It was already bright and shiny when the police finished their investigation. Belle feels like her head is not attached to her neck. Everyone else looked like they were floating.
“According to the investigation, the guard said that a woman in her late 40s entered the village saying she was a visitor to Luisa Villa,” the investigator stated.
“Why did he let her in? He didn’t even ask for identification?” Frederick asked, irritated.
“Actually Mr. De Clarion, he did, but what’s weird is that he received a call from someone claiming that the woman should be allowed in. The person who called introduced himself as the butler of the family, John.”
Frederick looked at John and so was the rest of the people in the living room. The man raised both hands and spoke, “I have nothing to do with that call.”
The police nodded at him, “We believe that Sir, we checked your background and we found out that you’ve been serving the De Clarions for almost four decades already. In addition, you do not have any delinquent record.”
“Do you have a sketch of the woman mentioned?” Tristan asked and the investigator handed it to him.
“Esme…” Belle muttered. With just one look, they had already identified the woman. It was none other than her stepmother.
Frederick cupped his forehead and stomped his cane, “I can’t believe she’s this evil!” he spat.
“I have to call my father,” Belle announced, before excusing herself. But before she could stand up, Jacob stopped her.
“He’s on his way here,” he informed her.
True enough, several minutes after, Lawrence showed up. “I’m sorry that I’m here again. I’m just worried about my daughter because of the fire and the death of one of your housekeepers.”
“We understand your worry. Come and sit down. We want to ask you something too.” It was Frederick and he was just glad that Lawrence was safe from his wife.
“How are you dad?”
He reached out for his daughter’s hand and squeezed it lightly, “I’m fine, Belle. I’m fine.” He then turned his attention to the old De Clarion. “What happened here?”
“It’s your wife,” Tristan blurted out. He was trying to hold it in, to not hurt Belle’s father, but he just couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
“What do you mean?” the old Williams asked, his lips trembling.
Tristan took the sketch from the investigator and handed it to Lawrence. As soon as he saw it, tears started escaping from his eyes. “H-How?” he asked.
The investigator explained things to him over again. When the briefing was over, his face was already wet with tears.
“She’s a demon!” he exclaimed. “I can’t believe I married a demon.”
Belle runs a hand on her father’s back to calm him down. “Dad, I’m worried for your safety. Why don’t you stay here in the meantime?”
“Don’t worry about me Belle, it’s best to take care of yourself. Esme wouldn’t do anything to me because if she did, she wouldn’t get anything. Everything will go to you and because of that, mind your safety.” Then he turned to Tristan, “Please take care of my daughter,” to which Tristan nodded.
Lawrence stayed longer as he waited for the investigation to finish. After that, he went straight home, still worried about Esme and whatever her plans were.
“Good evening honey! Where have you been?” the woman asked as soon as he stepped in. “Have you had dinner?”
The woman was extra cheerful and that creeped out Lawrence. He suddenly thought that she was planning something again, but he chose to set his suspicions aside in the meantime.
“Let’s go have dinner,” he plainly said, then he headed for the dining room. But before he started eating, he let Esme eat first. Afraid that she might have added poison to the food.
Dinner was peaceful, so Lawrence didn’t feel any fear of sleeping. After washing up, he lay down on the bed and waited for Esme to lie next to him before sleeping.
However, when he woke up at four in the morning, Esme was no longer next to him. He quickly got off the bed and checked the bathroom, but Esme was not there either.
Lawrence went out of the bedroom to check all corners of the house. Unfortunately, she really can’t find her.
He can hear his heartbeat in his ears out of nervousness. All sorts of scenarios had already flashed in his head out of fear, so he moved as quickly as possible to dress up. He has to find his wife before something happens again.
Before leaving the Williams Villa, he talked to his helpers and asked them to call him immediately when Esme arrived. He added that the mistress of the house shouldn’t know of his order.
He then went straight to the company to check with the security team. Unfortunately, Esme’s didn’t go there either.
In the lobby, Lawrence sat in the waiting area, cupping his face with both hands. He still can’t figure out where she could have gone to.
Suddenly, the image of the villa flashed before him. He started having goosebumps so he hurried out of the company and instructed the driver to take him to Luisa Villa.
He reached the place at seven in the morning. The gate was quickly opened as the guard recognized him. “Good morning Mr. Lawrence.”
“Good morning, is Tristan still here?”
“He just left with Miss Belle. But Mr. Frederick and the butler are here.”
“Can I go in?” he asked and when the guard nodded, he immediately proceeded inside.
Frederick was surprised to see him. “What brought you here this early?”
“I need your help, Sir. I was in a hurry to leave the house so I left my phone. I need to contact Tristan.”
“Why? What’s going on?” it was John. He rushed from the kitchen as soon as he heard that Lawrence had come to the villa.
“It’s Esme. She’s been missing since four in the morning. None of my maids saw her leave. I dropped by the company but she didn’t go there.”
Frederick felt the chills in his spine, so he instructed John to call Tristan as soon as possible. However, they are told that Tristan is in a meeting and he has already dropped Belle off at her company.
Lawrence hurriedly left the villa. If he’s fast enough, he’ll make it to Sweet Sue before Esme goes there. That is if that’s where he’s going.