26

On the day of the beginning of winter, they moved into a new house. Initially, Geoffrey was very mysterious and refused to divulge any information about the new home, no matter how much she inquired. It wasn't until the moving truck arrived at their destination that Aileen's pupils trembled in shock.

It was mansion that the Taylor family mortgaged to the bank, a mansion valued at 20 million. He had somehow redeemed it.

The mansion was almost restored to its former appearance, and they even hired a new housekeeper, Ada, who had a kind and proficient personality in cooking, tea art, and cleaning. Aileen was delighted to return to the mansion where she had grown up. However, Geoffrey became more reclusive, spending most of his time reading in the study rather than the living room.

Not only that, every time they passed through the back garden's pathway, he would pause and gaze pensively at a certain corner. Aileen didn't ask, suspecting that it might be related to the secret in the photograph.

Out of personal curiosity, she wanted to know more about his past, but she also hoped he would open up to her willingly, rather than her "interrogating" him. Perhaps with more time, he would be willing to do so.

To boost her immune system, Aileen started jogging every morning after moving. Most of the residents in the area were wealthy individuals from the city, so she rarely encountered others.

Geoffrey would occasionally accompany her, but this morning he had something to attend to at the company. Aileen was covered in sweat, glancing at the smartwatch on her wrist, planning to run the last kilometer.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, surprised to see Cary, whom she hadn't seen in over a month.

"I thought I was mistaken, have you moved back here?" He was dressed smartly, looking at her workout attire in surprise.

"Yeah, it's been a while." After exchanging greetings, she lifted her leg to leave. She almost forgot that their homes were not far from each other; they lived in the same neighborhood.

"I was worried about what happened at the hotel last time. Seeing you're okay, I'm relieved."

Feeling a sense of nostalgia and considering how he had helped her, Aileen softened her tone. "Thank you."

"Running in this cold weather?"

"It's not that cold yet, running feels good for the body."

"I happened to pass by this road on my way to work and saw that tall tree, so I stopped." He spoke fondly, pointing to a nearby maple tree. It was tall, but the fallen leaves covered the ground, creating a red carpet of maple leaves. They used to pass by that tree often on their way to school.

Seeing her remain silent, looking more desolate, he asked, "How are things between you and Geoffrey?"

Aileen didn't answer and threw a question back at him, "How are things between you and Angie?" They had been arguing over the phone last time they spoke.

His expression darkened, "We broke up."

Suddenly, he turned serious, "Aileen, I've told you before that there's something wrong with Geoffrey. Stay away from him."

Aileen knew that what Geoffrey had done was indirectly responsible for the breakup with Angie, but she felt protective and couldn't find the words to respond immediately.

"Geoffrey is a lunatic."

"He's like a gambler, willing to manipulate the entire stock market and face the backlash just to fight against the Williams family."

"What are you saying?"

Aileen raised her eyebrows in surprise, noticing a hint of fatigue on Cary's face as he rubbed his forehead.

"Geoffrey is far from being as simple as he appears. He's a schemer and ruthless in his actions. Whether it's the Moon Family or even our Williams family... he once orchestrated the imprisonment of the former Ford Chamber of Commerce President, Nathan."

"Within just a few short years, he went from being a doctor without any background to becoming a rival capable of challenging our family. Moreover, he had connections with your family seven years ago. Don't you suspect his true identity? Could Uncle's framing be related to him?"

Is Geoffrey involved in the defamation against her father?

Aileen's heart skipped a beat; Cary's words hit a sensitive spot. "You know my father was wrongly accused back then, so why don't you speak up for him and be fair?"

He hesitated, avoiding her gaze. "I've felt guilty all these years. I apologize to you for my past cowardice."

He added with self-derision, "So even if I face these punishments now, I have no right to blame anyone."

During lunch, Aileen absentmindedly stared at the rice in her bowl, hesitating to pick up her chopsticks. The man noticed her distraction.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, really. I just feel like lunch is too rich, and I might gain weight."

"Gaining some weight looks good on you." He smiled warmly and picked a piece of salmon without bones, placing it in her bowl.

As she took a few bites, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Geoffrey, what were you doing before you met me?"

"I was busy researching the human body and how to become a better doctor." He glanced at her, the previous smile fading. "Is there something wrong?"

"No... I was just asking casually. Let's eat quickly; you have to go to work later."

In the yard, Aileen leaned against the swing she used to play on with her mother in her childhood. Her mind pondered Cary's words from this morning. If what he said was true, then what Geoffrey was currently involved in was dangerously risky. However, she couldn't simply question him based on someone else's words; that wouldn't be appropriate.

"Miss Johnson, I found a letter in the small mailbox outside the gate. It seems to have been sent many years ago. Would you like to take a look?"

Her thoughts were interrupted as Ada held out a letter with a slightly yellowed envelope made of rough paper.

The mailbox outside the gate?

Aileen remembered that the mailbox was hidden in the lower right corner of the gate, obscured by the front fence. Few people would notice it, so the letters sent there were mostly from those familiar with mansion, mainly her father's generation.

"Let's put it aside for now."

She lowered her eyelids and didn't take the letter. Many years had passed, and things had changed. Opening or not opening the letter didn't really matter anymore.