“I knew it all along. The idea was mine!” Ten Holt said proudly. Because he came up with the plan, and he was involved, but Orion’s mother was the executor. He was in the shadows, and even if someone investigated, they couldn’t trace him.
Upon hearing what he said, Orion almost crushed the bottle in his hand. He struggled to control himself.
“… How did you come up with the idea?” Orion exerted all his strength to contain his temper, suppressing the faintly annoyed tone, and tried to keep himself calm.
“We investigated a bit. Luna Ann has no background. Her mother seemed to have died from illness, and her father remarried and didn’t care about her. She has no close relatives around. So, I suggested to your mother that a person like her, if she disappeared, wouldn’t attract attention. Therefore, we decided to make her disappear completely.” Ten Holt explained.
Ten Holt’s eyes became increasingly clouded, but his words became more excited. “I suggested throwing her into the sea, feeding her to the fish, so that even the bones couldn’t be found. Your mother really listened to me. She arranged a meeting with Luna, who seemed to want to confront your mother because we, together, destroyed her best friend’s company. But she didn’t know that your mother had already planned to kill her. As soon as she appeared, your mother had people lying in wait, they caught her, tied her up, and put her in a sack, which was then thrown into the sea.”
Orion trembled all over as he heard this. He was angry, frustrated, and filled with self-blame. Because there were things Ten Holt mentioned that he didn’t know, like Luna’s father remarrying and not caring about her. He was completely oblivious.
“You wanted her to disappear so badly?” Orion’s voice couldn’t hide the dark, chilling tone.
Ten Holt waved his hand, completely oblivious to Orion’s reaction, inebriation taking over. “Ah, it’s all because of Haley. She said with Luna Ann around, you can’t live happily ever after. Haley wanted me to convince your mother to take action. Your mother is easy to persuade… she agreed so easily…”
Orion’s face turned icy cold, freezing over. He stood up, picked up his phone, and ended the recording. He stared at Ten Holt intensely for a long time. There was a moment of impulse, wanting to kill him. But he held back. After going through so much, he knew that impulse was futile. Elijah was right, whoever obstructed him, he would break through them, and if that failed, he would take them down. Now he had to keep the Holt family in his grasp. No matter how much he hated them, he had to endure it and safely send Ten Holt back to his family.
…
After sending Ten Holt, Orion went home. Perhaps Jessica Holt had called her daughter. So, Haley had been waiting for him. “What did you see my dad for?” Haley looked at him, her tone filled with questions.
Orion looked at Haley, who had an innocent and harmless face. He couldn’t help but mock himself. He always saw Haley as a simple and good girl. But she was cunning, using all means necessary. Her heart turned out to be so dark. He truly hated himself for being blind. He regretted not seeing through Haley’s true face earlier. He suppressed the impulse to slap her, tugged at his collar, and said, “I’m tired. If you want to know, go ask your father yourself.”
With that, he walked straight into the house. Haley looked back at him. She couldn’t help but feel that today’s Orion felt different. It was hard for her to pinpoint exactly what was different. She followed him into the house. “Orion, I won’t divorce you.”
Orion ignored her completely, took off his clothes, and went into the bathroom to take a shower. After he finished, he lay down on the bed and went to sleep.
Haley couldn’t help but feel upset since she couldn’t understand the current Orion.
Was he compromising again?
With that question in mind, Haley cautiously lay down on the bed.
“Orion,”
“I’m tired,” Orion said, turning over and facing away from her. If he looked at her, he might not be able to resist the urge to strangle her.
Haley cautiously moved closer, but Orion didn’t push her away like he used to.
“Orion,” she whispered. All she got in response was Orion’s steady breathing. She reached out and rested her arm on Orion’s waist. Orion didn’t move either, and she felt a glimmer of joy for a moment. Greedy, she leaned against Orion’s back.
The next morning, Haley woke up. And she saw Orion standing by the window. He rarely stayed in the same room as her, and he rarely came back just to avoid her. She couldn’t understand the current Orion. Did her father convince him? Did Orion change his mind?
Haley got out of bed and walked up behind him, intending to reach out and hug him from behind. But at that moment, Orion suddenly turned around and put his phone back into his pocket. He had just sent a message.
“It’s time for breakfast.” He said and walked out.
Haley quickly changed clothes and freshened up. Downstairs, Orion was still there. Haley walkied over and sat down at the dining table. Carefully, she asked, “Are you busy with work today?”
They didn’t have much to talk about. She had to force a conversation.
“Probably…” As Orion spoke, he looked up with a meaningful gaze, “It will be busy.”
“Will you come home earlier tonight then?”
Haley started probing.
Orion said, “I will.”
Orion’s phone on the table suddenly rang. He picked it up leisurely. A hurried voice came from the other end, “Orion, what happened last night?”
“Is it about the recording?” asked Orion.
“Did you do it?”
Ten Holt questioned from the other end.
“I received it this morning.” Orion calmly replied.
There was a moment of hesitation from the other end.
“Come over immediately.” Said Ten Holt.
“Okay.” Orion replied without hesitation.
“Let’s go!” He stood up.
“Where are we going? What recording? What were you just talking about?”
“Once we’re at your parents’ place, you’ll know.” Orion’s tone was calm. There was no hint of emotion in his voice or on his face.
Somehow, Haley felt an inexplicable panic.
Orion drove, taking Haley to her parents’ house. Ten Holt an his wife were waiting for Orion with angry expressions. As they entered, Ten Holt said, “Orion, come with me.”
Orion followed.
Later, they entered Ten Holt’s office. Ten stared sharply at Orion, “Did you set me up last night?”
“Dad, what are you talking about? How could I?” Orion placed the received recording in front of him, “I received this in the morning.”
Ten Holt looked at it and saw that it was sent at almost the same time as his own. It was from the same phone number.
“Who could it be?” Ten Holt looked at Orion, half believing, half doubting. He felt like Orion was playing tricks but Orion also received a message.
Was it really him?
“Orion, I was just talking nonsense when I was drunk. You don’t believe me, do you?”
Orion smiled and said, “I didn’t take it seriously. But this recording, could it be your competitor in the business? Setting a trap on purpose to make me misunderstand you?”
There were indeed some people offended in the business world. Recently, Ten Holt had exposed some weaknesses of another company during a competition for a project.
“Dad, if you trust me, let me investigate this matter.” Orion volunteered.
Ten Holt looked at him and suddenly patted his shoulder.
“I’ll investigate this matter myself.” He still didn’t trust Orion.
“That works too.” Said Orion.
“You go back first, I need to think it through.”
Orion walked out of the room. He said to Haley, “You stay here with Mom and Dad, I’m going to the company.”
With that, he left. He got into his car and his phone rang.
A voice came from the other end, “Everything has been arranged.”