Chapter 191
Peering through the crack in the door, Keith saw Haley sitting by the side of Owen.
The atmosphere inside the room was overwhelmingly cozy. He pursed his lips and decided against entering.
At least for the moment, Keith felt that Haley was genuinely caring for Owen.
Turning to leave, Keith noticed Emily already standing at the door of the room.
"Mom, what brings you here?" Keith asked, visibly surprised.
Emily observed the scene inside the room for a while before eventually shifting her gaze.
She took Keith's hand, her voice stern and cool, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's step outside."
Nodding, Keith followed Emily to the car.
"Keith, you saw it too, your dad actually trusts Haley to take care of Owen alone. If she were to poison the food Owen eats..." Emily cupped her mouth, "Owen... he despises me, forbids me to appear in his room, otherwise, I would've rushed in and driven Haley out..."
Keith met her gaze, his tone detached, "Haley wouldn't poison him. You're overthinking it, Mom."
"Keith, has that woman bewitched you too?" Emily's eyes widened in disbelief, “I grew up with Haley. She's always been manipulative, sweet-talking to your face and stabbing you in the back. She's exploiting your trust to get back at me! Keith, I've already lost Owen, I can't lose you too..."
"I am your son, you will never lose me," Keith reassured her calmly.
The reassurance, however, sent a shiver down Emily's spine.
She grabbed Keith's shoulders firmly, "Keith, I'm scared. I fear she'll bewitch all three of you, marry your dad, and take my place... I have nightmares every night and the fear wakes me up. I'm terrified..."
With that, she burst into tears.
Keith regarded her coldly, watching for two full minutes before he felt perhaps that was too callous.
He handed her a pack of tissues, "Mom, please, don't cry."
Emily wasn't lying.
She had been plagued by nightmares recently.
Especially last night, when she dreamt over and over of Keith and Owen calling Haley 'Mom.'
This dream... it was nothing short of a nightmare.
She couldn't bear to think of the consequences when her secret would eventually come to light. What torment might await her?
Trying to salvage the situation had only pushed the Winston family further away, despite her using every trick in the book.
She was in such despair...
"Keith, what should I do...?" Emily sobbed uncontrollably, her composure completely shattered.
"Mom, just focus on your piano," Keith offered with casual reassurance, "Once you can hold your own concert, the world will look different."
If his mother could carve out her own niche, maybe she could finally detach from the Winstons.
That would surely ease her pain...
Amid the sounds of Emily's delicate sobs, Keith's phone buzzed to life.
He glanced at the screen to see a call from his assistant, Russell, and picked up.
"Master Winston, we've found the perpetrator..."
Keith tensed immediately, and Emily's crying halted.
"This afternoon at six, a silver sports car was discovered submerged in the river outside of town. After the car was pulled out, they determined the driver had been dead for over two hours..."
Keith's expression darkened.
"I'm still gathering information here. I'll update you the moment I learn anything new."
The call ended, and silence took over the car for a few seconds.
After a tense pause, Emily wailed, "It was Haley! It has to be! She killed that driver! Now there are no witnesses, no one can trace it back to her! She's always been scheming and ruthless! She returned to Seaside City just to get back at me. Keith, you've got to convince your dad to kick Haley out of Cuenca!"
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