Chapter 56

SYBIL and Ruth came home after making sure that Carlisle and Prudence had already left the Whitewood estate.
She didn’t want to see anyone of them, not because she couldn’t face them, but because she didn’t want to cause any conflict. She was sure there would be a confrontation, and Chase wouldn’t let it pass without taking her side.
“Thanks for keeping me company tonight,” she told Ruth when they got off the car. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Sybil. Remember that you can always count on me if you need someone to talk to. You can consider me your only friend in this mansion since every here is… you know.” Ruth beamed at her. She then held her hands. “You know what, I don’t really like Prudence to be my brother’s wife.”
She wanted to laugh when she saw Ruth roll her eyes, but she held herself back. She didn’t want her to think she was too at ease and take advantage of the fact that she didn’t like his brother’s fiancée.
“Why? Everyone in this family seems to love her. Your father’s bragging about her.”
Ruth sneered.
“My father is talking like that because he wants this marriage to push through. But the truth is, Prudence isn’t as good as everyone thinks she is. I knew it the very first time she walked through the door.”
Her forehead creased.
“It seems to me that you’re a good judge of character.”
“Hmm… you can say that.” Ruth cocked her head to the side. “I can feel it… the chills whenever Prudence is around. If you know what I mean….”
She nodded her head in response. If truth be told, she had been feeling something when she first met Prudence, though she hadn’t given it so much thought because she was busy thinking about her future with Chase. But she could feel it too. There was something with Prudence that she couldn’t explain, yet she could feel it. And now it made her wonder if she had met her before she had amnesia.
“Hey, Sybil…” She felt Ruth grasp her arm. “Are you listening to me?”
“Hmm? O-oh… yeah, of course. I just suddenly thought of something.”
“What is it?”
“I—”
“Perhaps you want to tell me where you have been.” Chase’s firm voice roared behind her.
“I… uhm… coming in. `Bye, Sybil. Goodnight!”
Ruth rushed inside, leaving her behind with Chase.
She took a deep breath and turned around to face him.
“H-hi…” She didn’t know if smiling would be okay, so she just kept a straight face.
“Hi?” He crossed their distance. “Is that all you can say after leaving like that?”
Sybil could tell he was mad when she saw his eyes become dark.
“I… didn’t leave. As you can see, I came back—”
“You came back but didn’t tell me where you are going. You weren’t even answering my calls, for fuck’s sake, Sybil!”
She pressed her lips firmly and met his gaze.
“I didn’t know you’re this controlling,” Sybil said in a low tone.
She walked past him, but Chase quickly caught up and held her by the arm.
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re controlling.”
He pulled her to his front and grasped her arms.
“Controlling? When did I do that?”
“Well, you’re doing it now.”
“I’m not—”
“Then why do you have to ask where I have been? Why do you always have to look for me? Why do I always need to stay beside you every minute?” she snapped.
“Sybil… I’m doing this because I want to protect you, and you know that.”
Chase’s expression changed immediately. Now he looked at her with sad eyes as though he was about to cry.
“If you think I’m controlling you, I’m so sorry. Believe me, Sybil… I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I’m just worried about you. I thought something happened with you while you were away.” He heaved a deep sigh and slowly freed her. “If you think I’m being overly controlling, then do what you want from now on. I’m giving you the freedom to do anything that you like. I won’t give you orders. I won’t look for you whenever you’re out of my sight.”
Chase turned around and started walking away from her. That was when the realization hit her.
“Chase, wait…”
Sybil ran to him and hugged him tightly from behind.
“I-I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me for what I said. I didn’t know what was happening to me….” She buried her face in his back and started sobbing. “Please don’t be mad at me....”
Chase removed her arms and turned to face him.
“I’m not mad at you… I will never be, Sybil. Perhaps we’re just both exhausted today.” He cupped her cheeks and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Why don’t we come inside and rest, hmm? And then tomorrow, we will talk.”
“Okay,” she said in between her sobs.
He smiled shortly and held her by the hand.
Chase brought her to her room, but she stopped him when he was about to leave to go to his room.
“Can we just sleep together tonight?”
She could feel it… Their time together was coming to an end soon. Once he married Prudence, she would have to leave the Whitewoods mansion ad never show herself again.
“I will be back after I showered—”
“Why don’t you just shower here… with me?” She sauntered toward the bathroom.
Chase followed her immediately. He even helped her to slip off her dress before taking off his clothes. And then, they kissed under the cold shower as though there was no tomorrow.
“I met him,” Sybil told him after the kiss. She then hugged him by the waist and rested her cheek on his broad, sturdy chest.
“Who?”
“Prudence’s uncle.”
She felt his body freeze for a moment.
“What did he tell you?” His voice was laced with worry, and she understood why.
“Nothing. He saw me in the foyer and asked for your father.”
“Are you sure that’s all? Sybil, you don’t need to lie to me.”
“I’m not lying,” she countered.
“How do you find Carlisle Cross? Was he as intimidated as my father?”
“I’m not intimidated by him.” She raised her head to meet his gaze. “He has a nice voice when he speaks Italian.”
His brows furrowed.
“Sybil…”
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I find it fascinating... and I have this feeling that I did understand what he said in Italian. It kinda felt like I can speak Italian as well.”
“What did he say in Italian?”
She tried to remember the exact words that he had said.
“He said… mi scusi, voglio vedere Francis. Do you understand Italian?”
“A little. And you’re right... he was indeed looking for my father.”
So, she really did understand what Carlisle Cross was saying. Perhaps she could speak Italian as well.
It seems my memories are coming back little by little, she thought.
“Where did you go with Ruth anyway?”
“At the park.”
“Eh?”
“I just wanted to get some fresh air… away from here.”
“Oh… I see.”

“YOU saw her? When? I thought she was not there when we had dinner.”
Prudence filled her glass again with whisky and chugged it down immediately.
“Sybil was there when I arrived at the Whitewoods mansion.”
“Did she recognize you?”
“No.” Her boss smirked. “But I think she understood what I said, though she didn’t pay too much attention to it.”
Her hand clenched against the glass.
“What is your assessment then? Would she be a threat or something?”
“She isn’t a threat to you… for now. But since we didn’t know when her memories would return, you have to do something. Sybil might be harmless without her memories, but her very existence in Chase’s life would give us both a throbbing headache.”
“I must say you’re right.” Prudence loosened her grip on the glass. “She was the very reason Chase is backing off to this wedding.”
“Don’t worry. I have something in mind that could make our lives easy.” Carlisle raised his glass and took a sip afterward.
“If this is like the last time, I’m bailing out—”
“It’s not, Prudence. You and I won’t get our hands stained with blood. We will let the Whitewoods do the job.”
“Sybil is your family, yet you’re doing this to her.”
If Carlisle Cross could stab his family’s back, he could throw her under the bus one of these days. She must be extra careful, for her life was at stake. Pleasing her boss must be her top priority.
Prudence flinched when her phone suddenly vibrated inside her pocket. Her eyes widened upon seeing Julian’s name flashing on the screen. She declined the call and pocketed her phone.
“Who’s that? Why don’t you answer it?” asked Carlisle.
“I don’t know. Spam call, perhaps. Anyway, are you staying here tonight?”
“And why would I stay in your place? Don’t worry because I have a place to stay while I’m here.” Her boss rose from his seat and strode to the door.
“Y-you’re staying here?”
“In the meantime. Perhaps I will leave if there’s an emergency back home.”
That was bad news. Prudence didn’t like having him around.