Garrett rubbed his shoulder where Brandon had hit him and smiled. “I may not work here anymore, but I’m still your friend. I rushed here as soon as I got your call. It was too windy on the phone, so I couldn’t hear what you were saying at first. It took me a while to understand what was happening. When I reached the office above, Charis was pushing Natalie through the window! I immediately called 911. Luckily, the police and rescue team arrived just in time to save them. Otherwise, not one, but three people would have died today.”
Garrett glanced out the window at Charis’s lifeless body below, shuddering at the gruesome sight. “God, why, Charis? Why would she do something so foolish?”
Brandon fell silent, unable to provide an answer. After some time, when Natalie finally calmed down, a policeman approached them and asked them to identify Charis’s body. Together, they made their way down to the scene.
In the snow, a woman lay motionless, her body covered in blood. The crimson stain spread around her like a macabre rose. Natalie couldn’t shake off the feeling that Charis’s lifeless eyes were fixed on her, sending shivers down her spine. Seeking solace, she buried her face in Brandon’s arms.
Trembling, Natalie asked, “Have you contacted her parents?”
Garett nodded. “I did. They should be here soon.”
Brandon, his gaze fixed on Charis’s corpse, took a deep breath and wrapped his scarf around Natalie, offering comfort. “Do you want to wait for me inside?” he asked gently.
Natalie shook her head, clinging to the hope of being with her parents. She didn’t want to be separated from them.
Suddenly, the wailing siren of an ambulance pierced the air. Gathering what little courage remained, Brandon raised his head and looked towards where they had found Charis’s body. Workers carried her away on a stretcher.
“I almost feel sorry for her,” Brandon muttered under his breath.
“She deserved it. No need to feel sorry,” Natalie replied, though she sensed Brandon’s conflicting emotions. She knew he pitied Charis. While there had never been romantic feelings between them, he had always admired and trusted her. From their school days, Charis had stood out as a confident and exceptional woman, a cut above the rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner arrived upon hearing the tragic news of their daughter’s death. They threw themselves onto Charis’s lifeless body, crying hysterically. Luke, usually a reserved man who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t help but burst into tears, his anguish echoing through the air. Catherine, disregarding her expensive fur coat soaked in bloody snow, wept uncontrollably, her makeup smearing with tears.
Amidst the chaos, Natalie caught sight of Catherine in the crowd. Luke hurriedly approached Natalie, pointing an accusing finger at her. “You! This is all your fault! You drove my daughter to madness. She said she would go back to square one, but look what happened!”
Natalie frowned, feeling unjustly blamed. It was Charis who had been pursuing her.
Catherine raised her hand to strike Natalie, but before she could, Brandon intervened, shielding Natalie with his arms. His gaze turned cold as he addressed Catherine. “Mrs. Turner, be careful. We are the victims of your daughter’s actions, not the other way around. She got what she deserved.”
Luke rushed over and helped Catherine to her feet, his eyes burning with hatred. He trembled as he spoke, “The police will investigate Brandon Larson. I won’t rest until you’re behind bars!”
Natalie and Brandon were taken to the police station for interrogation since someone had died. Fortunately, the Larson Group building had well-equipped closed-circuit cameras. The police carefully reviewed the surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses to piece together the events.
It became evident that Charis had manipulated her office window, intending to jump off the building with Natalie. However, Brandon had saved Natalie, while Charis met a tragic end.
Both Natalie and Brandon were declared innocent, absolved of any responsibility for Charis’s fate. With the case resolved, Catherine and Luke had no choice but to accept the harsh reality.
They looked aged beyond their years as they returned home, carrying the weight of their daughter’s mangled corpse.
Vivian was convinced that Natalie was responsible for Charis’s untimely death. She couldn’t understand why Charis’s parents hadn’t taken any action against her. Determined to seek justice, Vivian, a Ph.D. student in the midst of an important project, made a swift decision to return home.
She hurried to the lab and approached her supervisor, Jeremy Button, who was engrossed in experiments with other students. Distressed and anxious, Vivian shared the devastating news with him. Concerned, Jeremy asked, “What’s wrong? We’re still in the early stages of the project. It’s crucial to establish a solid foundation.”
Shaking her head sadly, Vivian replied, “Mr. Button, my sponsor, Charis Turner, was murdered. I have to go back.”
Jeremy’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he quickly signed the leave forms for Vivian. He sighed, saying, “I’m truly sorry to hear that.”
Lost in her grief, Vivian failed to notice the peculiar expression on Jeremy’s face. Time was of the essence, and she needed to pack quickly to catch the last flight tonight. However, just as she turned to leave, Jeremy halted her abruptly.
“Vivian, wait,” he called out.
Turning around, Vivian asked anxiously, “Yes, Mr. Button?”
Jeremy sympathetically patted her shoulder and suggested, “I think one week’s leave might not be enough. Considering the seriousness of the matter, you can return once everything is settled.”
Confused, Vivian questioned, “But didn’t you say the early stages were crucial? Is it really okay if I don’t come back soon? What about the project?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…
Jeremy waved his hand dismissively. “You mentioned your sponsor was murdered. Don’t you want to avenge her?” Vivian’s eyes lit up with determination.
Of course, she wanted to seek justice for Charis. However, she felt lost and unsure of where to begin. The Whites, the family involved, were not to be underestimated. Even Vivian, who had been abroad for a long time, knew about their influence.
“I’m just an orphan, despite my academic achievements. I don’t stand a chance against Charis’s killer. I don’t even know where to start,” Vivian confessed, clenching her fists with hatred in her eyes.
Observing her closely, Jeremy smiled knowingly. “I can help you,” he whispered into her ear. “But if you want my assistance, you’ll have to do something for me in return…”
A chilling gust of wind blew past them, causing Vivian to shiver. She snapped back to reality, and Catherine, standing before her, noticed her pale appearance. Concerned, Catherine instructed a servant to bring a blanket for Vivian.
Wrapped in the warmth of the blanket, Vivian shook her head and smiled, keeping her plan hidden from Charis’s parents. “Thank you, Mrs. Turner. I was just reflecting on what happened to Miss Turner, and it made me feel incredibly sad. She was such a wonderful person.”
Genuine tears streamed down Vivian’s face as she wept bitterly in front of Charis’s tomb. Touched by her display of emotion, Catherine approached and offered comfort. “If Charis knew how highly you thought of her, she would have been overjoyed.”
Wiping away her tears, Vivian forced a smile. “For now, I’ll stay in Barnes. If you ever need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to call me. I always considered Miss Turner as my older sister. During college, she encouraged me to study hard and often spoke fondly of you.”
Hearing that Charis frequently mentioned her to Vivian, Catherine found solace in their connection. Having just lost her daughter, she felt drawn to those who knew Charis well. Catherine reached out and held Vivian’s hand, expressing concern. “You mentioned you’ve recently returned from abroad. Do you have a place to stay? If not, you’re welcome to stay with us for a few days.”
Surprised, Vivian blinked in astonishment. Things were falling into place more easily than she had anticipated. Luke, Catherine’s husband, nodded in agreement, and Catherine turned to Vivian with a bright smile.
“Absolutely. You are more than welcome to stay with us.”
“Natalie! You despicable woman! I’ll drag you down to the depths of hell with me!” Charis screamed, her hands reaching out to strangle Natalie with pure hatred.
Gasping for air and fighting against Charis’s grip, Natalie struggled desperately. Just as she felt herself losing consciousness, Charis vanished into thin air. Natalie opened her eyes, waking up in a state of frantic terror. She was drenched in sweat, her hand instinctively touching her neck as she struggled to catch her breath. It had all been a nightmare.
Exhausted from the intense struggle in her dream, Natalie lay back on the bed. Nightmares had plagued her during this period, but she couldn’t recall how many. Brandon, hearing the commotion, entered the bedroom.
“Another nightmare?” he asked, concern etched on his face.
“I’m fine,” Natalie replied, forcing a smile.
“This can’t go on. I’ve arranged for you to see a psychologist,” Brandon said firmly, sitting down beside her and gently brushing her wet bangs aside.