Chapter 168: The Woman at the Door
Nolan stayed close–so close that his hand remained firmly over Eliza’s mouth, as though he feared she might say something and give them away.
Outside, the woman’s voice rang out over and over, calling his name, banging on the gate.
Eventually, a security guard rushed over and shouted, “Who are you people? No shouting allowed in this area! Leave, or I’m calling the cops!”
“Fine, fine! We’re leaving!”
Bit by bit, the noise faded, along with the sound of an engine pulling away.
Only then did Nolan release Eliza, his hand falling slowly from her lips.
He looked down at her, lips pressed tightly together. “Sorry. I… didn’t mean to.”
“… You’re hiding from them?”
Eliza hadn’t wanted to ask. She could’ve pretended she hadn’t heard a thing.
But the shouting at the door was impossible to ignore.
“That woman outside… that was your mother? And your… brother?”
Her voice was tentative. “But I heard the Hayes family only had one son. And your parents… aren’t they already gone?”
The fire that night–rumor had it Nolan set it himself.
The authorities ruled it an accident, a household fire, but everyone in their circle believed Nolan was behind it. Why else would the Hayes family send him to juvenile detention?
“…She’s not my mother.”
Nolan’s face was unreadable. “Whatever you heard tonight, forget it. They won’t come back.”
With that, he turned and switched the lights back on.
“Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”
Eliza could tell he didn’t want to explain further, so she followed him silently.
The second floor had several vacant rooms, clearly unused for a long time. Everything was neat, untouched–guest rooms, most likely.
The master bedroom was the first one on the left.
Eliza chose the room directly across from it.
“Thanks for today,” she said quietly before entering. “And don’t worry–I won’t tell anyone what happened
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Chapter 168: The Woman at the Door
tonight.”
She closed the door behind her.
Nolan stared at it for a long moment, his expression darkening in the silence.
Finished
The next morning, Eliza’s phone rang.
It was Zayden.
She answered, thinking Grace had woken up.
But instead, Zayden’s choked voice came through the line: “My mom… she’s dead.”
Eliza froze.
Dead?
But the crash hadn’t seemed that bad. Grace had made it to the hospital, and the doctor had said she’d be fine.
How did she suddenly die after one surgery?
“I’m coming to the hospital,” Eliza said.
Not for Zayden’s sake–but because something didn’t feel right.
She changed and opened the bedroom door–only to find Nolan standing there with a tray of breakfast.
Seeing her dressed, he frowned. “Where are you going?”
“The hospital.”
“Did your arm get worse? Let me take a look.”
“No–it’s not that. Zayden’s mom died. I think something’s off. I want to see for myself.”
“…I’ll drive you.”
“Alright.”
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Grace had already been moved to the morgue.
Just yesterday, she’d been alive. Now, she was just a cold, lifeless body.
Zayden stood at the edge of collapse.
Eliza hesitated, then walked up to him. “How did she die?”
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“Brain hemorrhage during surgery. They couldn’t save her.”
Zayden gave a bitter laugh,
And the driver?”
“My mom was driving on the wrong side. The other driver died on impact.”
So now Zayden would have to compensate the victim’s family on top of everything else.
Eliza went quiet.
The other driver died too?
This whole thing stank.
Finished
“Eliza…” Zayden’s voice trembled. “I was the one investigating you. If someone deserves to die–it’s me. Please… don’t hate my mom.”
She didn’t answer.
People say that in the face of death, grudges vanish.
But Grace had brought this on herself.
If she hadn’t kidnapped Eliza–if she had just waited a few years–Zayden could have turned things around on his own.
But she’d made her choice… and in doing so, destroyed any future she had left.
“…Fine. I don’t hate her. But from now on–you and I are nothing.”
Zayden said nothing, but the agony in his eyes was unmistakable.
Just as Eliza turned to leave, Zayden suddenly grabbed her injured arm.
“Elizze… I mean it. I really love you. Can you give me another chance?”
Before Eliza could answer, another hand seized Zayden’s wrist–firm, cold, and possessive.
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