Chapter 104
Emily was abandoned on the street and taken to the hospital after being found.
By the time Owen and Heather arrived, they saw Emily curled up on the bed, staring blankly ahead, trembling as she hugged her knees.
“Doctor, what’s wrong with my daughter?” Owen asked, his voice tight and worried as he looked at Emily.
“The patient is physically fine, just a bit shaken. She’s in a state of emotional distress and will need time to recover, the doctor explained.
“My sweet girl, please don’t scare me like this. Whatever’s going on, just tell me. Heather said gently, sitting by the bed, but Emily flailed like she was losing her mind, pushing Heather away “Get out. It’s all because of your daughter. She she shot at me. I almost died”
“What?” Heather froze in disbelief. Ophelia again? she thought.
“If that’s the case, I’d suggest you call the police, the doctor said before leaving the room.
Owen frowned. “Emily, don’t get worked up. Just take it slow. Weren’t you meeting Kenneth today?”
At the mention of Kenneth, Emily’s panic surged. She grabbed Owen’s arm in desperation. “Dad, calling the police won’t help Kenneth wants me dead. I found out his secret, and now he’s going to kill me. And Ophelia… She’s his lover. What am I going to do. Dad? I don’t want to die.”
“That shameless bitch, Heather muttered, then suddenly paused, realizing something. “Wait, whose lover? Kenneth? Emily, you must be mistaken. Can Ophelia even do something like that!
Owen quickly caught on to the critical detail–Ophelia was Kenneth’s lover. No wonder such a mere girl had caught the Carnegie family’s attention. His mind raced. “You rest for now. I have two bodyguards posted outside to protect you”
“I will stay here with you,” Heather added.
“No, you’re not my mom. L. Emily stopped herself just in time, refusing to look at Heather. “I don’t need you as my mother. Ophelia thinks I’ve stolen everything from her, and that’s why she’s doing this to me. Go away. I don’t want to see you.”
Heather was heartbroken at Emily’s words. She thought. It’s all because of that wretched girl, Ophelia. Ever since she came back, she’s turned my whole family upside down.
Just as Heather was about to speak, Owen’s stern gaze stopped her. The time had come. He needed to tell Heather the truth sooner or later.
Outside the city, in the cemetery. In front of a vast, empty graveyard stood two slender figures, one tall and one shorter, both dressed in black. Beside the gravestone, a solitary crabapple tree stood, its branches still dusted with snow
Today marked the anniversary of Kenneth’s mother’s death. He had called Ophelia to the office only to bring her to the cemetery.
Ophelia stared at the photograph on the gravestone for a long time. The woman in the picture was graceful and stunningly beautiful, her simile tender and serene, radiating a quiet elegance. This was Kenneth’s mother, Grace Lawrence.
Ophelia thought, ‘No wonder Kenneth occasionally shows a softer side. He must have inherited it from his mother?
Kenneth held Ophelia’s hand tightly as they stood there in the snow. She remained silently by his side, offering quiet support
15:40 Tue, Nov 12
Chapter 104
“Fifteen years ago today, the weather was just like this,” Kenneth murmured, his gaze lifting to the overcast sky. “It looked like it might snow, but it didn’t. By four o’clock, it was already dark”
Kenneth could never forget that day. He had watched as a soccer ball rolled out from the shattered windshield of a taxi and stopped at his feet, still stained with blood.
The falling snowflakes seemed to remind Kenneth that everything he had once held dear had been shattered. He had watched as his mother was carried into the ambulance. Even in her final moments, she had begged him not to hate that ungrateful man who had abandoned them.
A trace of bitterness flickered in Kenneth’s eyes as he unconsciously tightened his grip on Ophelia’s hand. After a long silence, he finally let go and turned to adjust the scarf around her neck. “Let’s go,” he said softly.
“Okay,” Ophelia replied, glancing once more at the gravestone before bowing slightly in respect.
Ophelia felt an odd sensation creep over her as they left the cemetery. She discreetly slipped the ring off her finger and tucked it into her coat pocket.
Just as Mark opened the car door for them, Ophelia suddenly let go of Kenneth’s hand. “I think I dropped my ring. I’ll go back and look for IL
“Come back I’ll send someone to find it.” Kenneth frowned
“No need. I’ll be quick. It’s probably near the gravestone. Let’s not make a fuss and disturb your mother” Ophelia said before returning to the cemetery.
A lone figure dressed in black stood at the far end near an isolated gravestone. From a distance, the man’s posture was tall and straight, yet his silhouette carried a melancholy that was hand to describe.
Ophelia watched as he placed flowers on the gravestone and muttered something, but she was too far away to hear. She had guessed right
Kenneth might have been too lost in his emotions to notice, but all along, Ophelia had sensed someone following them, a constant feeling of being watched.
If Ophelia’s guess was correct, the man standing by the gravestone was Kenneth’s father, Victor Sinclair.
Ophelia couldn’t quite make sense of it. She thought. After all, he was the one who abandoned his wife and child. And this… What is this? Some kind of belated remorse?
Not wanting to be seen, Ophelia didn’t linger. She quietly turned and left the cemetery.
now,
On the way back to Rosewood Manor, Kenneth remained silent, gazing out the window, though he never let go of her hand. Ophelia knew he was in a bad mood, so she didn’t disturb him.
Outside the car, the snow fell heavier. Ophelia rolled the window down slightly and caught a few snowflakes in her hand, their icy chill seeping into her skin.
The cold air slipping into the car seemed to bring Kenneth back to his senses. He tightened his grip on Ophelia’s hand and pulled her into his arms. “You like the snow?”
“No, I don’t like it,” Ophelia answered honestly, People from the slums couldn’t afford to like snow. It only meant cold and hardship.
Kenneth’s gaze fell on the ring on her finger, his thumb gently tracing its shape.
The next morning at Rosewood Manor, Kenneth and Ophelia had breakfast together. It wasn’t the weekend, and they each had their own matters to attend to.
15:40 Tue, Nov 12 GU
Chapter 104
Π
Ophelia received a call from James. The cast list for With Love as My Cause had been finalized, and they were gearing up to start filming after the holidays.
There was already a lot of buzz online, and even fan forums had been set up
“Rex actually agreed to take the role?” James‘ tone over the phone wasn’t one of disbelief but dread. He had assumed that someone of Rex’s stature would turn his nose up at the script, but to his dismay, the man had agreed to join the cast. His poor acting skills would probably ruin the entire project
“Kevin doesn’t understand acting, so we’ll need you, Mr. Guinnes to guide Rex carefully, Ophelia replied politely.
The more polite Ophelia was, the more James felt like he was walking into a trap. “Guide him? I’d be lucky if he doesn’t teach me a lesson instead.”
“Well, with the shoot starting after the holidays, there’s time to help him brush up on his acting skills. You’ll need to assert yourself as the director. Ophelia said.
James, on the other end, smacked his forehead in frustration. “Miss Spencer, I’d like to live a little longer. You must know this industry has an unspoken rule–never provoke Rex Reyes.”
