Transparency 2
Elice blinked. Of course, what Garrett meant was the draft article and the photos he had mentioned. Something that was really unintentional.
“I don’t understand. How could you not know about this? You’re obviously part of this family.”
Of course, Garrett could understand the skepticism in Elice’s question. It seemed impossible for Garrett not to know. But that was the reality.
Garrett sighed deeply. If he answered Elice’s doubts, a dark side of his past life would inevitably be stirred up again. The reality where he was not considered part of the family. A biological child and grandchild treated worse than stepchildren.
“It’s not unusual. Back then, I lived far away from here, and our communication wasn’t great. Especially as you said. There was no news and the investigation was stopped. How could I know then?”
Elice didn’t answer this question. Instead, she could only give a weak nod. Confirming Garrett’s words.
“You’re right. And now I think it feels strange,” Elice said quietly. Several things spun around in Elice’s mind. Facts that only added to her confusion. “With several possibilities, it’s impossible to close the case like that.”
Elice blinked once. Her face, unconsciously lowered, lifted again. She looked at Garrett.
“There is the possibility that this was done on purpose. No,” Elice shook her head. “I’m sure there’s someone behind these events. It’s clearly not a natural death.”
Garrett nodded. “That’s exactly what I think.”
“But why did it happen? I mean, how did the case get closed like that? Especially since your grandfather and father were no ordinary people.”
Garrett took a deep breath and looked at Elice. There was something different in Garrett’s eyes. Something that made Elice hold her breath. A sudden feeling of unease washed over her.
“It could be,” Garrett said. “It could be that there’s a powerful figure who wanted it.”
Elice met Garrett’s gaze. She said nothing. But for some reason, her mind immediately focused on a name at that moment.
Meanwhile, Garrett nodded, as if he could read Elice’s mind. Then he said.
“If you think it’s Nana, then the answer is yes.”
Elice was shocked. Reflexively, her hand went up to cover her mouth. Now she couldn’t say anything. Even though she did not know Hirawan and Allan personally, she felt sympathy for them. And now questions arose in her mind.
“Why?”
Garrett could only shake his head at this question. Not because he wanted to hide anything. On the contrary, that was the reality.
“I don’t know either. And so far, I’m still trying to find out.”
It still didn’t make sense to Elice when Garrett confirmed her suspicions. But for Elice herself it wasn’t strange why she suspected Daphne as the person behind it all. The reason was simple and only one: Elice had seen Daphne in a situation she had never imagined.
“Garrett.”
Elice wouldn’t forget what Daphne had told her back then. Not to tell Garrett everything. But when marriage had bound them and they were in an extraordinary situation, Elice thought that didn’t apply anymore.
“Do you know who circulated our pictures around the hotel? When we first met in Crestdale?”
The question was really off-topic for their current conversation. A slightly puzzled furrow appeared on Garrett’s forehead. But a moment later his eyes widened. In a direct suspicion, he spoke immediately.
“Don’t tell me it was Nana.”
Elice didn’t argue. Realizing that, Garrett could only exhale with an incredulous look on his face.
“And Nana was also the one who published our first article,” Elice continued. “You may not believe it. But I dare swear. Because that day, Nana met me and told me herself.”
“I believe you.”
Because with everything that had happened, Garrett believed it wasn’t hard for Daphne to do that. And for God’s sake, Garrett would trust his wife more than anyone else in the house.
However, there seemed to be something new that Garrett realized. He had once thought that Daphne was truly shocked by the scandalous news that had surfaced about him. Which made Garrett think that everything that had happened to him and Elice was truly unforeseen. But was that really the case?
There was no denying it. Garrett knew that the answer wasn’t what he had assumed at first.
“If that’s the case…” Garrett’s voice sounded different. There was a concern in it that he couldn’t contain. For if everything was as he suspected, then Garrett assumed that his marriage to Elice had been planned from the beginning. “… our lives have been determined by Nana from the beginning.”
It was a conclusion that made perfect sense. With the first article bearing Garrett and Elice’s names, everything that had happened until today was like a predetermined plot in a novel written by the author. With Garrett and Elice as the pawns of the players.
Elice fought to keep breathing as reality quickly brought fear. It hadn’t been long since she’d breathed a sigh of relief after learning that she’d been followed the whole time, and now she got another fact. A possibility that had been carefully arranged from the beginning.
“Garrett.”
Garrett grabbed Elice’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Without Elice needing to express it, he could feel the panic that gripped his wife.
“I think it’s better if we get out of here for a while, Elice. I don’t want to risk your safety.”
Because at this point there was something gnawing at Garrett’s mind. Something that made him ignore the risk of arguing with Daphne if they really moved.
“I don’t know who we can trust here,” Garrett said. “And I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
Elice nodded. She wouldn’t argue with Garrett’s decision when she felt the same way. The longer time passed, the more Elice felt something different in the house. Something that made her uncomfortable and often scared.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. After Garrett told the knocker to come in, the door opened to reveal Yocelyn, who came with a doctor.
The doctor, named Griffin Harris, arrived with a nurse. They entered and approached Elice and Garrett. They greeted them politely before asking permission to examine Elice. Garrett granted it.
“I’ve been feeling a bit feverish and weak the last few days. Not as energetic as usual,” Elice said as Griffin performed a few small examinations, listening carefully to Elice’s complaints. “Sometimes I feel dizzy,” Elice added.
Griffin stopped his examination for a moment. “And your appetite, madam?”
“Uh… no problems there. But occasionally I feel nauseous. It’s just that I don’t suffer from indigestion.”
Griffin nodded several times, watching Elice’s face and noticing that her lips were slightly pale.
“Forgive me for asking, madam, but I’d like to know,” Griffin said with a gentle look. “When was the last time you menstruated?”
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