30

“Actually she was about to leave today, but she fell down the stairs and sprained it. Now she can only go after she can walk. I can't get rid of her now,” Aaron explained when Laurel joined in for breakfast in the dining room half an hour later. “My apologies, Laurel, for this deteriorating situation.”

Laurel took a sip of her coffee and tried to smile at him. “It's okay, Aaron, it's very rude to kick a guest who is sick after all.”

Aaron stared at Laurel sharply, as if to peel her heart away. “She won't bother you anymore. I told her that I love you and she can't expect anything from me.”

And I love you too, Aaron, Laurel muttered to herself. Of course, she still did not dare say it, afraid of his reaction. Her chest felt tight and mixed, so she chose to keep it for now and reveal it later, when she was more certain.

_______________

“I'm sorry I wasn't there this morning when you fell. This is medicine from the doctor to take if the pain in your leg is unbearable.”

Laurel placed the medicine on the table beside Clarissa's bed. Glancing slightly at Clarissa's leg, which was already bandaged with brown elastic bandages, she suddenly wondered. Did Clarissa drop herself on the stairs on purpose, to hurt or sprain her leg so that her departure from this house was delayed?

Geez, no! Laurel blinked, trying to shake off the negative thoughts. She could not be mean to this woman.

“If you need anything, just ring the bell, the maid will come. Get some rest, I'll go first.” Laurel stepped out of the room.

Meanwhile, Clarissa had been silent and did not answer her question.

“You must be very happy, if you know.”

Clarissa's cold voice made Laurel stop in her tracks. She was already at the door. “Know about what?”

Clarissa sneered and looked at her hatefully. “Knowing that Aaron has loved you for a long time? You're so lucky but you're a fool for not realizing it. And I hate you for it.”

Laurel frowned. “How could Aaron have loved me for so long?”

Didn’t they just get to know each other? Moreover, when Aaron was in a relationship with Clarissa, Laurel didn’t know him yet, did she?

Tears suddenly flowed from the corners of Clarissa's beautiful eyes, wetting her cheeks. “Whenever he made love to me, he always called your name. ‘Laurel,’ he whispered, softly and lovingly. He never called my name softly, never once did he call my name like that!” Clarissa's cry broke and she sobbed. “I hate you for that! I hate you so much!”

Laurel looked confusedly at Clarissa, who was sobbing, confused by her words. However, she seemed too hysterical to explain further. Sighing, Laurel stepped out of the guest room.

_______________

Brian found the information just like that.

He went through all the clues and then found a snippet of news from the softcopy of the newspaper archives at the national library. The news of the accident was about Aaron Silverwhite, the son of a wealthy billionaire who married a Spanish woman. The accident killed an elderly taxi driver who happened to be passing by, an innocent victim who died from the possibility of Aaron speeding drunk with his friends and running a red light.

Is this Aaron Silverwhite… the same Mr. White? Brian was still unsure. Mr. White was a genius man who seemed so competent and cold. Brian always thought that the man’s youth was spent endlessly studying and attending school.

However, these… speeding, drunken and reckless driving through a red light, and killing one person as well, is an irresponsible act; a far cry from the familiar Mr. White reflection. Nevertheless, this article cannot be wrong. Although rarely mentioned and as if it was hidden, Mr. White is clearly the son of the billionaire Silverwhite. The Aaron Silverwhite in this article is definitely the same as Mr White, his boss.

Brian continued to read the article carefully, saying that the matter was then resolved amicably. Aaron Silverwhite was never brought to justice and neither was the family of the poor taxi driver reported.

Brian looked through another article with the same date discussing the accident, and found another article that discussed the taxi driver's family. He was stunned, then his eyes widened in shock. The grieving photo in the article, despite being so young and adolescent, it was definitely Laurel. Brian browsed through the article and held his breath when he found a sentence explaining that the taxi driver left an only daughter named Laurel and a wife.

His mind immediately connected all the red threads. Therefore, that is how it looks. Mr. White had planned all this. Everything related to Laurel had been arranged by that man, without her knowledge for sure. Brian was sure Laurel knew nothing about this.

He hurriedly walked away, his mind filled with a strong determination to see Laurel as soon as he could when he could reach her. He would tell her that she had married her father's killer.