Chapter 30 Seeking the Truth
I was super grateful. Clara really pulled herself together and stood up for me. But the more she defended me, the more Edward seemed to get disgusted.
From their conversation, I picked up some info.
Turns out, the homeless guy was from a nearby village going through land acquisition and demolition. He was pissed about the government's compensation and held a grudge against society. His family couldn't stand him and kept their distance. Usually, he'd just steal small stuff or beg on the streets.
But today, for some reason, he went nuts and attacked someone. He admitted to stabbing a rich guy but denied having any partners who kidnapped Anne. The police had determined his social circle was practically non-existent. He loitered in the area, begging from local businesses when he was hungry, sleeping on the streets when he was tired. He rarely spoke to anyone.
So, someone else kidnapped Anne. Luckily, street surveillance is pretty advanced now. The van that took Anne was spotted by highway patrol soon after hitting the highway, and they rescued her. But the cops were still grilling those guys to figure out who they were.
Tears streamed down my face, filled with worry, guilt, and the frustration from my fight with Edward. Even though Edward kept telling me to leave, I felt I had to stay until Anne was out of surgery, just to know she made it.
"You murderer, I'll make sure you get what you deserve," Edward completely lost it.
"Edward, are you out of your mind? The homeless guy who stabbed Anne is just a poor, crazy person! The real murderer is still with the police. What good does it do to yell at me?" I was furious at Edward's irrationality.
"Then, can you prove the kidnappers weren't hired by you? You encouraged Anne to travel with us; you booked the flight tickets; you opened the car door for her. Weren't all these preparations for the killers you hired? Anne was bleeding when she was taken. Anyone else, maybe a little blood wouldn't matter. But Anne…" Edward's suppressed voice felt like a dagger to my heart.
Wasn't that "anyone else” me? I thought.
The wound on my arm had just started to heal but was now bleeding through the bandage from the knife stab. Edward said it didn't matter. I didn't want to argue with him anymore and pushed him away, limping towards the hospital exit.
Arguing was pointless; I had to take action and prove my innocence myself.
The sunlight was warm but also a bit harsh. It couldn't chase away the gloom in my heart. I planned to head to the police station to see if there were any new developments in the interrogation. I was desperate to know if the scumbag had been brought to justice and if Anne's suffering would be avenged. This was my second time at the police station in two months because of Anne. Last time, she was the perpetrator; this time, she was the victim.
The police station was way busier than I expected. As I weaved through the swarm of officers, it felt like I was invisible. I had to grab one and explain why I was there, but he just gave me a blank look and waved me off. After asking a couple more officers, I finally found the one handling the case. "I'm sorry, ma'am, we get your urgency, but the case is still under investigation. According to regulations, we can't disclose any progress right now, nor can we arrange for you to visit the suspect," he said, all official-like.
I figured I'd get turned down, but not so bluntly. My heart sank, and my hope got doused with cold water. I tried pleading again, but they just asked me to leave for interfering with their work.
So, I had to leave. Anne was lying in the hospital, her condition still a mystery. Edward was like an enraged lion, ready to tear me apart at any moment, and I was helpless. I saw a call from Lila and picked up right away. Unfortunately, Lila's news was pretty much the same as what Edward had told me. She was just as stuck.
"Diana, my connections are limited, and I really can't dig up more clues. You know, the police have their own ways of handling cases, and no one can do anything until the case is clear. But you are the hostess of the Howard Family; maybe as Mrs. Howard, you can find out something," Lila said. She was right. With the Howard Family's status in Wind City, they could definitely get information, especially since the victim was Anne. But I wanted to get the news before Edward did.
Back at the hospital, I found Anne had been brought out of surgery, now lying weakly on the bed. Her face had lost its usual charm, and two lines of tears streaked her pale cheeks. Edward was by her bedside, holding her small hands tightly, as if letting go would mean losing her again. His gaze was so gentle, but it wasn't for me.
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome," Edward's attitude towards me was still ice-cold.
"Edward, don't blame Diana," Anne spoke with difficulty but with deep emotion.
"Anne, you need to rest." Edward's demeanor made me want to laugh. How could they not seem like the innocent ones?
Edward saw me as the culprit, his eyes filled with a desire to kill me. Although Clara and Hayden hadn't taken a stance, they would naturally side with their daughter in such matters. At yesterday's birthday party, we were still a loving family, but now they were huddled together for warmth, and I had become an outsider. How ironic.
"Edward, I will prove to you that I had nothing to do with this. I am also a victim in this case." With that, I walked out of the room without looking back. I didn't dare to look back, fearing that if I saw Edward again, I would break down in tears.
Back in my apartment, I found the internet flooded with all kinds of rumors. Some said the Howard Family had pissed off people in the underworld, others said it was a business rival's dirty trick, and some even claimed I had hired a killer out of jealousy towards Anne. Each piece of news was detailed, as if they were witnesses to the whole event. My head started to ache, so I shut down the computer and tried to rest. But lying in bed, I couldn't sleep. I decided to go to the police station again tomorrow, using my status to see if I could find any clues.
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