as well.

“Are you investigating it?” Then all of a sudden, it just crossed my mind. I glanced at him and realized that what if he is the person behind that accident? Would Elijah be able to plan the death of her beloved woman?

“Stay out of it,” I said coldly and went back to work.

The entire time that I was working there, Elijah stayed.

“Is he sleeping?” My secretary asked when she came inside my office and found Elijah sleeping on the couch. I glanced at him and he was really sleeping at peace.

“Take your lunch,” I uttered, instead of answering her question about Elijah. Well, he's obviously sleeping.

She nodded and glanced at Elijah before she left as well.

My brows raised when I saw the paper bag he brought here. It's probably the food that he was talking about earlier. So, I stood up and slowly walked towards him, making sure that his sleep wouldn't be disturbed by any noise.

It would not be too bad if I ate the food he bought, right? Besides, I have no time to order and to go out just to grab myself food for lunch.

“Not bad,” I mumbled when I saw the vegetable salad and beef and pepper lunch.

I was about to leave when my eyes accidentally landed at him again. He was sleeping there comfortably, looking like he wasn't able to sleep last night. He looked really exhausted, perhaps because of working? I somehow wondered what he did regarding the issue. How did he manage to come here amidst that revelation? I wonder how it affected his entire career that he built for himself.

“Faith,”

I froze the moment he called my name in his sleep.

“I-I’m sorry…I really am,” it was sincerity that filled his begging voice. In one snap, I remember the day he begged me so damn hard just to make me stay and to give him a chance to make it all up for me.

But then, even though he's sorry, the wounds are still aching.

Accidentally, the vase on the small table there fell on the ground and broke into a million pieces. Because of that, Elijah woke up.

“Faith,” he called when I was the one he saw standing close to him.

I looked away and turned my back at him, having no plan of talking to him.

“I love you,” he uttered, which made my feet glued on the ground.

“I still fucking love you, Faith.”

That moment, I questioned my feelings. Why does it still make my heart race?

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