Ethan and Tessa had always treated me like family. The thought of suspecting them, even for a moment, filled me with guilt and unease.
Yet, Nora’s hesitation–and her unspoken suggestion–planted a seed of doubt in my mind.
My heart felt like it was in freefall, plummeting from a towering height. Panic washed over me, but I forced myself to steady my thoughts.
“I have to,” I whispered, more to myself than to Nora.
The more my suspicions grew, the stronger my determination became. I needed to find the truth–not just for my father’s sake but also to clear Ethan of any potential involvement.
Nora, perceptive as ever, read the turmoil in my mind. She didn’t try to stop me or argue. Instead, she offered quiet support. “I’m here for you,” she said softly.
Her words carried weight, but they also revealed something else. Perhaps Nora had already drawn her own conclusions. But those were hers, not mine. I needed the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
After leaving the emergency ward, I hailed a cab. As I waited, I spotted Ben lingering nearby, pacing as he spoke on the phone.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice low but clear enough for me to hear. “She fiddled around with the screen. Said she was trying to play some music.”
A chill ran down my spine, despite the sun beating down on me.
It was disturbingly clear who Ben was reporting to. But why?
If there was nothing to hide, why would my actions in the car–even something as simple as touching the console–be worth reporting?
My thoughts spiraled into chaos, and I watched Ben until he disappeared from view.
Once in the cab, I instructed the driver to take me to Sky Sanatorium. I couldn’t afford to waste time. If I delayed, I might lose the chance to uncover the truth./
But Sky Sanatorium was not an ordinary facility. As soon as I arrived, I was stopped by the guards at the gate.
“Who are you here to see? Name and room number, please,” one of the guards asked, his tone curt but professional.
I hesitated. I knew who I was looking for–Alfred Kramer–but I didn’t know his room number. And even if I did, I couldn’t risk using his name. If the guards called to confirm my visit, I would be exposed immediately.
Thinking quickly, I said, “My family sent me here for a consultation.”
The guard’s expression didn’t change. “This isn’t a public facility. We don’t accept consultations without a prior appointment,” he replied flatly.
I understood the hidden meaning behind his words: this was an exclusive, heavily guarded place where outsiders weren’t welcome.
Frustrated but unwilling to give up, I lingered nearby, trying to come up with a new plan.
As I stood there, a car pulled up to the gate. The window rolled down, and I immediately recognized the
man inside.
It was the bald man who had led the group that attacked Ashton,
“I’m here to see Mr. Kramer,” the man said, his voice carrying an air of authority.
The guards recognized him instantly and opened the gates without hesitation.
‘Kramer.‘
The name confirmed my suspicions. This man worked for Alfred Kramer,
And if he was connected to Alfred, then Alfred was undoubtedly the person Ashton had been investigating the one tied to his father’s death.
The connections were too strong to ignore. Could Alfred also have been involved in my father’s car a ccident?
The weight of all these coincidences pressed down on me. I hadn’t even met Alfred yet, but the sight of the bald man–someone I’d already encountered in such a violent context–was enough to stir my
unease.
Having no way to enter the sanatorium, I returned home, my thoughts tangled in a web of possibilities. On the way back, my phone rang.
“Tessa.”
“Elaine, Ben told us you weren’t feeling well. Are you all right?” Tessa’s voice was hoarse, heavy with
worry.
I pictured Ethan’s gray hair and Tessa’s tear–streaked face when I’d left earlier. It was clear she had been crying, and guilt gnawed at my insides.
Although I didn’t want to suspect them, my wariness lingered. Still, I forced myself to keep my tone light.
I
“I’m fine now, Tessa,” I replied. “It was just an upset stomach. I feel much better after taking the
medicine.”
“That’s a relief,” she said, but her voice betrayed her lingering concern. “Ethan and I were so worried. We wanted to visit you at the hospital.”
Her sincerity twisted the knife in my heart. Even in their own misery, they still cared for me deeply.
“Tessa, I’m fine,” I reassured her. “Please take care of Ethan and yourself. And tell him to rest. He shouldn’t push himself too hard.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan’s sudden transformation–the gray hair, the slumped posture. It was painful to see someone so strong reduced to that state overnight.
Tessa sighed heavily on the other end of the line.
Silence stretched between us. I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and neither could she.
