“Sir, it was Eldest Young Master who brought her back, so I don’t think it’s right to chase her away,” the butler looked at Old Master Williams as he said that. “Should we not inform him about this and listen to his explanation?”
“That’s right, Grandfather. Why don’t we ask Eldest Brother about this first?”
A young man had made his way toward them, and he looked about 22 or 23 years old. He was handsome and bright, and he looked at Elena with a big smile.
“Are you the Elena who was supposed to be my sister-in-law?” He grinned and ignored the old master’s displeasure. “Hello! We have met before, I mean, I have seen you before this. But right now, your face looked unfamiliar to me.”
Elena understood what he meant. She used to be ugly, with fake freckles painted all over her face. That young man was the Williams family’s fifth young master, Porter. They had seen each other, but they had never communicated.
“I’m Elena,” she said. She did not mention her status.
Porter fixed his eyes on her face, and his smile got wider.
“You are truly a beauty! I guess Eldest Brother must have called off the engagement because he was afraid of your previous face. He must have regretted that decision and brought you back here.” He looked at Old Master Williams with a mischievous grin. “Right, Grandfather?”
Old Master Williams merely grunted at his question.
The butler felt uncomfortable; Fifth Young Master Williams had never been good at reading social cues. Did he not notice that the old master looked angry and had no appetite for jokes?
After he hit a snag, Porter coughed lightly and turned toward Elena.
“Since Eldest Brother was the one who brought you back, I’d say just wait for him at WongRiver Pavilion.”
Elena was grateful for Fifth Young Master Williams. She knew that he wanted to give her a chance to stay away from the old master so that no one would chase her out. However, she had no plans to sidestep that day.
“I will go back to WongRiver Pavilion, though I have some questions I would like to ask Old Master Williams first.”
Nobody answered her, and the atmosphere tensed.
The butler wanted to say something, but Elena stared at the old master. She did not look like she would back off.
‘Fifth Young Master Williams gave this girl such a good opportunity to leave, but she didn’t know how to take it. Instead, she’s confronting the old master. That’s too bold of her.’
“Old Master Williams, I merely wanted to ask you, after the old madam’s accident, why did you fill-up the lake before you could carry out any investigation, despite the possibility that there could be proof hidden in the lake?”
Elena’s question was like a clap of sudden thunder, and it shocked both Porter and the butler!
‘The girl is way too bold! How dare she mention the old madam!’
It was a taboo to speak about the accident in the Williams’s household. It had been more than a month since the accident, and no one had dared to mention it since then! She had been the sole suspect in the case, and yet she had the guts to ask about it?
Was that bravery or foolishness?
If she were to anger Old Master Williams, she would have to deal with the consequences!
Old Master Williams’s expression became frosty. He projected an aura that kept people away.
Elena clenched her fist; she was a little afraid of him. He was the same as Eldest Young Master Williams. Surely, he had been the one to nurture him into the man he was then. Someone who could do that would not be weaker than Michael.
Elena almost panicked, but she was determined to find out about the truth about her grandmother’s accident!
“Old Master Williams, I was a witness at the time of the incident, and I wonder what was hidden under the lake.”
“You…” Porter wanted to talk her out of it, but it was beyond what he could do for her.
The Garcia family’s third miss must have seemed like a bimbo. However, she had been with Michael for a short period, and she had learned to pick up his vibe. She might not be able to keep people away with her energy, but no one would be able to ignore her. Her weak outlook did not seem to match her energy.
“What are you trying to say?” Old Master Williams’s voice was low and deep.
Elena pursed her lower lip. She could no longer back off.
“I would like you to dig the soil here and reveal the secret underneath the lake.”
As soon as the butler heard that, he tried to stop her right away. “Miss Garcia, you have no right to…”
“No, I DO have the right, because this issue affects my reputation!”
Elena stared into the old master’s eyes. Even though his eyes were terrifying, she refused to step back.
“Old Master Williams, as the only witness, I have the right to cast my doubts about what had happened.”
Old Master Williams squinted his eyes and asked, “And what if I refuse to do it?”
“If you refuse, then…” Elena took a deep breath, steadied her eyes, and firmly said, “Then, I will lodge a police report and tell the cops that there is evidence under the lake that could help to identify the murderer!”
“I dare you to do that!” The Old Master’s face darkened, and the other two men trembled in fear.
Old Master Williams and Eldest Young Master Williams were the same—majestic when they were not angry, and terrifying when they were!
Did Elena not understand the seriousness of the situation?
When the old master was angry, anyone could die at any minute!
The butler stepped in and said, “Miss Garcia, what happened to the old madam was an accident!”
“No, it was not. I have discovered how the murderer did it.” Elena had no intention to compromise.
She looked directly into the old master’s eyes and said in a deep voice, “If Old Master Williams doesn’t agree with my request, then I will call the cops and tell them to investigate it!”
“Miss Garcia, you are out of line!” The old butler stopped her right away.
It was an accident. If the Williams family had a murderer, then the story about that would damage the Williams Corporation’s reputation and subsequent stock market prices. Could she bear the consequences of that?
“I know, it would mean trouble for Williams Corporation.” It might even affect the entire commercial circle in Bentson. Still, Elena did not budge.
“However, the old madam’s death would need an explanation! Old Master Williams, you took the first opportunity to fill up the lake. Was that because you also realized that there was something more to the accident? You didn’t do that to appease the situation. You’re afraid that the investigation would involve more people in the family.”
She spoke firmly as she took a step forward.
“Because YOU KNOW, it was someone from your family who had planned everything!”