Cristelle prepared something simple and light to eat for her sister in the middle of the night. She went upstairs to knock on Claire’s door, knowing she would probably tell her everything about the food later. But when she saw Cody was also in Claire’s room, she instantly halted to start the conversation even though she had so many questions.
Cody cast them a look and decided to go, knowing if he didn’t leave, his Mom probably would never ask whatever she wanted to ask.
“Bye, guys. Just call me when you need me,” Cody stood up from his chair before going back to Linford’s study room.
Cody thought for a pause at the stairs. And then, the boy went to the kitchen and grabbed some food for Linford as well.
Linford was surprised to see Cody and the whole plate of food he was holding when he opened the door.
“For Frank,” the boy looked quite shy. “And you.”
Linford smiled and took the plate of food, “Thanks, man.”
It was always heart-warming seeing Cody’s attitude toward him slowly change.
“You didn’t manage to stay with Mom and Aunt?” Linford asked.
Cody nodded, “They wouldn’t talk when I was there. Frank, what did you guys go through earlier exactly?”
Linford nodded at Frank. Frank thus repeated what he had just told Linford to the boy.
Cody frowned after hearing the whole story. What secret would be important enough to make Claire walk straight into those evils’ wicked trap?
****
“What exactly happened to you, Claire?” Cristelle finally asked while Claire’s eating.
Claire sighed and decided to tell her sister the truth, “I actually received a call from Jason last night. He said Mom didn’t commit suicide. He said she was murdered.”
“Who’s Jason?” Cristelle asked.
“Jason Lau,” Claire clenched her teeth, “He’s that person who chased after me for years. I’ve been investigating Mother’s death for years, Cristelle. She was a tough woman. I don’t believe she would choose to kill herself by throwing herself off a building.”
“What did you get?” Cristelle tried to calm herself down.
“Jason told me Barnett and Collins were there when Mom died. They were the ones who killed her.”
“What did they do?” Cristelle only knew the two families were involved in their Dad’s case. She didn’t know they also were a part of their Mom’s death until now.
Claire looked away, “He didn’t mention a lot. I just left after that.”
Cristelle was suspicious, “Really?”
“Yep.”
“Then what happened to your arms?”
Claire covered the bruises on her arm, “Nothing. Just some scrapes I got when I tried to break away. No big deal.”
Cristelle’s face fell, “You’re not telling me the truth, Claire. You’re my sister. We should solve problems together instead of hiding things from each other. Would you tell me the truth?”
Claire sighed, “You don’t need to worry. Really. It was just a small car accident. You don’t need to think about it.”
“I’m not asking about the accident. But the truth behind Mom’s death. Are you still hiding things away from me?” Cristelle forced her.
Claire sighed deeply, knowing she couldn’t hide anything from Cristelle, “Cristelle, sometimes knowing too many things would only bring you pain.”
Cristelle insisted, “I’m not a little girl anymore. Whatever the truth is, we both need to face it.”
Claire hesitated for a while and finally started to talk, “Well… On that day, when Mom jumped off the building, Mr. Barnett and Mr. Collins went to visit her.”
“What did they do?” Cristelle asked.
Claire shook her head, “I don’t know. I was out on that day. But when I went back, those two had left. And Mom just jumped off the building afterward. They must have something to do with our mother’s death.”
“What did Jason tell you?”
Claire cleared her throat and lowered her gaze, “I don’t know if you still remember the way they looked at Mom whenever Dad brought Mom and us to those parties. They were ogling at her.”
They were ogling at her.
Claire had tried her best to make it sound subtle and soft for Cristelle. But Cristelle still understood what she was trying to say immediately.
Those bastards! They should go to hell!
Cristelle broke into tears. Claire tried to comfort her at first, but the way Cristelle cried broke her heart. She started to cry as well.
They couldn’t stop thinking about the happy days they shared with their mother and how gentle and beautiful she was as a great mother.
They cried until dawn.
Cristelle only stopped as she heard the knock on the door.
She wiped her face hurriedly before opening the door because she heard Candace calling her.
Claire went to the bathroom immediately.
Candace stared at Cristelle’s face for a while, but she didn’t say anything. She noticed her Mom’s eyes were red.
A couple of minutes ago, her Dad had gone to her room and woke her up, telling her to go to Aunt Claire’s room and bring her Mommy out. Candace wanted to know why, but her Dad forbade her to ask anything when she saw her Mom.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Cristelle asked, her voice hoarse.
“Mom, I’m hungry,” Candace said, “Why didn’t you wake me up? It’s pretty late.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Mommy’s gonna make you something to eat soon, okay?” Cristelle crouched down and ruffled the little girl’s hair, “Did you brush your teeth?”
“Yes, Mommy,” the little girl nodded and grabbed Cristelle’s two fingers, leading her out of the room.
“Candace’s doing pretty well, isn’t she?” Linford leaned over the handrail of the stairs as he looked at Candace and Cristelle walking downstairs, “Daughters are generally sweet. Unlike boys, they will heal you by their simple presence.”
Cody rolled his eyes upon hearing his father’s words.
Candace was ordering Cristelle around in the kitchen to distract her from those sorrowful thoughts. Cristelle soon realized what the girl was doing. But she couldn’t blame her daughter. Candace showed how much she cared for her. She’d never known Candace could be so considerate.
She never knew Candace was so smart to notice her sorrow.
After breakfast, Candace even took Cristelle to the garden to pick up some fresh roses. Cristelle followed her daughter’s little purposes heartfully, getting curious about what else she would do next.
Linford smiled as he watched the mother and the daughter walk into the garden, “Candace’s growing up. She learned to protect and take care of her Mom now.”
Cody shrugged, looking a bit smug, “She learned from whom?”
Linford frowned as he looked at the boy, “God, your skin is so thick, Cody. And it’s not a compliment.”