It had been ten days since the old madam’s funeral. She was buried at Dabie Hill, but it was not an elaborate affair. Everyone knew that the old madam preferred things to be peaceful and quiet.
Therefore, even though the Williams family had money, they did not bury her at the most prominent plot. Instead, they had chosen a quiet little spot next to a tree.
When the sun rose each day, the tree’s shadow would cast over the tombstone. No matter the position of the sun, the tree would always cast a shadow, as if to shield her from the scorching sun and yet still allowed it to shine on her.
When Elena first saw her grave, she could feel that the person who chose that plot had understood the old madam. She walked toward the old madam’s grave. She looked at the tombstone and saw the subtle inscription of the old madam’s name on it.
She thought that she could be calm when she visited the old madam’s final resting place. However, when she saw the old lady’s smile in the photo, her strength crumbled.
If only she had been stronger, then perhaps Grandmother would not have drowned in that lake.
Elena knelt in front of the old madam’s tombstone. Her hand trembled as she brushed her fingertips across the old madam’s portrait. Her eyebrows, her nose, her mouth, her entire face—it all seemed so familiar to her.
“Your body has just recovered and is still weak. You shouldn’t get too agitated.”
Henry knelt behind her and held on to her shoulders, “It is time to mourn her.”
Elena nodded. She had not intended to get agitated, but the incident had replayed in her mind over and over again. The shadow would remain in her heart for as long as she lived.
What could be more traumatic than to watch your loved one die before your eyes?
She had thought of the old madam as her own grandmother!
There were still things that she could not understand. The old madam mentioned that she wanted to confess something to the old master, and it was something that was related to her. What could that be?
She tried to recall their conversation. It seemed as though there were many secrets in the old madam’s words. However, she did not manage to reveal those secrets before her untimely death.
No, it could not have been just an accident! It was like Sarah had said, how could the wheelchair move by itself? No one had pushed it. There was no external force applied. How could the wheelchair have moved?
“The path by the lake. The flower beds and grass were on a higher level than the path.”
Suddenly, she stood up and stared at Henry. Her voice was sullen. “How could the wheelchair roll from the lower ground to the higher ground and then down toward the lake?”
Henry’s expression changed. “What are you trying to say?”
“I didn’t push the wheelchair. I definitely didn’t.”
“I believe you.” Why would he defend her if he did not?
“However, the wheelchair did move, and it rolled from the lower marble path to the higher lakeside grass patches and then into the lake.”
She grabbed Henry’s sleeve, and anxiously said, “That’s impossible!”
Henry remained silent and just watched as she pursed her lips and grasped at his sleeve.
“I can’t solve this mystery, Henry. Help me; I can’t seem to figure it out!”
The strangest thing was, there were only two of them there at that time! Even Rupert was not there!
“What could have pushed Grandmother toward the lake while I was staring at her?” It was simply impossible!
She raised her hand to her temples as her head had started to ache. It was a problem that she had not been able to solve!
“Are you still thinking about this?” Henry frowned as if he disagreed with her decision to continue to pursue the matter. “You are still in one piece. Shouldn’t you be grateful that the old master did not want to pursue the matter?”
Had she thought about the consequences if she continued to investigate that?
“You mean I should stop pursuing this for my own safety?” More importantly, she felt that it had not been an accident!
“You know that it was a motorized wheelchair. Could the old madam have accidentally hit a button on the wheelchair?”
Elena stood there, stunned for a moment. She thought hard about it and then shook her head. “No, that’s not possible…”
When the wheelchair moved, she had tried to grab onto the armrest several times, but it was no use. The old lady was very familiar with the operations of her wheelchair. If she had pressed any button by accident, she could have rectified that easily.
However, the old madam had been helpless and fear-stricken.
While they talked, the old madam had placed her hands on her lap. How could she have pressed any button by accident?
The wheelchair also had a pretty well-thought-out design. To prevent the elderly from accidentally pressing a button, it had come with a protective cover.
That was not it. That was definitely not it. The wheelchair had moved by itself!
“Someone must have tampered with the wheelchair…”
“Elena, it’s all in the past. Just forget about it, alright?” Henry grabbed her shoulders, and he sounded anxious.
“Let it go. If there were anything to be found, the Williams’s would have found it by now. Would it be up to you?”
“You should try your best to live a good life and to take good care of yourself. Then this will be all worth it!”
“I… I don’t believe that this was an accident. Someone had caused it to happen. I’m sure of it!”
Did someone want to harm the old madam? Or was it an attempt on her life?
“I want to go to Williams’s mansion to take another look at the pathway. If someone had tampered with the wheelchair, they must have left some clues behind, Henry…”
“That pathway had been destroyed, and along with that portion of the lake. It had been made into a rockery.”
“What?” It had only been a few days; how could that be?
“They said that the old master could not bear to look at the place, so he had it filled in.”
“Impossible, how could this be? How is this possible?” How could they destroy the only place where they might find some clues?
Henry let go of her and softly said, “Let’s not tussle with these things anymore. It’s over, okay?”
Elena did not know what to say. She wanted to disagree, but everyone seemed to be preventing her from continuing her investigation. Perhaps she would not like what she would find. Maybe it involved a bigger picture. However, how could she help Grandmother get justice if she did not investigate it?
“I…” Suddenly, she acted as if she had seen something. She shoved Henry aside and sprinted up the cemetery trail.
Elena saw a girl at the top of the hill, and she seemed afraid. She had turned tail and ran when she saw them. Elena had been bedridden for too long, and so she could not keep up with the girl.
“Henry! Henry! Grab her! Quick, Henry!”
The man behind her was at a loss, but he gave chase anyway. He grabbed the girl’s collar just as she was about to escape from the cemetery.
“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!” Rupert trembled and screamed.
Elena finally caught up to them and clasped the girl’s wrist.
“Rupert, I didn’t hurt grandma, you know that I didn’t! I won’t kill you. Rupert, but tell me the truth! What happened that day?”