Chapter 77 You Are My Only Treasure
"Trust me, you're helping Emily, not hurting her," Cecilia reassured, her voice softening to almost a whisper.
Anna couldn't bring herself to nod or refuse. She remained paralyzed, staring at Cecilia, indecision etched on her features.
"You actually don't have a choice," Cecilia continued, her tone unwavering. "It's clear as day: Pamela didn't die from an accident. Cats are natural swimmers. Even if domestication had dulled Pamela's instincts, she would have caused a commotion if she fell into the water. The mansion has security patrolling constantly, yet no one noticed Pamela falling in. The only plausible scenario is that Pamela was killed and then placed in the water."
"Second," Cecilia pressed on, "since Pamela couldn't have drowned accidentally, it was a homicide. Pamela trusted her killer; there were no signs of struggle or cries for help, indicating she trusted the person who approached her. Everyone in the mansion, including the Whitakers, knows that aside from Emily, you were the only one Pamela trusted."
"Emily couldn't have done the deed herself, so that implicates you," Cecilia stated bluntly. "I suspected you from the onset, and that's why I had Ruth accompany me—to catch you slipping."
Anna was stunned, her eyes widened in disbelief. "The cat's meow earlier… that wasn't my imagination, was it?"
"No," Cecilia confirmed. "Ruth and I played it to unnerve you."
Anna gazed at Cecilia, incredulous. She had believed she had concealed her tracks well, convinced she had fooled Cecilia.
"Of course," Cecilia continued, "my deductions alone mean nothing legally. If you refuse to betray Emily, I won't force you. However, you should be aware that the Yakurosean Empire has stringent animal protection laws. Under these laws, harming a pet can result in prosecution, with a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Pamela had a pet ID, right? Her death falls under those laws. If pursued, incarceration is unavoidable." Cecilia’s eyes narrowed as she delivered the ultimatum.
"No, I can't go to jail!" Anna's voice rose, panic setting in. "My brother is studying law. If I go to jail, it will ruin his career. I can't leave a criminal record."
"Precisely why I said you have no choice." Cecilia remained impassive. "This wasn’t entirely your fault, but if you keep covering the truth, you’ll face the repercussions. To avoid that, the best course is honesty."
"I agree." Anna conceded, her voice trembling.
Under Cecilia's intense gaze, she had no choice but to capitulate.
Moreover, Cecilia's rationale made sense. Emily shouldn’t harbor feelings for Alaric. Revealing the truth might stop a bigger disaster.
"Good." Cecilia’s response was calm, with no sense of triumph. She acted as though everything had been within her control all along, radiating an air of serene authority that Anna couldn’t help but admire.
Anna had always considered Emily to be exceptionally astute. Emily knew how to manipulate situations, command attention, and even humiliate Rebecca with impunity.
Anna had thought that outmaneuvering Cecilia would be a simple task for Emily. After all, Cecilia seemed like someone who wouldn’t stir trouble or pursue matters to an extreme.
However, it seemed Emily had finally encountered someone more formidable than herself.
In this household, only Anna, who attended closely to Emily, truly understood the kind of person Emily was. Not even her parents saw through her facade. Yet, Cecilia had unraveled all of Emily's disguises within half a day. Truly, she was extraordinary.
After concluding her conversation with Anna, Cecilia returned to Alaric's bedroom. She intended to wait for the Whitaker family to return when her phone suddenly rang. It was Arabella.
"Cecilia, the doctor says Emily is stable now, and we're coming back soon. I heard from the servants that you’re still at home, so I thought..."
"Arabella, you can come back. Don't worry, I won't let Emily see me."
"Cecilia, I'm sorry for putting you through this," Arabella said, her tone laden with guilt.
"It's okay. I understand. If I were in your shoes, I would do the same," responded Cecilia with understanding.
"I'm glad you see it that way. Once Emily has calmed down, I'll address the situation between you two."
Arabella offered a few more consoling words before they ended the call.
Despite the conversation, Cecilia remained. She had promised not to see Emily but hadn’t committed to leaving the Whitaker mansion. She couldn't depart without exposing the truth about Emily.
Cecilia lay on the sofa, waiting, until she heard the door creak open. Alaric entered, surprise flashing across his face.
"I thought you’d run away," he teased, a playful note in his voice.
Cecilia shot him a glance. "Dream on," she retorted. "You'd like me to vanish so I wouldn't trouble your precious Emily."
Her words dripped with sarcasm, hinting at the pampered life Emily likely enjoyed.
While idly lying on the sofa, Cecilia pondered the dynamics of the Whitaker family. Despite their limited interactions in her previous encounters and even in her past life, it seemed everyone in the family, save for Emily, was warm and genuine. They had embraced Cecilia wholeheartedly, a stark contrast to the manipulative Kingsley family she had known.
Deep in thought, Cecilia didn’t notice Alaric approaching until he was right beside her. Her body tensed, muscles coiled, as she eyed him warily.
What was Alaric up to?
Just as she prepared to fend him off, Alaric, in his magnetic voice, whispered, "My precious treasure has always been you, not anyone else."
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