Proving
Here’s what happened next. Garrett paused, leaning on one elbow as he looked at Elice, whose eyes were beginning to fade. She looked tired, but at the same time incredibly happy.
Elice’s smile curved perfectly. With a hint of sadness in her eyes, she whispered to Garrett, “I feel like I’m going to fall asleep at any moment.
At that moment, Garrett realized that it wasn’t just sickness that could be contagious. Instead of frowning, a moment after Elice said that, a chuckle came out of him, tickling the corners of his lips and causing Garrett to smile as well.
“I think I might fall asleep soon, too,” he said, not at all with the intention of reassuring Elice, but rather feeling the heaviness in his own eyes. Garrett yawned, and in his sleepiness Elice chuckled.
Garrett wanted to respond to Elice’s laughter, but his body felt incredibly tired now. So he settled for a stifled chuckle, shifting and adjusting the pillow under his head.
But before consciousness left him, Garrett made sure to reach out and hug Elice, making sure she was in his embrace. He gave her a final goodnight kiss.
As they prepared to part that day, it didn’t take long for both Garrett and Elice to drift off. They slept in a peaceful exhaustion, filled with deep happiness.
*
“Are you all right, Regina? You look pale.”
After taking her medicine and vitamins that morning, Daphne noticed something different about her personal nurse. Regina seemed listless and uninspired, unlike her usual self, prompting thoughts of illness in Daphne’s mind.
But Regina shook her head. Taking the glass back from Daphne’s hand, she replied, “No, madam. I am not ill. But I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.”
Daphne looked at her worriedly. She nodded gently and sighed, “If you’re feeling tired, just rest. Or do you need a day off? As long as it’s not too long… I don’t mind. Besides, my health has been pretty stable lately.”
But Regina shook her head again. “No, Madam. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Behind her glasses, Daphne’s eyes scanned Regina, trying to discern the truth in her words. Finally, she nodded.
“All right. But if you need a break, just say so. I don’t want you to end up in the hospital because you didn’t take a day off.”
A broad smile spread across Regina’s face, reassuring Daphne as she said, “Don’t worry, ma’am. If I need it, I’ll let you know.”
Just as Regina said that, there was a knock on Daphne’s bedroom door. Shortly after, the door opened to reveal Carolus approaching Daphne, neatly dressed and with firm steps.
“Good morning, madam.”
Daphne glanced at Regina, who immediately hurried to put the medicine and glasses back on the tray before excusing herself.
After the bedroom door closed again, leaving only the two of them inside, Daphne finally spoke. “How did it go?” she asked Carolus, looking at him. “Was it successful? Did everything go smoothly?”
Carolus nodded, and seeing that, Daphne let out a sigh of relief. With her eyes closed and one hand raised to her chest, she felt truly relieved. It was as if the burden that had once weighed on her had been lifted for a moment.
When Daphne finally opened her eyes again, she expressed her curiosity: “Tell me more details. What exactly happened? Did Garrett manage to meet them? Or…?”
Carolus shook his head. “No, madam,” he replied immediately. “I contacted Mr. Dirk and Mrs. Dakota. I told them never to meet Mr. Garrett, especially not to reveal anything about the deceased’s death.”
“Good. You have done well, Carolus.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
“But I don’t want you to be complacent.”
Saying this, Daphne seemed to foresee the future, as if she was confident that things wouldn’t end so easily.
“I didn’t expect this, but it turns out Garrett isn’t the type of person to back down easily,” Daphne continued, looking at Carolus. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”
“Of course, madam. And I realize it. From the seriousness with which Mr. Garrett is seeking the whereabouts of Mr. Dirk and Mrs. Dakota, it’s clear that he will not take lightly the task of uncovering the facts behind his father’s death.”
Daphne nodded several times. She rested one elbow on the arm of the sofa, occasionally playing with her fingers just below her chin.
“But at least that trait makes him good at his job. Look at Apex Builders and the like. He built it from the ground up. And I’m not surprised that Pacific has done well under his leadership so far.”
Carolus remained silent, nodding as a sign that he agreed with Daphne’s words.
“So I want you to keep an eye on him. Keep him away from anything that might lead him to the facts of this incident.”
“Very well, madam.”
Confident in Carolus’ abilities, Daphne asked another question a moment later.
“What about Farrah?”
Changing the subject, Daphne didn’t forget that she had a daughter who could make her feel helpless. Even on several occasions, Farrah seemed indifferent, even when they were in public places. She was always motivated to ignite her emotions.
“Is she still in Ashford City?”
“She is,” Carolus replied immediately. “I’ve been watching her, but there doesn’t seem to be any unusual activity.”
A bitter smile suddenly appeared on Daphne’s face. She sighed weakly once.
“Don’t let her fool you, Carolus. There’s no way she would stay here for long if she wasn’t after something. I don’t want you to let your guard down. Tell your people to keep an eye on Farrah.”
“Understood, madam.”
*
Amber looked at her boss with a guilty look on her face. When she had been called into Garrett’s office that morning, she had already had a hunch. That the reason for her summons was related to Garrett and Dirk’s failed meeting.
“Sorry, sir. But I also don’t know why Mr. Dirk suddenly canceled the meeting unilaterally and without prior notice.”
Garrett paused for a moment. He pondered with eyes that seemed to gaze aimlessly somewhere.
“Have you tried contacting him again?”
Amber nodded. “I tried calling him again about half an hour ago,” she replied. “But he didn’t pick up.”
“That’s strange.”
He did not want to think negatively, but all of this made Garrett unable to control his own thoughts. Unwanted possibilities quickly filled his mind, making him restless.
“Try calling again,” Garrett ordered. “Maybe he’ll pick up this time.”
“Okay, sir.”
Amber took out her cell phone, which she used specifically for work. She immediately targeted Dirk’s contact and called the man without wasting any time.
“Turn up the volume if he picks up.”
Amber nodded as she waited. The dial tone made her heart race subconsciously. She hoped and silently prayed that the call would be answered.
But when the dial tone disappeared, there was no sound of Dirk’s voice. Instead, the operator’s voice suggested redirecting the call to voicemail.
Without any explanation, Garrett surely knew what had happened. A quick glance at Amber’s facial expression and the fact that the phone in her secretary’s hand was dropping let him guess. The call went unanswered again.
Garrett’s jaw clenched. His hands seemed to clench into fists. Now he couldn’t shake the negative thoughts from his mind. On the contrary, he became more and more convinced that these negative thoughts were true. And to prove it, Garrett had a way.
“Try calling Mrs. Dakota.”
Amber blinked briefly. For a moment she seemed confused, but then she immediately understood Garrett’s meaning. She nodded and promptly did as Garrett instructed.
Holding her breath, Amber listened to the dial tone for quite a while. But just like with her call to Dirk, the same thing happened again. Dakota didn’t answer her call.
Garrett’s eyes narrowed. Glancing at Amber’s phone, he still asked for reassurance.
“No answer?”
Amber shook her head.
“Try calling again.”
Again, for the second time, Amber called Dakota. But it was the same. Her call went unanswered.
“They could be busy,” Garrett muttered bitterly. “It’s too early. But I want you to call them again during the lunch break. Maybe they’ll pick up then.”
Amber nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll do it.”Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
But if Garrett had to be honest, he wasn’t hoping for much anymore. With the fact that Dirk didn’t show up for their meeting, Garrett could feel the situation a bit. Even when he contacted Dirk and Dakota, Garrett only did it for confirmation. Just to really convince himself that his suspicions were indeed correct.
Garrett didn’t mind seeing the results of his suspicion. Whether it was true or not? That Dirk’s absence was just a coincidence. That Dirk and Dakota not answering his calls was just a coincidence. Or the opposite?
And it turned out that the news Amber gave him after the lunch break made Garrett sure that his suspicions were correct.
“Sorry, sir. Still no answer.”
Garrett gave Amber no further orders. He let his secretary return to her desk while he drew his conclusions.
None of this was a coincidence. Instead, there was something that made Mr. Dirk and Mrs. Dakota change their minds.
Garrett pondered. As he withdrew into himself, he thought his plan to investigate the hidden facts behind his father’s and grandfather’s deaths would go smoothly. But what happened was different.
Who? Who could make Mr. Dirk and Mrs. Dakota change their minds so quickly?
Garrett’s expression changed. When a name crossed his mind, the man’s body froze.
Could it be him?
*