Olivia was lost in memories of the time she hid from that mysterious figure. When the person’s footsteps stopped right near her hiding place, Olivia felt her heartbeat speed up. She could only stand in silence, afraid of being discovered. The figure was wrapped in a black cloak that completely concealed his identity. Despite not being able to see his face, his heavy, stern voice pierced into Olivia’s heart as he laughed so loudly before finally saying. “Goodbye, Dad.”
Olivia immediately relayed the mysterious person’s words to Daniel. Daniel’s face radiated anxiety and worry that he could not hide.
“Well, I understand,” Daniel said in a barely audible voice.
“You will definitely still support my company, right?” asked Olivia anxiously.
Daniel looked sharply at Olivia. “Are you ready if I need your testimony?” he asked in a firm voice.
Olivia was so surprised by Daniel’s question that she fell silent, not knowing what to answer.
“You should at least take responsibility for your actions,” Daniel said with firmness, not giving Olivia a chance to object.
“Alright, I’ll do it as long as you save my company,” Olivia replied.
“Get out,” Daniel said.
“Daniel, please forgive me for leaving your grandfather without help back then. Really, I had no choice.” Olivia’s voice sounded shaky, soft.
“This is the last time I will help the Walton company, considering the relationship between your family and the Winston family,” Daniel said in a firm voice.
“Thank you, Daniel,” Olivia said in a soft voice before getting out of Daniel’s car.
After Olivia’s departure, Daniel sat silently in the car, musing about all the information he had just gotten. He massaged his furrowed mid-brow, trying to sort out all the possibilities. Suddenly, a question escaped his lips, “Dad? How can that guy call Grandpa Dad?”
Daniel’s personal driver finally got back in after seeing Olivia’s departure from the car. “Where are we going, sir?” he asked kindly.
Daniel looked at the watch on his hand. Although his heart was still filled with the desire to continue investigating the mystery of his grandfather’s death, the image of Emily waiting at home made him realize his obligations as a husband. “Let’s go home,” he said in a thoughtful voice.
“Yes, sir,” the private driver replied.
***
On the other hand, Emily slowly walked towards Daniel’s study. She wanted to help Daniel tidy up some files on his desk. When she opened the door, it was unlocked. Emily saw several files that already looked neat on the table.
“He’s so neat, unlike me,” Emily muttered with a smile.
Emily stepped into Daniel’s study with cautious steps, sitting on the chair Daniel usually used for work. The memory of the first time Daniel had brought her into this room slipped back into her mind. As Emily opened a drawer and tidied up some files, a photograph suddenly fell out. Emily’s eyes opened wide, shocked by what she saw. It was a picture of her with her father, Fred.
“How can Daniel have this?” muttered Emily, her voice full of confusion.
Her heart was pounding as Emily organized the files in the drawer. Among the files, she found some information about herself, as well as a photo of Fred with an unknown man. Seeing all that, confusion came over her.
Emily quickly sorted out all the files before Daniel noticed her presence in the study. As she left the study, a feeling of suspicion crept into her heart. There was something Daniel seemed to hide. When she back to her room, Daniel, who had just returned home, saw Emily, who was still awake.
“You’re not asleep yet?” Daniel’s voice broke Emily’s reverie, startling her. She quickly turned her head towards the source of the voice and saw Daniel, who had been home, his steps slowly approaching her.
Emily felt her heart racing, unsure of how to answer Daniel’s question. Their gazes met, creating a moment of tense silence between them.
“What’s wrong? Is something bothering you? Why aren’t you sleeping?” Daniel asked in a soft tone, trying to understand Emily’s confused expression.
Emily shook her head in response to Daniel’s question before asking, “Where have you been?”
Daniel only smiled slightly before answering Emily’s question. “There’s something I need to do.”
Recalling some of the information and photos Daniel had collected about her made Emily even more curious. “If I may know, what are you doing?” asked Emily, her voice full of curiosity that was hard to hide.
Emily felt Daniel’s presence in front of her like someone different, someone who had many secrets, as if he was hiding many things he didn’t want to reveal to her.
“Why aren’t you sleeping? Something bothering you?” Daniel asked, trying to change the subject.
“You haven’t answered my question. What are you doing?” Emily repeated the question, but in a slightly urgent tone.
Daniel was silent for a moment before finally answering in a calm voice, “I just have a bit of work I need to take care of.”
“If it’s a company matter, you can discuss it with me because our souls will swap when morning comes. Shouldn’t I be aware of that as well?”
“It’s already too late. Go to sleep,” Daniel said in a soft voice, trying to end the conversation.
Daniel had kept everything a secret from Emily, worried that the truth would be too painful for her and that she would eventually realize that Daniel’s parents’ deaths were related to his biological father.
“Don’t think anything,” Daniel said in a soft voice, trying to ease Emily’s worries and show his concern for her.
Seeing Emily’s confused face, Daniel immediately took her into his hug.
‘I’m sorry, Em. I don’t want to lose you so it’s best you don’t need to know too much,’ Daniel thought regretfully, reflecting his desire to protect Emily despite having to hide a difficult truth.
‘What exactly are you hiding from me, Daniel?’ thought Emily with worry creeping into her heart.
“Let’s go to bed,” Daniel invited, and Emily could only nod in agreement.
Daniel took Emily to sleep in his arms. Emily’s heart was in turmoil. She wanted Daniel to be more open to her, especially after they officially became a married couple. Emily also wanted to get an explanation from Daniel about some of the information and photos she had just seen earlier in the study. However, because of the fatigue that enveloped both of them, they finally fell asleep in a warm embrace.
***
On the other side, a mysterious figure was seen holding a glass filled with alcohol, a smile etched on his lips as he listened to a voice recording heard behind his headset. The spotlight from the phone screen shone on his face, creating a mysterious aura around him. In the silence, the person’s expression looked calm yet full of anticipation.
‘Are you ready if I need your testimony?’
‘You should at least take responsibility for your actions.’
‘Alright, I’ll do it as long as you save my company.’
Snippets of the conversation between Daniel and Olivia could be heard from behind the mysterious person’s headset. With every word spoken, the glass in the person’s hand shook with every laugh that came out until finally the person’s big laugh echoed in the room. The beam of light from the cell phone screen reflected the pleased expression on his face, showing the joy that overflowed within him.
“Daniel, you’d better not find out about my whereabouts any further. But if you’re curious, don’t blame me if your life ends like Jake’s and your pathetic father’s,” the man muttered in a threatening voice, creating a tense and mysterious atmosphere in the room. The spotlight from his cell phone screen cast dark shadows on his face, adding a sense of mystery and intimidation to his words.
A moment later, the glass in his hand was thrown until the sound of shattering glass split the silence of the room. His expression, which had been full of laughter, turned serious and dark.