Benjamin answered Boden’s call. He knew the urgency of the matter, so he immediately put his work aside and walked to a corner to inform Credence.
On the other end of the call, Credence was in the last guest room in the Scott Manor. He was searching for possible clues of his father’s affairs with another woman in a pile of old newspapers and magazines.
Marvin was standing beside him, he bent down and followed him in looking through the books. He was searching for clues as well.
“Credence, we’ve searched through the whole building, but we couldn’t find anything. This may be our last hope.”
“Judging from my father’s cautious personality, it’s most likely to be placed around here.” Credence said calmly. He was feeling warm. He straightened his back and took off his jacket. He then hung it on a coffee-colored rattan chair next to him.
He turned around and was about to look through another layer of financial papers when he noticed a very subtle crack in the arm of the wicker chair. The crack reflected light from the ceiling lamps.
It looked like there was some sort of hard plastic within the crack.
“Marvin, I think I found what I’ve been looking for.”
Without waiting for Marvin’s reaction, he took out a sharp, thin knife from the toolbox. He pushed the tip of the knife inch by inch into the gap and shook it vigorously.
With a crack, the handrail snapped open.
A photo fell to the floor.
The photo was about the size of Credence’s palm. It had a plastic cover and the corners had turned yellow from age. However, he could still clearly see the people in the photo.
It was a young and beautiful woman. She was holding a baby, it looked like she was born not too long ago. She was happily smiling at the camera.
What shocked Credence was that this woman looked very similar to Dorothy’s mother, Leilani.
What shocked him, even more, was that Belle and Dorothy didn’t look alike, but their facial features were quite similar to the woman in the photo.
Marvin had walked over, he bent down and picked up the photo. He fixed his gaze on it and casually asked, “Credence, who is that woman? Also, who’s the child in her hands? Mr. Sheldon hid this photo in such a place. I’m confident that these two have something to do with Mr. Sheldon.”
“By the way, didn’t Jeremy say that he hates you and wished you would die and that you should ask Mr. Sheldon for the reason why? I think, perhaps the child in this woman’s arms is Jeremy, and this woman is probably Mr. Sheldon’s lover.”
He did not expect them to find Credence’s father’s dark secrets. An odd feeling arose in Marvin.
“If my father really did have a lover, he wouldn’t have lived alone in this building for so many years after my mother’s death.”
Credence frowned as he looked at the photo. His eyes were devoid of any emotions.
He narrowed his eyes and thought of the times when his mother was still alive. As long as his father was done with work at the company, he would rush home and accompany her to cook, eat, and wash the dishes.
This was especially true in his childhood. His parents liked being together, they would hold each other and read novels or magazines. When there was nothing left to read, they would simply stare into each other’s eyes. They would smile at each other and enjoy the time they had together.
Words could deceive people, but body language and eyes could not.
Credence was certain that his father’s love for his mother was deep and sincere. It was so deep that there was no room for anyone else.
But, if that was the case, then why did his father hide this photo?
Credence suddenly remembered the photo Victor found in that old newspaper. It was a photo of his father and a woman. He had saved it on his phone.
Credence quickly took out his phone and scrolled through his album. He compared the photo of the woman with the picture that was in Marvin’s hands.
Credence could see that it was indeed the same person.
Marvin’s guess was very likely correct.
Credence felt that he should calm his mind first.
His father had always loved his mother very much. But now, not only did he have a mistress, he even had an illegitimate son, and it was Jeremy!
This would explain why despite there being no grudges between them, Jeremy hated him a lot and wanted nothing more than to end his life.
Under the bright light of the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, Credence’s face was still, but his eyes seemed to be soaked in ink. It was so dark and serene, it would make people shudder.
He slowly turned around, slightly lowered his head, and walked out.
Marvin’s eyes were extremely sharp. He immediately noticed that something was wrong. “Credence, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, I just need to wash my face.”
Credence walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Icy cold water poured out and splashed on his face. His black clothes were also soaked.
But he completely ignored it. He kept staring at the snow-white ceiling above his head, as he allowed the cold water to wash over his entire body. The chill he felt was like a snake that crawled into his bones.
After a while, Credence finally turned off the water valve, he shook off the water on his face and walked out of the bathroom. He went to the wedding room that he and Dorothy had previously shared. He opened the wardrobe, took out a clean pair of clothes, and slowly put them on.
The woman in the photo shared several features that Belle had. Could the woman be related to Dorothy as well?
He needed to go to the Sherman Manor.
Credence gulped. He finally released that stuffy feeling which had been stuck in his chest for a very long time.
All these years, his father had fallen into a vegetative state, he couldn’t eat, drink, or move. He was more dead than alive. He had no intention of digging up his father’s dirty secrets. However, he still felt a need to find the truth.
Marvin took Credence’s jacket which he left on the rattan chair and his mobile phone. He pushed the door open and entered the room. He said in a rushed tone. “Credence, Benjamin called. He’s called you several times, sounds like an emergency.”
Why was he in such a hurry to contact him? Did something happen to Dorothy?
Credence had a bad feeling in his heart. He took the phone. “It’s me, what is it? Dorothy had a stomachache and she’s been having nightmares? What on earth happened?”
On the other end of the line, Benjamin repeated what Boden said and then summarized the situation. “Mr. Scott, I believe that Mrs. Scott must have been greatly disturbed by Melanie. In other words, she must be feeling very insecure.”
“Alright, I understand.”
After hanging up the phone, Credence licked his pale thin lips and looked up at Marvin. “I need you to take me to a place.”