Dangerous Love: You Are My One and Only Bride novel Chapter 1835

Arianne’s denial was intuitive. “No! It wasn’t him, it’s got nothing to do with him! If mob consensus is enough to proclaim anyone as guilty or not, then what do we need the law for?! Look, I get that you’re his friend and this is something you must do, but Mateo’s fate saddens me too…”

Geralt scanned her quickly. “Hmm, I can tell. The case is weighing you down, which begs the question: why? Is it only because Teo liked you? Deep down inside, you must be afraid as well, aren’t you? Afraid of the possibility that Mr. Tremont was the one behind it?” he said. “You’re on a spiraling track into the eye of the storm, aren’t you? You feel guilty… thinking that Teo’s death is related to you.”

Was Geralt trying to bait her?

The realization of his intention propelled Arianne to recover her composure. Deadpanned, she replied, “You people of forensic science have quite a unique way of expressing yourself, don’t you? And you guys are really adept at holding yourself together without a crack on your façade, too. Regardless, you’re very likely wrong on this one. Mateo and I might not have known each other for the longest time, but we considered each other as friends. Discarding his one-sided affection of me, I was still delighted to have befriended him, especially since he was a very kind, nice guy. Naturally, his tragedy aches me—but that’s all there is to it.”

Geralt drew a shallow intake of breath. “I sense your rising wariness and hostility, though it’s not at all surprising. You were raised by Mark Tremont himself; I understand the instinct to defend. Besides, I wholeheartedly agree that consensus cannot be judged nor evidence of crime, but that is different from what I hope,” he said. “See, I hope that stab in your conscience will stay with you if the investigation reveals Mark Tremont to have played a role. It’s only fair for Teo that way.”

Arianne furrowed her eyebrows. Her gut instincts were telling her that continuing the conversation with this Geralt was ill-advised. “You should at least provide proof that this is connected to Mark first, don’t you think? It’s way too early to play jury and accuse him of anything!” she retorted. “Anyway, I’d rather be somewhere else, so you’ll have to excuse me. Thanks for the tissue.”

She quickly hailed a cab and left.

On the way to Tremont Tower, Arianne felt the throbbing in her head growing in intensity. She was drowsy, and she lost the fight against the creeping somnolence. With the last ounce of wakefulness, she told the driver to wake her up only when they had arrived at the destination.

Arianne lost count of time after that. At some point, she felt her body suspending in midair. Then a plunge before the ground crudely broke her momentum. Clambering footwork, disappearing from her ears.

Pain shot up her body, waking her up. The first thing Arianne saw the moment she opened her eyes was sharp, stinging light that blinded her into seeing only white. It forced her to shut her eyes immediately just to ease out of the discomfort.

It was then that Arianne smelled an unwonted stench that reminded her of drugs. It seemed to be emanating from near her nostrils, but it reeked the most while it was circulating inside of her nose. Her body seemed deprived of all strength, too. Arianne could not even pick herself up from the floor!