Chapter 184
A scene from a video I had once seen played vividly in my mind, wrapping me in a suffocating sense of apprehension.
My voice faltered as I asked, “Did the accident happen because the brakes malfunctioned?”
Tessa pursed her lips tightly. “I’m not entirely sure. Even the driver passed away at the scene, and the car was completely totaled. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear.”
“Not even Ethan knows?” I pressed, remembering how emotional he had been the last time I had
asked about it.
“Well…” Tessa hesitated, her reluctance clear.
“Please, just tell me,” I pleaded, my voice trembling, tears threatening to spill over.
Tessa stroked my hand gently, trying to calm me. “Elaine, they’re gone. Why do you still need to
know?”
Her evasiveness only deepened my anxiety. “Tessa, what is it that you can’t tell me?”
Faced with my growing distress, she sighed and finally said, “I think… the brakes might have
malfunctioned.”
“Didn’t the driver inspect the car beforehand?” I asked, desperate for answers.
Tessa held my hand more tightly. “Elaine, the driver is dead.”
Her words hit me like a wave–there was no one left to hold accountable. And worse, the driver had
been Ashton’s father.
“Tessa, that’s enough. Let’s eat,” she said, trying to shift the conversation, her tone firm yet gentle.
But how could I eat after hearing that? I knew Ashton’s father couldn’t have been at fault; he’d been investigating the accident just as I was. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was somehow tied to the contract I’d found in my father’s notebook.
I glanced at Tessa again, my thoughts racing. “Tessa, do you know if my parents were working on a startup before they passed?”
She was about to place some food on my plate when her hands began to tremble. Her utensils clattered to the floor, and I noticed her skin was covered in goosebumps.
Her reaction sent a chill down my spine. My heart sank as dread washed over me. “Tessa…”
She set her utensils down and met my gaze. “Yes. Your father was ready to sign the contract.”
The same contract I’d found in my father’s notebook.
“And he didn’t get to sign it because of the accident?” I asked, my voice shaking.
She nodded, and with that confirmation, my anxiety surged like a tidal wave. Tessa sighed heavily, her gaze distant.
“That contract was the first one your father and Ethan secured when they started the business.”
09:18
41.67%
<Chapter 184
Ethan had a copy of the contract? That changed everything i’d assumed
“Your father and Ethan were so determined to work with Alfred Kramer from Alpha Corsocation that they went to great lengths to meet his demands. They went fishing raced cars–anything he asked of them, no matter how dangerous. “
She paused, her tone growing heavier
“Alfred had ties to the underworld and loved playing games with people. Your father and desperate for his support, so they risked their lives to gain his approval. Once, he took them out to sea during a hurricane. There were only two life jackets, and your father and Ethan each tried to sacrifice theirs for the other.”
Tessa’s voice softened as she continued. “After that, Alfred stopped giving them a hard time and finally agreed to the contract. Your father eventually noticed issues with the original contract, so Alfred had a new one drafted and asked him to sign it. But…” She trailed off, her voice breaking sing
“But my father never made it to sign it because of the accident,” I finished for her, my voice hollow
Tessa nodded again, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She recounted the story with such vivid detail that I could almost see the events unfolding in my mind.
So that was the truth. It wasn’t the sinister version I had feared.
I silently let out a shaky breath of relief. For so long, I had dreaded what the truth might reveal, but this explanation was far less catastrophic than I had imagined.
Tessa remained lost in the memories. “At the time, the four of us had a plan. Your father and Ethan were supposed to sign the contract, while your mother and I waited outside. Your mother and I even joked about surprising them with hugs and flowers once they came out.”
So that’s why my mother had been with my father on the way to sign the contract. I finally had the answers to the questions that had haunted me for so long.
But with those answers came a wave of guilt. I had doubted Ethan and Tessa, even suspecting Ethan of orchestrating the accident to steal the contract for himself. How could I have thought that about a couple who had treated me like their own child?
“I’m sorry, Tessa,” I whispered, my voice thick with regret.
Tessa looked at me with a faint smile and shook her head. “We’re the ones who should apologize, Elaine. If Ethan and your father hadn’t started the business, your parents might still be alive.”
I swallowed hard. “Maybe it was just fate,” I said quietly.
“My parents simply weren’t lucky enough to see their dreams come true,” I added, gazing at Tessa. She radiated elegance and grace, qualities I was sure my mother would have shared if she were still
alive.
Tessa reached out and gripped my hand tightly. “No matter what, Elaine, you’ll always be our daughter.”
Her words warmed my heart, but deep down, I knew it could never truly be that way. My connection to Logan had irreparably changed things between us.
I nodded, offering her a small smile in return..
www: 09.18
< Chapter 194
“Come on, let’s eat,” Tessa said, her tone gentle.
Me
In truth, I had no appetite. I took a few polite bites before using Ashton as an excuse to leave, saying he was waiting for me.
Of course, Ashton and Alex’s lunch was still ongoing. After saying my goodbyes to Tessa, I stepped outside and waited.
To be honest, I wasn’t really waiting for Ashton. I needed time to process everything Tessa had told me. My mind was still spinning with the weight of her words.
Eventually, Ashton arrived at the car.
“Waited long?” he asked as he slid into the driver’s seat, his voice warm and familiar.
