I stilled. His words slowly processed in my head.
“W-what are you talking about? Everyone knows he committed suicide. And I know why he did that. Ace told me everything.”
I heard him scoffing.
“Ace lied to you again. Just like he did every time. Just like he created a sham to break your heart.”
I ignored his jab.
“How do you know his father was murdered? Who told you that?”
“Digging out Arthur’s truth as we got to know what illegal businesses he runs, I had a suspicion Achilles could have some connections with his uncle’s activities. I mean, Arthur was doing all these under his nose, and he had no idea about it? It’s difficult to believe. So I asked my cousin to look into Achilles’s past and look what I found.”
I let out a breath of disbelief.
If he was murdered, then why did everyone, even the media, say it was a suicide back then? And why did Ace lie to me about it?
“Do you have any proof? What makes you believe he was murdered? And who’d murder him and why?”
“Rich people, they can do anything with money, even hiding evidence, Em. After his death, the forensic reports said he was murdered. But the Valencians fed some cash to the cops, and all was settled,” he said. “Your Achilles Valencian did a good job of wiping all evidence of the murder and any mentions of the person who did the crime. So, we didn’t get any proof except some words from a person who was a former cop involved with the case back then. And when we asked him if he would give any statement about it to the police, he replied with a big no. We could only make him spit out this information once we got him drunk at a local bar.”
Shocked, I slumped on the bed. His voice rang into my head again and again.
His father was murdered, and he destroyed all evidence against the criminal?
Who was he trying to save? And could I even trust Warner’s information? Did Ace really do it?
But my heart said he couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t save his own father’s murderer.
“D-did that man tell you Ace did it? He bribed the cops?”
“He said ‘the man from Valencian’s side’. And as Arthur wasn’t in the country at that moment and Caleb was too good to even think of that, who do you think would do that if not Achilles?” he asked, tone mocking. “What a great man you love, Em. The man who saves his own father’s murderer.”
My jaw clenched. “Warner, you don’t know the whole truth. So, I’d suggest you don’t jump to any conclusions yet! I know Ace, he’d never do that! He loved his father!”
He did until he knew his father’s real face.
And I meant what I said. Yes, I was shocked at the revelation. But I wouldn’t doubt him like that. I’d just ask him directly. I needed him to come home.
“You don’t understand, Em. Something really fishy is going on. Achilles isn’t the right person for you! He’s only manipulating you into his trap—”
“I’ll talk to you later.” I cut the call.
Keeping the phone aside, I rubbed my temples.
I had no strength to argue with him right now. All the mess spilling into my life from the last few months was rising an exhaustion in me. Why were there so many questions and I had no answers?
And the person who could free me from the torture wasn’t ready to open up to me.
I tried to tell him about Arthur so many times, but every time I chickened out, thinking I could ruin our relationship out of my rash decisions. But now that I was finally ready to tell him everything with Liza’s subtle confession, Arthur’s threat to destroy him stopped me.
Was Arthur talking about this? Was it related to Ace’s father’s murder? But what could it be that was lethal enough to ruin him?
And was this secret connected to Ace’s fear of losing me?
Did he think I’d leave him once I found out how he closed the cops’ mouth to hide a crime?
Letting out a frustrated breath, I picked up my phone and called him again. But again, it went to freaking voicemail!
Hours passed away. But he didn’t return. Nor did he call. I even called Carter to see if he knew anything, but he didn’t have any idea of his location.The flashes of his enraged gray eyes that hid an unspoken agony behind them replayed in my mind when sleep slowly engulfed me.
Carter: Sorry, Ms. Hutton. I still couldn’t find out boss’s location. But don’t worry, he’s fine. He’ll come back soon.
Sighing, I put the phone on the kitchen counter and took a sip of my tea.
It was ten in the morning, and he still wasn’t here. I again messaged Carter to look for him, but this was what I got as an answer.
Worry nagged me constantly. With Arthur and Antonio roaming free, I couldn’t sit in peace. That infuriating man didn’t even take the guards with him. No matter how sinfully built he was, he couldn’t fight against five or ten men, could he? He shouldn’t have left like that alone.
The blare of my phone put a break on my fuming.
Tess’s blinding smiling face showed up on the screen after I received the video call.
“Em! You won’t believe how beautiful this place is. Look at the background! It’s the view from my balcony!” Her gushing in happiness put a small smile on my face. Behind her, blue sea glittered under the sun that peeked through the mountains adorned along the long beach.
She and Caleb left for Greece for their honeymoon right after their wedding reception. And this was the first time we were talking since that day.
“Yeah, it’s amazing. How are your days going there?” I kept my voice as chirpy as I could.
“It’s going great! Even though we’re spending most of our time in the bed. The views are amazing. I totally fell in love with this place!” She giggled.
As envious as it sounded, I wished Ace and I could go somewhere far from here, just the two of us. Away from all the tensions and threats. Though he was planning a vacation for us, with all the things going on, I didn’t think it was possible now.
Caleb’s always happy face appeared beside my sister.
“Hey, Achilles’s Rosebud! What’s up? My cousin is treating you good in my absence, right?”
I smiled. “I’m good. And don’t worry, he’s pampering me too much for my own good.” Well, except for his behavior last night. But I’d blame his situation for that. “And what about you? You better treat my sister well in my absence, mister. Otherwise, you’ll find me chasing you all around the Greece soon.”
Letting out a laugh, he kissed Tess’s temple. “Oh, though I’m not as romantic as Achilles, I’m trying my best. Ain’t I, baby?” His puppy eyes fell on my blushing sister.
“You’re doing great,” she whispered.
I cleared my throat, getting both of their attention back.
“Don’t ruin my morning, guys. I can talk to you later if you need some privacy,” I teased.
Caleb awkwardly scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly while Tess grew red.
“No need!” She pushed Caleb away from the camera. “You go get something for me to eat. I’m hungry. Let me talk to my sister.”
Grumbling, he complained about how bossy she was and walked away. Tess turned back to me. A serious look etched onto her face.
“What’s wrong, Em? Your eyes are not as chirpy as your voice sounds. Is everything all right?”
My smile dropped. The dark circles under my eyes and dull appearance said it all.
“Nothing. Just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Don’t lie to me. Tobias called me to tell what’s happening there. What happened that he left like that? Has he returned yet?”
Along with Carter, I also sought my brother’s help. But I got no luck in it too.
I shook my head, my shoulders slumped. “He didn’t. We had a little argument last night. And he just… snapped.”
Her brows furrowed, disbelief flashed across her blue orbs. “He got mad at you?”
I shrugged. “It was my fault. I pushed him too much.”
“Is it about Warner? Because the only thing that can get him mad at you is his jealousy.”
Well, there was another thing you didn’t know.
“No, not Warner. I was trying to find out something I felt he was hiding from me. About his past. I can see it, Tess. It’s eating him alive. Something is bothering him, but he wouldn’t tell me.”
Understanding laced her features. “You know how sensitive his past was, right? Maybe that’s why? There are some parts that maybe you don’t know about his parents.”
“I know everything. He told me yesterday. But it feels like there is still something I don’t know.” I fidgeted in my chair. “Uh, do you know the reason behind his father’s suicide? I know why he did it, Ace told me. But is there something else he doesn’t want anyone to know?”
Maybe she knew something more than Ace told me? Maybe she was aware of the murder case?
Her frown deepened. “No, he did it because of shame. There’s nothing else. Why do you think so?”
I shrugged again. “I don’t know. Don’t you think it sounds a bit odd that the man who didn’t care about his wife’s emotions and cheated on her, even after knowing her suspicion, took his life just because his family caught him red-handed?”
She pondered for a moment, biting her inner cheek. “I don’t know, Em. I was there that night when we saw him with his girlfriend. But after that, Tobias and I left, not wanting to intervene in their personal matter. And we heard the news the next day. I don’t think there’s anything more to this. Achilles would’ve shared it with us then.”
Sighing, I nodded. I didn’t know whose words to believe. But Warner wouldn’t lie to me without any solid information.
“All right, Caleb is here. I’ll talk to you later. Let me know when Achilles comes back,” she said, glancing behind her. “And Em, take it slow. I’m sure, if there’s something, he’ll tell you. Sooner or later.”
Smiling, I nodded again before cutting the video call.
My ardent eyes went back to the clock.
When will he come back?
Tess was right. I should take it slow and give him some time. No matter how much this new information bothered me, I could do it for him. I didn’t want to reach any conclusions without knowing the whole truth.
The doorbell rang, making me leap up to my feet. My heart started to thump in my chest.
He is here!
Sprinting to the door, when I pulled it open, my smile faltered.
The familiar brown eyes greeted me as I stood there, surprised.
“Warner? What are you doing here?”
