Chapter 97
- The River You Can't Cross Back
2024.01.05.
The sunset was painting the sky through the large window. Edgar, gazing at the utterly peaceful sky, pieced together the fragments in his mind.
As the party's fervor subsided and the Champagne-induced haze lifted around noon, accounts of Olivia's disappearance began to surface one by one.
'I saw her heading towards the rose garden.'
'She seemed to be going down towards the riverside. Her expression? It was dark, so I couldn't quite make it out, but seeing her dress and Tiara, I knew right away it was Blanchett. She was so radiant even from afar. Why, has something happened to Blanchett?'
It wasn't a reporter, but Sara Pavlova, that woman. Olivia had seen her.
More precisely, she must have overheard Edgar and Pavlova's conversation. It was fortunate, in a way.
'Duke Leopold has disappeared. The hotel is in an uproar because of it.'
With Yohan joining in, the picture became clearer.
The puzzle was completed when Gerald rushed into the office with an urgent report.
'Anne is missing.'
It was a late summer afternoon that wasn't too hot, but Gerald's collar was damp with sweat as he delivered the news.
Edgar simply nodded, as if he had expected it, and didn't react otherwise. He remained gazing out the window.
'And this.'
Only then did Edgar slowly turn his head. Gerald carefully opened the box he had placed on the desk.
The object inside, radiating a dazzling brilliance in the red sunlight, was a diamond Tiara.
A woman in shock, wandering in the rain, encountering her ex-husband in that state. And the disappearance of the two.
Edgar stared at the Tiara without emotion and let out a low chuckle.
He was reminded of the look in Yohan's eyes as he faced him on the center court of Dumblin Stadium.
What was the rush? What was he trying to do now for the woman he had mercilessly abandoned?
Edgar averted his gaze from the Tiara Olivia had sent.
'The reporter.'
The words, uttered slowly and deliberately, were like sharp blades.
'Dealt with.'
The Litten Metropolitan Police Agency had raided an illegal gambling den thriving in the shadows yesterday. In the process, the reporter in question was arrested along with other gamblers.
He would rot in prison for up to three years, and after that, they would decide what to do based on the situation at the time.
'Have the Carriage ready.'
Edgar ordered curtly.
'Where? Do you have a place in mind?'
Gerald's face brightened.
'We'll see when we get there.'
Edgar wore a nonchalant smile. Gerald stared at Edgar for a moment before reluctantly retreating.
Darkness was already falling outside the window.
Edgar took out a ring case from the inside pocket of his charcoal gray suit.
The Blue Diamond Ring, which should have been on Olivia's finger as planned, shone brightly as the lid was opened, piercing Edgar's eyes.
If we're going to break up, we should at least say goodbye. Olivia.
The hand clutching the ring box tightened.
He didn't like Olivia's way of saying goodbye like that, but he decided not to make an issue of it.
Because he had no intention of letting her go.
It was very fortunate that the truth Olivia had learned was about Sara Pavlova.
If she had learned the truth that he had instigated the reporter to fabricate the scandal. That would have been crossing a river from which there was no return.
It had become a bit troublesome, but it was within a range that could be resolved through conversation.
If he confessed that he had done it all for her.
She would forgive him.
Edgar rose from his seat. He pulled on the tie he had been wearing loosely and neatly retied it.
Edgar put the ring case in his jacket pocket.
She had no choice but to forgive him.
Because she.
Loved him.
That truth was the only reason and hope that the current situation, where everything was a mess, was not entirely hopeless.
Edgar, who had come down to the first floor in the private elevator in one go, strode across the lobby.
Soon, the Carriage carrying him sped down the streets of Golden Avenue, which had begun to light up brilliantly as darkness fell.
The destination was Winston, where Yohan's manor house was located.
'T, this is going to be difficult.'
'Get out of the way! Olivia, are you there? If you are, please answer.'
Amidst the sound of the bedroom door being pounded as if it would fall off, a familiar voice desperately called out Olivia's name.
The two women's gazes turned towards the door.
Whether the barrier had collapsed or not, the bedroom door burst open a moment later.
'…….'
Olivia blinked her wide eyes. The one who had stormed into Winston Manor House with the force to break down the door was none other than Bianca Elaine.
'Elaine?'
'Oh! Good heavens! Olivia!'
Elaine rushed over and embraced Olivia tightly.
'I'm so glad you're safe. I was so worried. You disappeared, and Marquis Lancelot…… Goodness!'
Elaine, who had stepped back, looked at Olivia's face with teary eyes and was taken aback.
The new queen of the Dumblin Championship was a sight to behold.
Her eyes, which had been shining transparently, were bloodshot, and her thin, deep eyelids were severely swollen.
Her face and body had become thinner overall in just one day.
'Look at how bad your face looks. What on earth happened?'
'……I'm sorry for making you worry.'
The two women held each other's hands tightly. As the surprise and bewilderment subsided, a faint smile spread across Olivia's face.
'But how did you know to come here?'
'Ah! Well, that's…….'
Elaine, who had been excited by the relief that Olivia was safe and the joy of meeting her again, belatedly recognized Yohan's presence.
She had never even dreamed that she would be with her ex-husband.
As the Pink Diamond Necklace came to her mind, her legs trembled.
'I'm late with my greetings. Nice to meet you. Duke, Your Grace. My name is Bianca Elaine.'
Her legs were shaking as she bowed.
Elaine felt as if her body was freezing at Yohan's cold gaze as he tilted his head.
'Please give us some space.'
Olivia, noticing Elaine's discomfort, asked Yohan.
Yohan, who had briefly stared at the unwelcome guest, left the bedroom after telling Olivia not to overdo it.
He immediately headed to the office located downstairs.
As Yohan appeared on the central staircase, a man in a black suit who had been waiting below bowed politely.
He followed Yohan into the office.
In the man's hand was a noose to catch Anneblin Grace Britt.
It was now dark outside the window.
With tea brought by the maid between them, Elaine held Olivia's hands tightly.
'What on earth happened?'
'…….'
Elaine's heart sank as she faced Olivia's heavy gaze.
'Could it be. ……Are you in a situation where you need help?'
Elaine lowered her voice, tense.
Could she have been forcibly brought here by the Duke?
Otherwise, why would the star of the party disappear without a word and be at her ex-husband's manor house? With a lover like Marquis Lancelot.
'No. It's not like that.'
'Then tell me what's going on. I feel like I'm going to die of frustration.'
Olivia, as if avoiding answering the difficult question, paused for a moment and asked Elaine.
'How did you know to come here, Elaine?'
'Ah……. That's…….'
Not long after Anne left, Elaine also left the guest room.
She was just as anxious as Anne.
Elaine searched every nook and cranny, even in remote places where guests didn't go, with the maid, but Olivia was nowhere to be seen.
The sun past noon was shining down hotly.
She had walked down to the back door used by the hotel staff and was taking a break in the shade of a tree when it happened.
She recognized the suspicious woman wearing a hat that covered her face so much in the middle of summer.
'Hey. Isn't that Anne?'
'Y, you're right, Madam.'
Anne was being put into a Carriage by a strange man. The man was looking around, and Anne, who was hesitating, looked as if she was being forcibly dragged away.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew, and the brim of the woman's hat fluttered upwards. Anne's expression was full of fear.
'I thought they were kidnapping Anne too.'
'So that's what happened.'
Elaine sent the maid to inform the Marquess, and she jumped onto a cart from a liquor store that had come to deliver to the hotel.
She tore off a pearl brooch that she grabbed and asked them to follow the Carriage going in front of them.
'What if it was a dangerous place?'
Her nose tingled. She said that, but Olivia was very grateful to Elaine for running to her without hesitation.
'Okay, now it's your turn. Shall we hear what happened? You made me come all the way here, so I deserve to hear it, right?'
Olivia hesitated. She didn't know what to say.
She didn't have the talent to tell a plausible lie, and she didn't know how to logically explain her still unorganized feelings.
The maid took away the cold tea, and freshly brewed black tea was placed in front of the two women again.
And until the tea cooled down properly, Elaine waited patiently.
Olivia, who had averted her gaze from the black window, opened her lips hesitantly.
'……When someone you like has deceived you. Or. ……When they've lied to you.'
'…….'
'Have you ever had that experience, Elaine?'
'…….'
Elaine belatedly answered, trying to figure out what the slightly out-of-the-blue question meant.
'Of course. Did you…… happen to have a fight with Marquis Lancelot?'
'…….'
Olivia bit her lips, unable to answer. Her red eyes swelled up transparently.
Elaine's face turned pale.
Could it be that she had found out about that?
Thinking about it that way, her current state was more than understandable. Olivia seemed to be in great shock right now.
'So you finally found out.'
Elaine said with a shocked sigh.
At that moment, Olivia's hand lost its strength. The two women's hands separated.
'Elaine too…… did you know?'
