As Elice walked toward Garrett's office, the question marks in her mind grew more intense. Curiosity and confusion combined to fill her mind with questions.Who had entered Garrett's office last night? For what purpose?However, all these questions vanished from Elice's mind in an instant, coinciding with her footsteps, which stopped at the same moment. This happened because when she was just a short distance from Garrett's office door, Elice found Regina coming out of it.Regina closed the door, turned around and started to leave, but Elice's unexpected presence startled her."Madam."Elice approached Regina, her eyes scanning Regina from top to bottom. The young girl's hands clenched with barely concealed tension."What were you doing in my husband's office?""I was doing nothing, madam," Regina replied. "I was just passing by and found Mr. Garrett's office door open. I went in to check and then left."Elice didn't immediately react to Regina's words. Instead, she stared at the youn
Daphne realized. She should have stayed calm. Not to act rashly. But how could she stay calm when Garrett asked a completely unexpected question? Daphne was shocked. And the surprise was clearly visible on her face, as her eyes widened and one hand went up to her mouth. Daphne knew that her reaction was too late. Especially with one word her tongue couldn't hold back. "What?" All of Daphne's reflexes had provided Garrett with an answer. And Daphne knew she couldn't deny it. In the end, all she could do was close her eyes as her hand slowly descended. Her fingers clenched in her lap. "How do you know it was me who did this?" Garrett couldn't say that he'd seen Carolus' name pop up on Dirk's phone screen during his visit. He didn't want to take the risk for the two middle-aged men. So, Garrett smiled. And seeing that, Daphne knew she wouldn't get an answer to that particular question. "It doesn't matter how I know, grandma," Garrett said. "But there's only one thing I want to know
Elice turned on the bedside lamp. She noticed that Garrett's face was covered in sweat."Maybe it's just the medication," Garrett replied as he sat up. "Don't worry."Garrett reached for the glass on the bedside table. But there was no more water. He had finished it earlier, just before he tried to fall asleep."I'll get some. Just wait a minute."Elice got out of bed, put on her robe and went out.Not yet accustomed to the upper-class lifestyle, there was one habit that made Elice uncomfortable. It was letting the housekeeper in and out of her private room. She felt uncomfortable, especially when Garrett was with her.So, Elice chose to go downstairs in the middle of the night instead of calling a housekeeper to her room. She happily prepared a glass of warm water with her own hands."Madam."Yocelyn was in the kitchen. Elice smiled, stepped forward and grabbed a glass."You're not asleep yet?" Elice asked as she filled the glass with water. "It's already midnight."Yocelyn shook her
When Elice turned on the computer that morning, she remembered something she had not told Garrett. It had to do with the profiles of Dirk and Dakota that she had found in her husband's desk drawer. She had almost forgotten her curiosity about why Garrett had kept them. But later. She kept reminding herself not to miss the opportunity to ask Garrett about it.Elice worked as usual. Despite some gossip she heard occasionally, she remained relaxed. She had learned a lot during this time. That something that did not affect her life was not worth thinking about. This included gossip from people.Exactly at four o'clock in the afternoon, Elice went home from the office. Together with her private driver named Rowan Smith. As the car they were in left the office security gate, Elice briefly saw another car following theirs. Rowan noticed it too."They've been instructed for your safety, ma'am. To avoid incidents like yesterday."Knowing what was on Elice's mind, the driver explained even thou
A small relief flooded Elice's chest. She did not want to hope too much, but Elice's gaze suggested otherwise. In her heart, she prayed that Neva still remembered exactly what she had said that day. Neva was her only hope."If I remember correctly. That day you said I was followed by bodyguards," Elice said, her heart pounding wildly. Her eyes stared at Neva. "Is that true?"Neva answered a moment after Elice had asked her question. Almost without a pause. Because like reporters or people involved in the news industry, memory was one of the most important things."Yes. That's what I said."Elice swallowed hard. Still trying to restrain herself. Not yet. She knew she still could not prove anything. Neva could have been wrong about what she saw."Why would you say something like that? It could have just been someone who happened to be around me or..."Elice did not finish her sentence. Instead, she immediately gave Neva the chance to answer."I couldn't have been wrong. When I left for
"What? Is Elice sick?"The dinner table felt empty that night. Without Garrett and his wife, Elice's presence, there were only two people at the table. Norah and Daphne.Norah answered Daphne's question with a nod. Then she said, "Lately Elice seems unwell compared to usual. Pale and lethargic. Garrett is in the room with her right now."Daphne could only sigh heavily when she heard Norah's explanation. As she continued to enjoy her dinner, she asked her daughter-in-law again, "Have you asked Yocelyn to call the doctor? I've been telling Elice to get checked out for a few days now. But she refused, saying she just needed more rest.In fact, Elice gave this reason not only to Daphne. In fact, Elice had the same reason for Norah and Garrett as well."They have. The doctor is on his way."Daphne nodded once in response to Norah's answer. At least that could bring her some relief. Unconsciously, she let out a small sigh of relief."Thank goodness."Meanwhile, in their room, Garrett tried
No.Weakly, Elice shook her head in Garrett's embrace. No matter how her marriage to Garrett came about, Elice knew one thing for sure. She truly loved Garrett now.Elice returned Garrett's hug. She expressed her feelings in a soft voice."I love you too, Garrett.Instead of letting the negative thoughts spread and dominate her mind, Elice tried to remember other things. All the kindness and tenderness she had received from Garrett. Something that had been her strength all this time. And if she hadn't met Garrett, Elice doubted that she would still see the sun."I love you."Garrett planted a kiss on the top of Elice's head. He sent vibrations that made Elice's chest feel light for a moment. Slowly her body became more relaxed. The tension and fear she felt began to dissipate. Gradually disappearing."Do you feel better now?" Garrett asked after a few moments.On Garrett's chest, Elice nodded. Her eyes were still closed. And she still needed time to get rid of the fear completely."Ga
Regina and Yocelyn. Those two names kept swirling around in Garrett's head. Could it be that they were disturbing his office? But why?Garrett's increasingly frozen expression, with all the assumptions swirling in his head, made Elice furrow her brow. Garrett's behavior seemed unusual."Garrett," Elice whispered later. Her gaze seemed probing. "Is everything okay?"Garrett could only stare at Elice without answering her question. For a few moments. Until he nodded."Yes. Everything's fine."But that wasn't what Elice picked up. She felt that Garrett was hiding something. But Elice didn't push. As always, Elice was confident that Garrett would eventually tell her if he wanted to.Elice smiled. "That's good to hear," she said. "I was just worried, considering those were Mr. Dirk and Mrs. Dakota's files. I didn't think such things should be known to others, given their involvement in the investigation of your late father's and grandfather's deaths."That was the most reasonable thing tha