Chapter 31
I had to find Richard. But my spirit was fading fast, my upper half almost dissolving into thin air. Was I about to vanish from this world, never to uncover the final truth or witness the day they cleared my name?
‘Richard, where are you? Can you come to me, please? I’m fading away.’ I muttered to myself. ‘Please don’t risk yourself for me again, okay? You already spent time behind bars because of Claude’s scheme. It was all for me. You shouldn’t ruin your life a second time for me p>
It seemed all I could do was cry. I really couldn’t do anything else. I stayed at the police station, watching them pore over surveillance footage, waiting for Richard to make another threatening call. But Richard never called.
Claude even showed up at the station, pacing back and forth. He never seemed this worried when I went missing. But when Kate got kidnapped, he was in a frenzy. Suddenly, I wanted to see how far Claude would go for Kate.
“It’s been twelve hours. How much time did the kidnapper give you?” Ronald asked Claude.
“Just twelve hours,” Claude replied with a frown.
Ronald muttered a curse, then said, “Let’s wait a bit more for the kidnapper to ring up p>
But Claude got anxious and stood up, saying to Ronald, “Let’s hold a press conference now. Tell the kidnapper I’ll do as he asks. Otherwise, Kate’s grandma might fear the worst p>
Ronald’s forehead twitched with irritation, and he scoffed, “Your reaction is unusual. Your wife, Claire Floyd, has been missing for days, and you’re calm. But the moment your first love is in trouble, you panic p>
Claude’s face darkened with anger. “Mr. Collins, I’ve told you. Kate is kind-hearted, while Claire is cunning and willing to do anything to achieve her goals. You see now what she’s capable of. She’s kidnapped Kate and is trying to ruin her reputation p>
Ronald didn’t respond but signaled to a junior detective, who went off to arrange for some journalists for the press conference.
“Just do what she says, and forget about the comments you just made, in case you provoke her further,” Ronald advised Claude, patting his shoulder.
Claude snorted in acknowledgment.
It seemed I could only watch from the sidelines. But I was more worried about Richard getting into trouble because I couldn’t think of anyone else who would go to such lengths for me.
It was like when we were kids in the orphanage. My parents were always away, protecting Claude, so they were hardly ever home. They were close with the orphanage director, and since Richard and I were friends, they had me stay there. It wasn’t because my parents had died, as people assumed.
At the orphanage, I was happy, like a
little princess. Being a few years older, Richard played the big brother role to everyone there. He ensured was well taken care of and gave me the best of everything, though, Ke often said those were originally donations from my parents to the orphanage. Our orphanage was well-off, thanks to my parents’ generosity.
The director and the other caretakers taught us to read and write, told us stories, and taught us moral values. So, it wasn’t as Claude had claimed that kids from the orphanage grew up with skewed morals. Because of these values, Richard stood up for what was right.
After my parents died, the Hart
family didn’t provide any financial
support, just giving some supplies to
the orphanage, and left. They didn’t even leave me my parents’ ashes, saying I was too young to know what to do with them. So, I’d never visited my parents’ grave,
Richard used to read detective novels, speculating, “What if the Hart family was guilty all along? What if your parents didn’t die in a car accident saving Claude but got murdered by the Harts p>
I was too young to understand.
But the director said, “Your parents’ work was confidential. Staying at the orphanage was safer for you p>
But when she heard that my parents, who everyone assumed were bodyguards of the Hart family, died protecting Claude, the director just sighed. “I have no way to help you. I only wish for you all to grow up safe and happy p>
So, at the moment, I was also at a
loss. My life had been off track since
my parents died. Everything changed, becoming
incomprehensible. And net
suffered because of it. The year Richard went to prison, the director also passed away from a sudden heart attack. I’d brought misfortune to everyone around me.
“Claire, you’re a curse!” Claude’s words snapped me back to reality.
He said I’m a curse? It seemed he might be right.
My parents were gone, the director was gone, and Richard’s life was ruined. And I was dying, too. My fragmented spirit trembled.
Somehow, driven by my longing for Richard, my spirit drifted to an abandoned factory. There, I saw Richard, masked and wearing a black cap, with Kate tied to a chair and a knife at her throat. “No! Richard, don’t do it p>
Murder carried the death penalty!
“Richard, I need you to be okay, or else, don’t die!” I cried desperately.
My incorporeal hands frantically tried to block his knife to stop him from making a grave mistake. “Richard, don’t do something so foolish for me, please! Can you hear me p>