Rupert’s hesitation made Elena seem even more suspicious. There were no security cameras or other witnesses to the incident. The only eyewitness, Rupert, was not sure what she had seen that day.
Then, Sarah’s words had seeded even more doubts in everyone’s mind.
How did the wheelchair move by itself, if no one had pushed her? Would the old lady fall into the lake by herself?
“Grandfather, hand this woman over to the police and let them deal with this matter. You owe it to Grandmother to do this, at least!”
Tabby wanted to tear Elena to shreds on the spot, but she dared not!
Her eldest brother had stood in front of Elena, and his tall figure was like a mountain that protected her. As long as Michael was there, nobody could touch Elena!
Ava just stared at Elena. She was strangely quiet, and she did not utter a single word since she reached the medical room.
The old master stared at Michael for a long while before he suddenly said, “I have something to tell you.”
…
Elena was locked in an airtight room. It was not a large room, and it might even be a storage closet in the medical room. She did not mind. She sat in the dark corner and hugged her legs. She had no more tears, so she just stared blankly at the wall.
It was her fault. She had killed the old madam. Anyone close to her would not get a happy ending.
She had not had many interactions with Henry in her new life. Perhaps that was why Henry was still alive and well. However, she had spent more time with the old madam, and she was dead. It was her fault! It was all her fault!
She did not know how long she had stayed in that small room when someone finally opened the door. The light that crept in had blinded her vision.
She raised her hands to shield her eyes from the light. As she opened them again, she did not expect to see that person there.
“Second…Young Master Sharp?” Her voice was hoarse, and her throat felt like it was on fire. She almost could not speak.
Henry went forward to help her up. Perhaps she had sat for a long time that blood rushed to her head when she stood up.
“Henry…” Her eyes rolled back in her head as she fell forward.
There was only darkness. Perhaps if she continued to sleep, she could act as if the incident had not happened. If it did not happen, then would Grandmother still be alive?
Perhaps she never returned to the world and had died in that car crash instead.
Perhaps then no one would get hurt.
Perhaps then Grandmother would still be alive.
…
Elena did not know where they had taken her.
Confused and dazed, it was as if she was in a long and never-ending dream.
She dreamt of the old madam’s kind smile, her gentle voice, and the old madam as she called out to her, “Elena, Elena…”
‘I’m here, Grandmother. Grandmother, where are you?’
She wanted to grab hold of the old madam’s hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not catch it.
Suddenly, the old madam’s wheelchair appeared and rolled toward the cliff behind her.
She was terrified, but she rushed forward to pull the old madam back. Unfortunately, she could not save her!
“No! Don’t leave! Grandmother! Grandmother, come back, don’t leave…”
In the midst of her daze, someone held her in their arms.
She trembled in his arms as her hands constantly moved as if she tried to catch hold of something. Finally, she was able to grab hold of Grandmother’s hand!
“Don’t leave, Grandmother. I will protect you, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid…”
The fever persisted, and the girl mumbled in it as her whole body was drenched in sweat. They had to change her clothes regularly, but it would not take long until they were soaked again.
They put her on bags and bags of IV drips, and her fever still did not subside.
“Grandmother, I will protect you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid…”
His heart would ache and break when he heard her pitiful, weak voice as she called out to the old madam. He placed his hand on her face as he tried to wipe her tears away. However, her tears were endless, and he could not keep her cheeks dry!
She did not defend herself, and there was no mention of her objections. It was always about saving and protecting the old madam.
She did not care about her grievances, and she did not feel the need to explain herself. No matter the explanation, it would not save the old madam’s life, and it would not bring her back.
The man held her hand tightly, and he spoke in a low but reassuring voice.
“It’s not your fault. Perhaps she was too tired of living and wanted to leave this world earlier.
“You need to be strong. You have to wake up. Otherwise, Grandmother would be sad!
“You have to wake up. Do you understand that?”
The voice seemed so far away on the horizon, yet it also sounded like it was right next to her ear.
Why did she need to wake up? If she woke up, she would not see Grandmother anymore!
She did not want to wake up. She wanted to stay in the dream. At least she could hold Grandmother’s hand there. She could still see her smile…
She did not want to wake up, not ever again.
They should just let her be; just let her sleep like that, never to wake.
She would accompany Grandmother to the ends of the earth.
‘Don’t be afraid, Grandmother. I would not leave you. I will protect you. I will always protect you…’
Elena had a high fever for three days. Then she was in and out of consciousness for five days. She did not regain consciousness for the next seven days!
Her heart was sick; it was like a curse that trapped her in a dream.
On the tenth day, the fever subsided, but she still had not regained her consciousness!
The man was always by her side. She could not see his face, but she could hear his faint voice.
“Wake up. You can’t escape forever.”
“Wake up. Otherwise, Grandmother would not be at peace!”
Grandmother would not be at peace! She would not be at peace!
She had something to tell her. It concerned her and her mother…
“Elena, I knew your mother. Your mother was…” Grandmother had tried to tell her
In her dream, Grandmother’s expression changed and went stiff.
She dreamt that Grandmother had a different expression on her face. She had looked so stiff. Her rosy appearance turned dark, and her whole person became pitch black.
She was writhed and twitched! She was in pain, and she could not breathe. Then she called out her name in desperation, “Elena. Elena…”
“Grandmother. Why Grandmother? Who’s hurting you? What’s wrong?”
Elena almost went insane. The old madam opened her mouth and tried very hard to say, “Elena, your mother… is…”
Suddenly, she cried, and blood spewed from her mouth!
She had been poisoned. Somebody had poisoned Grandmother!
No, she was not poisoned. She was stabbed!
Blood continued to spew from Grandmother’s chest. Elena wanted to rush toward her, but something unbreakable restrained her.
Grandmother’s wheelchair started to move again, and the background had changed to the lake from that day. Then, Grandmother fell into the lake with a splash and sank into its depths.
Slowly, she had sunk to the bottom…
“No!”
Elena suddenly opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, “Grandmother! Grandmother!”
A slender figure sat by the bed and caught her by the shoulders with both hands. “You’re finally awake?”