Hiding Behind Her Superficiality novel Chapter 572
He held the report and clicked his tongue. “This is unbelievable; I have a half-sister from the same father and a different mother. My dad… No, our dad is really something.”
“What do you mean by ‘same father and different mother’?” she asked, recalling that Cecelia had mentioned he was adopted into the Harley Family. In addition, Elspeth had verified his identity through her own investigation.
However, Yozan saw her bewilderment and knew what she meant. Then, he explained, “I’m technically the Harley Family’s adopted son, but I’m actually their illegitimate child. My mother had an affair with Welson, and later I was born. He never married her because he was in love with someone else, someone I suspect might be your mother.”
Elspeth noticed that he didn’t refer to Welson as “Dad” but by his first name instead. She could sense the pain in his eyes, which hinted at a difficult childhood. Unsure of what to say, she asked, “Is Welson still living in Damoria?”
“Of course, he is, but what do you want to do? Do you want to go see him?” he suddenly laughed. “He doesn’t even know he has a daughter! If he knew, he might be overjoyed to find out he had a child with the woman he loved.”
After hearing that, she felt slightly nervous. Aside from the circumstances of her mother’s relationship with Welson, he wouldn’t easily let her go, even based on her identity. It was rumored that he had a cunning and ruthless personality, which was why he had built such a large business empire. Whether she would be happy or cautious depended on his own judgment.
“There’s nothing much going on today; why don’t you return to the Harley Residence with me?” Yozan offered, getting ready to drive.
Elspeth shook her head and gave a slight smile. “I think I’ll pass for now. I’ll visit when I find a suitable opportunity.”
Nevertheless, he didn’t pressure her. Anyone would find it difficult to accept the sudden appearance of a father. Her calm demeanor demonstrates her mental fortitude. Then, he shrugged and jangled the car keys in his hand. “How about I send you back?”
“It’s okay, I have my own car,” she politely declined. As she walked towards her car, she suddenly felt something was amiss. When she looked up again, a group of men in black surrounded her. The man in the suit at the front smiled and said, “Miss Lynwood, I would like to invite you to go somewhere.”
“Who are you?” Elspeth tightly gripped the car door, contemplating the possibility of sneaking into her car while they weren’t looking. However, after a quick thought, she quickly gave up on that idea.
“You’ll find out when you get there,” the man said. Then, he gestured for the group to clear a path and pointed to a black Lincoln not far away. “Miss Lynwood, please come with us.”
Outnumbered, she knew there was no point in resisting. Nevertheless, the current situation suggests these men are not necessarily bad guys. So, she slowly locked her car door and followed the man to his vehicle. Sitting in the car filled with musky cologne, she quickly realized it was a man’s car. To whom could it belong?
Suddenly, the man in front of her spoke politely and tactfully, “Miss Lynwood, I apologize for the offense caused by this invitation method. Our employer wishes to see you immediately. We apologize for the poor hospitality.”
Elspeth raised an eyebrow. “Is this related to the Harley Family?”
The man grinned, causing wrinkles to bunch up on his face. “Miss Lynwood, you truly are a smart woman.”
“To plant spies around one’s own son… Isn’t that a bit—” The word “perverted” couldn’t come out of her mouth. She also never expected Welson to be so paranoid. She had only received the test report, and he already knew about it. Should I applaud him for being well-informed or condemn him for being excessive in his actions?
Hearing her sarcastic tone, the man immediately explained, “Our employer is primarily concerned about his son. It’s merely a matter of being concerned, really.”
Concern? What kind of concern is that? Elspeth didn’t want to expose the truth and could only smile and chat with him. “Yes, Mr. Harley… He cares about his children.”
Otherwise, why would Welson get her back to the Harley Family so quickly?
As their conversation became more awkward, the driver in front couldn’t help but speed up. They soon arrived at the entrance of the Harley Residence. As she exited the car, she saw Yozan parked his vehicle nearby.
When he saw her approach, his eyes lit up. “I never thought we’d end up coming here together.” After a moment’s thought, it was probably because Welson had arranged to have someone monitor him, so his excitement dimmed.
“Thanks, but I’m not very happy about it.” Elspeth forced a smile at Yozan before her face returned to its usual cold expression.
“Well, we’re already here. Since he made an effort to invite you, let’s meet him together.” He leaned forward slightly, his smile light. “Am I right, my dear Elspeth?”
She felt slightly uncomfortable with the term endearment but couldn’t help but follow him because she didn’t know the way. Soon, the two arrived at the hall, and as they were about to enter, a cup flew out from inside and hit his knee, spilling tea all over his leg. She could hear him grunt, but his expression remained unchanged as if he was accustomed to such treatment.
“*sshole!” A powerful voice followed, making people shudder.
However, Yozan continued to walk straight ahead without looking around.
When they entered the reception room, Elspeth looked up at the man sitting there. He wore a white suit and looked thin overall but had a stern demeanor. He appeared younger than most men in their fifties. The man was previously burning with anger, but his expression changed rapidly upon seeing her. She could see surprise, confusion, joy, and even a hint of nostalgia flash across his face.
Since she was already there, she had to lower her head and speak softly. “I’m not sure why you invited me here, Mr. Harley. Is there something you wanted to discuss?”
At that moment, Welson was no longer focused on punishing Yozan, and his thoughts were entirely on her. “Y-You’re my daughter?” His voice trembled slightly, and it was clear he was nervous. He seemed to know about the DNA test results.
“Yes, but also no,” she replied.
After hearing that, he was stunned. “What do you mean?”
Sensing her distant tone, Welson felt a tinge of bitterness in his heart. “Elspeth, I know you blame me for not looking for your mother.”
“Mr. Harley, you must be joking,” she said, a faint smile on her face. “Your choices are yours, and I certainly can’t interfere.”
“I—”
“If nothing else, I hope Mr. Harley can allow me to return.”
His face immediately became unpleasant. “What, being with me makes you that uncomfortable?” He never expected his long-awaited daughter to show disgust even after meeting him.
Elspeth felt she would be lying if she said she wasn’t disappointed. “It’s not really that. However, what I truly wish for, Mr. Harley is that you seriously consider whether or not it is necessary to acknowledge that I am your daughter.” Her words served as a reminder to him.
The Harley Family was thriving, and the sudden emergence of an illegitimate daughter would undoubtedly impact the family’s estate and business. Moreover, their competitors would make a fuss about the matter. Nevertheless, she had no desire to be exposed to the public as an illegitimate daughter.
“I don’t care, and—” Welson was about to continue but was interrupted.
“Still, I care; I care a lot about this.” Her gaze was piercing. “If we’re to acknowledge each other, I’d rather not do it as an illegitimate daughter.” She had her pride and didn’t want to lose her reputation or be criticized by others.
Then, he looked at her stubbornness and felt that he should have been angry, but he felt a sudden sense of relief instead. She is undeniably my daughter because she shares my personality traits. “Alright, alright. Since that’s the case, can you tell me where your mother is?” he asked with a smile. “I’m willing to marry her legally and welcome you back to the Harley Family in a grand manner.”
However, Elspeth didn’t expect Welson to make such a significant concession.
Meanwhile, Yozan was also shocked after hearing that. He looked up and unexpectedly met Welson’s loving gaze.
Still, she couldn’t decide for her mother, so she hesitated and said, “I’ll go back and ask her for her opinion first.”
Knowing that the matter couldn’t be rushed, Welson nodded. “Alright then, I’ll have someone send you back.” As he spoke, his tone was gentle like a kind father, but after he finished, he glared fiercely at Yozan, who had been silent on the side. “Get down on your knees!”
Yozan was taken aback and fell to his knees.
The butler was already standing by Elspeth’s side, smiling as he escorted her away. Then, she looked deeply at Yozan, kneeling on the ground, and asked, “What did he do wrong?”
Welson sneered, “After discovering your identity, he concealed it and didn’t report it. I’ve raised him for 20 years and look at what he did!”
“I was the one who asked him to conceal my identity.” Her gaze was cold and made people shiver. She had a hunch that things were tough for Yozan in the Harley Family, but she had no idea that things were that severe. In addition, she couldn’t help but wonder how Welson perceived Yozan.
However, Welson didn’t care and said coldly, “I raised him for so many years, hoping he could contribute to the family business. I never expected him to be so useless that he couldn’t handle such a small matter.”
Elspeth opened her mouth to defend Yozan, but Welson clearly didn’t care about Yozan at all. To outsiders, Yozan was the prestigious son of the Harley Family. Still, only he knew the bitterness of living in the family. He was only a pawn for his father. Looking over at Elspeth, the contrast was stark, and his pent-up anger bubbled to the surface. “Do I really mean nothing to you in your heart?” Yozan asked.
It was a question that Welson never expected. He has never disobeyed me; I have always made sure to give him the best of everything. Nonetheless, I never anticipated that he would continue to be discontent. “Yozan, don’t forget how your mother tried to seduce me in the first place,” Welson said.
Each word made Yozan’s face turn a shade paler.
“You’re merely the son of a promiscuous woman, so what right do you have to talk here?”
Elspeth herself couldn’t bear to hear that, let alone that Yozan was genuinely hurt by those words. “Mr. Harley, I think what you’re saying is a bit too—” She was about to say something when she noticed Yozan standing up.
Yozan was incredibly furious as he said, ” I am nothing but a shameful person in your eyes and the son of a promiscuous woman. What about Elspeth? When you had sex with her mother, wasn’t her mother unconscious? You took her mother directly back to your villa and violated her. Are you any better?” He exposed the truth about what happened years ago without mercy toward Welson.
With a loud slap, Welson hit him hard. “You ungrateful b*stard! What are you blabbering about?”
Hearing that, she was equally shocked and speechless. Although she knew the truth was complicated, she never expected it to be so shocking.
“Am I simply blabbering, though? Investigate, and you’ll find out the truth anyway.” Yozan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed recklessly. “Oh, right. Elspeth, aren’t you good at hacking? The clues are already here. With careful investigation, nothing can remain hidden.”
Welson raised his hand again. “You scoundrel!”
However, the expected slap never came. Yozan opened his eyes and found that Elspeth had grabbed Welson’s wrist.
“Mr. Harley.” The coldness in her voice sent chills down his spine as she looked into his eyes. “Are you so angry at Yozan because he hit a nerve?”
The word ‘nerve’ caused a subtle change in Welson’s expression. “Elspeth, let me explain. It’s not what you think.”
Then, she let go of his wrist and took a few steps back. “Don’t worry, Mr. Harley. I won’t wrong you, but I won’t let you off the hook either.”
However, Elspeth retained her cold attitude. “That’s enough, Mr. Harley. If there is nothing else to address, I will leave first.” With that, she turned around to leave while the butler on her side quickly tagged along.
Once she left, Welson heaved a heavy sigh. “Yozan, have I ever mistreated you after all these years? I gave you the best education, supported you financially, and even let you inherit the family business.” He thought he had given his son everything he could besides the unnecessary fatherly love.
However, Yozan didn’t seem to be content with them. Even after obtaining everything he could, he still longed for his father’s attention and concern. In addition, he should not expect those from Welson because he wasn’t going to give those to him.
On the other hand, every time Welson looked at Yozan, it brought back memories of a woman desperately trying to get into his bed twenty years ago. How appalling! As a result, Welson harbored deep resentment toward his son. Hence, when the woman who gave birth to his son died from complications during labor, he could finally resolve one of his concerns. Nonetheless, he found it absurd that she had gone through so much to bring Yozan into the Harley Family, only to die before she could enjoy the blessing.
Watching his father plunge into his own thoughts, Yozan frowned. “I don’t need any of those from you.” He was born and raised in the Harley Family, so it stood to reason that he should be grateful. Unfortunately, he was a rebel. Growing up, he always felt wronged and aggrieved. Perhaps, he was mindful of too many things at once and always dreamed about having something unreachable.
“What are you talking about? Are you sure you don’t need any of these?” Welson snickered at his son’s statement. “Without our family, you are nothing. Don’t you think you sound ridiculous?”
Yozan’s face turned pallid after hearing that. He’s right; I am nothing without the Harley Family. Perhaps, I would have been abandoned in an unknown orphanage where others would have bullied me. Afraid of saying anything that might provoke Welson, he lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”
On the other hand, Welson wouldn’t let his son go like that. After all, Yozan had told Elspeth everything earlier. “If an apology worked in every case, why do we even need the police?” Anger boiled in Welson’s chest. “What were you thinking? How could you tell her all that?!”
Yozan had accidentally blurted the truth out of impulse. However, he reasoned that informing her ahead of time, before she found out on her own, was a better idea. “I have told you before. Elspeth is skilled in hacking. Do you think she wouldn’t run a background check on you after she gets to know you? If you don’t tell her in advance, there’s no way she’ll accept you once she finds out that you’ve been hiding the truth all along.” He was clearly trying to justify himself by saying that, but he was also plainly speaking his mind.
“Your words appear to make sense.” Welson glanced at his son, feeling his anger dissipate a little. “So, what do you think we should do now?” Even though he looked down on Yozan, he believed his son was helpful in times of crisis.
“Our priority now is to think of a solution to win Elspeth’s heart.” Looking at the contemptuous expression on his father’s face, Yozan clenched his fists. “If you want her to accept you, you should first gain her mother’s trust.”
After hearing that, Welson did notice that Elspeth only wavered at the mention of her mother. “Okay. I know what to do now.” He smiled with satisfaction. “Since you gave me a good suggestion, I’ll treat it as you made up for your mistake this time. Let’s forgo the punishment.”
In an indifferent tone, Yozan uttered, “Thank you, Father.”
…
Meanwhile, Elspeth knew Welson would take action, but she didn’t expect him to come so soon.
Early in the morning, she heard someone knocking at the door. She thought someone had returned, but when she opened the door, a group of people was standing outside carrying a dozen or more boxes.
The man leading the group looked familiar. If she was right, it was the butler she met last time. With his head slightly bowed, he greeted her, “Miss Lynwood, these are some gifts from Mr. Harley. Please accept them.”
After skimming at the group, Elspeth replied indifferently, “Everything here is too expensive. You should bring them back.” She noticed that the boxes themselves were expensive, let alone the contents.
“Mr. Harley said he didn’t manage to send gifts to you for your wedding, so he wants to send you these as dowry.”
I haven’t even accepted him as my dad yet! Why is he acting like one already?! Elspeth felt uneasy upon hearing that. Then, she stated bluntly, “I don’t need all these at the moment. Tell him that he should know his place and make sure he keeps a distance from me.” With that, she was about to turn around and shut the door.
“Who’s outside?” At that moment, Callum walked out, saw the butler with a flattering smile, and frowned slightly. “Who’s this?”
“Someone from the Harley Family.”
Then, she briefly introduced the two to each other, giving Callum context to the butler’s identity. She had told him about what happened last night, including the matter about Yozan. On the other hand, he felt sorry for Yozan and had a negative impression of Welson, despite being his father-in-law.
“Please take all of these items back. We don’t need them.” Without a doubt, he was in the same boat as Elspeth.
The butler was in a dilemma. He wasn’t sure whether to leave or stay. “Mr. Harley told me to pass you all these items. If I bring them back, he’ll definitely be disappointed.” In other words, he was only given instructions to complete the task, and he did not have the authority to make decisions.
Looking at his white sideburns, Elspeth felt sorry for him and suggested, “Then, leave these boxes here for now. I’ll return them when I have the time to do so.”
When he heard her first sentence, the butler smiled like a flower in bloom, but when she blurted out the second, he looked distressed. Again, he tried to persuade her. “Miss Lynwood, Mr. Harley sincerely wants to mend his relationship with you, or he wouldn’t have sent you so many gifts. You should try to get along with him, so he won’t be disappointed.”
All of a sudden, her gaze turned cold. A fierce look was evident on her face. “Please return and tell Mr. Harley I don’t need it.”
On the other hand, Elspeth thought the issue was over, and the Harley Family would be quiet for a while. Unexpectedly, a few days later, she received a call from Helia. Elspeth had not informed her mother of everything she had learned that day, so she panicked when she received Helia’s call. She had a feeling that the matter wasn’t as simple as she expected it to be. Moreover, she understood Welson’s character well enough to conclude that he could have kidnapped Helia.
“What’s wrong, Mom? Are you alright?”
Helia had called to tell her about something interesting that had happened that day, but when she heard her daughter’s anxious tone, she realized something was wrong. “I’m fine, but did something happen? Why would you suddenly ask that?”
“Oh… Thank goodness you’re fine. Mom, why are you calling?”
Helia had always been concerned that she could cause trouble for Elspeth, who was now married. Hence, she avoided calling her daughter unless necessary.
“Well, this morning, I suddenly received a few parcels, which turned out to be expensive jewelry when I unboxed them.” Helia furrowed her brows tight. “I don’t have many friends, so I’m calling to ask if you were the one who sent them.”
After hearing that, Elspeth immediately knew who the sender was. “Is there anything else besides jewelry?”
After pondering carefully, Helia responded in embarrassment. “Yes, there is a letter, but the content of the letter is pretty… cheesy.”
Without a doubt, Welson is the sender. “Don’t panic, Mom. Please disregard any doorbell or phone calls you may receive over the next few days.”
Helia panicked upon hearing her daughter’s advice. “Why? Is someone going to hurt me?” She had become the target of public criticism. Almost everyone in Damoria now knew her identity. She also had a premonition that the news would soon spread to Blaydal. The Jonesons would then find out about her presence and come after her. “Did the Jonesons find out about me already?”
Elspeth shook her head and said, “I’ve been keeping this under wraps for the time being, so there aren’t many people who know about it.”
“Who could it be, then?”
Seeing how she couldn’t hide the truth any longer, Elspeth reassured her, “Stay home and wait for me. I’m coming now.”
After realizing the seriousness of the matter, Helia no longer asked through the phone. “Sure. I’ll wait for you at home.”
Hanging up the phone, Elspeth turned to glance at Callum. “I have to visit my mom.”
He nodded and suggested, “I’ll come with you.”
“Don’t worry. I think it’s more appropriate that I go alone.”
Although she had done her best to explain the situation indirectly to him, he could still sense the embarrassment that Helia might feel. If he was there as a man, her mother might be flustered.
Elspeth had always been the meticulous one between them, so Callum agreed. “Sure. I’ll stay at home and wait for you, then.”
After saying goodbye to him, she packed her bag and drove to Helia’s house. When she arrived at the entrance, she noticed her mother’s gate was wide open, which was unusual. Helia used to be quite cautious, so she always kept her gate locked.
At that moment, Elspeth knew something was wrong. She immediately exited the vehicle, but as soon as she reached the door, she detected a strong odor of blood. She noticed bloodstained drips on the floor, which, while not much, was still quite startling. The sight of that made her chest tighten. When she entered the door, she saw a pool of blood on the table by the couch. In addition, there were signs that a fight had taken place.
On the other hand, she could not locate Helia in the big living room. It was obvious that she had been kidnapped, and the perpetrator was highly likely an acquaintance.
Ultimately, Elspeth was worried and decided to call the police because the situation had escalated to a critical level. As soon as she took out her phone, she noticed a piece of paper with a sentence written on it. ‘I’m only asking her a few questions, and I won’t hurt her.’
Despite entering the police department’s phone number, she immediately turned off her phone after reading those words. Soon, her expression turned serious. Although she couldn’t figure out who did it, she felt it had something to do with Welson. He also had a motive for committing the crime.
Still, would he really use this method to kidnap Mom? After Elspeth had reason to suspect Welson, she had to know if her suspicions were justified. So, she called him, and her worried voice could be heard as soon as the call was connected. “Are you free?”
However, he wasn’t expecting her call and was taken aback. “Why are you calling me out of the blue, Elspeth? I’m not busy now. I have time to talk.” He thought she was moved by his actions and was ready to accept him as her father.
“Did you deliver jewelry to my mom recently?”
After hearing that, Welson sounded helpless. “I don’t even know where your mom lives! How would I deliver jewelry to her?”
Contrary to her expectations, it wasn’t him, so Elspeth was a little flustered. “Do you mean that you haven’t contacted her recently?”
“Yeah. Without your permission, I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her.” It was clear to him where the line was drawn. If he contacted Helia without Elspeth’s knowledge, his daughter would feel uneasy. If a grudge were formed, she might find it difficult to accept him. That was something he was well aware of.
“Do you know where my mom is?”
Taken aback by her question, Welson asked, “Your mom? I don’t know.”
“I can’t think of anyone besides you who would take her away.” Elspeth took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. “If you were the one who took her away, please tell me.”
With an anxious voice, he explained, “I didn’t take her. What happened? Your mom has been kidnapped?”
“Yes.”
She could tell he was anxious because she heard him accidentally knock into a chair. Soon, the doubt in her heart dissipated slightly.
“Don’t worry, Elspeth. I’ll get my men to search for her.”
Elspeth hummed and hung up the phone. There’s a good chance he is telling the truth. After all, who else could have delivered the jewelry if it wasn’t him? However, the perpetrator sent my mom jewelry and then kidnapped her. They obviously came for a specific reason and likely intended to fish in troubled waters by deflecting attention away from themselves and placing the blame squarely on Welson. Otherwise, he must be lying to me!
When she arrived home, Welson was already there with a few men. He was still wearing his off-white shirt and suit pants but with a coat draped over his shoulders. The anxious look on his face made him look like he had rushed over. His palm was icy cold, and when he placed it over hers, she shuddered from the piercing coldness. “What happened to your mom? What on earth is happening?”
He sounded edgy, and he didn’t seem to be faking it. Therefore, it’s unlikely that he’s the perpetrator. She figured he would’ve looked awkward if it were all an act. Pursing her lips, she tried to not let her hatred show. “My mom… She might have been kidnapped.”
Hearing the mention of ‘kidnap,’ he frowned. “Could it be done by an enemy?”
So, who else could have a grudge against me if he didn’t kidnap my mom? Elspeth took a deep breath. “I know who it is. I’ll call her right now.” Then, she pulled out her phone and keyed the number.
“What do you want?” On the other end of the phone, Jasmine didn’t sound friendly. Her voice was even tinged with rage.
The relationship between the two was consistently antagonistic. How could they possibly converse with tranquility?
“I have no time to bicker with you. Tell me what you’re calling me for, or I’ll hang up.”
Although Elspeth could hear the impatience in Jasmine’s voice, she also detected a hint of anxiety. “Where did you take my mom, Jasmine?” Her question sounded more like a demand.
Taken aback, Jasmine went silent for a moment before blowing up. “Who knows where your mom is? Why are you asking me that?!”
“I’m asking you one last time. Where is she?” Based on Jasmine’s response, Elspeth was almost confident it was her. If it isn’t Jasmine, it is probably written by Old Mr. McGrath.
“Have you gone nuts? I told you it wasn’t me!”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll find Old Mr. McGrath.”
“Whatever!” Jasmine murmured. After saying that, she hung up the phone.
Since Elspeth put her phone on speaker, everyone could overhear their conversation.
On the other hand, Welson, seated next to her, inquired, “Is it really her? Why does she sound innocent?”
“Jasmine is a terrible liar.” Then, she took a deep breath and decided, “I’m going to look for Old Mr. McGrath.”
Unable to hide the uneasiness in his eyes, he offered, “I’ll come with you!”
“You will be of no help if you come.” Elspeth had reservations about bringing Welson along. She wasn’t sure what might happen later, and if something did happen, she wouldn’t be able to protect him.
However, he was unfazed by her response, so he stood and announced solemnly, “You’re my daughter. If you save your mom in such a dangerous place, how am I supposed to feel at ease about letting you go alone? Bring me for extra protection.”
When she heard that, she was taken aback by his self-proclaimed willingness to assume the paternal role. “Sure.”
Half an hour later, Elspeth and Welson arrived at McGrath Residence. The residence’s gate was locked as if they anticipated her arrival and were intentionally avoiding her. Still, she recalled that Old Mr. McGrath had told her about a hidden passageway the last time she was there.
After that, she and Welson discussed their plan and decided that he would wait at the entrance while she would sneak into the secret passage to check on the situation. However, he was apprehensive about allowing her to take risks. Still, he had no choice but to let her leave after failing to convince her during the argument.
After going one round in McGrath Residence, Elspeth noticed a stone slab at the corner of the wall. The stone slab appeared relatively new, and its color did not match the surrounding wall. She took a little effort to remove it and saw the secret passage. Ultimately, she decided to enter after much deliberation.
It was a long walk, and it took her some time before she finally saw a glimmer of light at the end of the passageway. As soon as she climbed over, she heard an old man’s voice. “Long time no see. You’re finally here.”
As her gaze landed on Old Mr. McGrath, who was not too far away, she asked icily, “Where did you take my mom?”
Haris chuckled without answering Elspeth. Then, he replied, “After making it this far, the only thing you’ve asked is that serious question?”
Based on his response, I’m convinced he has kidnapped my mom. Suddenly, she shuddered at the memory of the bloodstain on the ground from earlier. “I don’t want to waste time with you.”
His eyes welled up with compassion as he sighed. “You’re still as disobedient as before.” Following that, he felt a cold light flashing before his eyes. The next moment, a knife was held against his neck. “Are you trying to kill me out of impulse? Don’t you want to know where your mom is?”
Haris showed no signs of alarm and instead stared at Elspeth calmly as if he knew she wouldn’t dare to take a step further.
Nevertheless, she tightened her grip on the knife. “Of course, I won’t kill you easily. If you don’t tell me where my mom is, I will make sure you suffer a miserable death.” Although she rarely killed anyone, if anything happened to Helia, she would not hesitate to kill him.
Haris’ gaze gradually drifted to the house at the corner. “Alright. I’ll stop teasing you now. The person you want to meet is in that room.”
After hearing that, Elspeth quickly sheathed her knife and retreated, staring at him coldly. “If you lie to me, I won’t let you go!”
“Why should I lie to you? Tell me, what have I lied to you about?” He smiled and caressed his beard, looking like an innocent man.
Despite her reservations, she decided to go inside the house and check it out. So, she braced herself in her mind and stepped inside, where she discovered a wounded and unconscious person lying on a bed nearby. It was Helia!
Seeing the miserable state her mother was in, Elspeth quickly went over. Then, she put her finger to her mother’s nose to feel her breath. When she detected Helia’s faint breaths, she immediately carried her mother on her back and prepared to leave.
However, as she approached the door, the man outside smiled. “Do you believe you’ll be able to leave easily now that you’re here?”
As soon as Haris finished his sentence, she suddenly felt sluggish, and her mother also slipped off her back and fell to the ground.
“Did you drug this place?” She felt her strength ebbing away from her. Even though she could not raise her hand, her mind remained sober.
“You must have been too nervous to realize the scent of the drug wafting throughout the room.”
“What a sly man you are.” Besides cursing under her breath, Elspeth couldn’t say anything else.
“Do you know why I lured you here?” Haris chuckled nastily. “Your mom is ideal for the drug testing, and so are you.” As soon as he waved his hand, two men emerged from the corner of the room. “You two put that woman back into the room and tie this woman in the inner room.”
After hearing that, a trace of coldness flashed across Elspeth’s eyes. “I won’t let you go.”
“I’ll be waiting for you.” Haris sounded regretful. “I can stay here longer because I’m used to it, but I’m afraid you won’t.”
She knew that being a drug tester was harmful to the body. However, she appeared to have no choice but to devise another escape plan.
…
On the other hand, Elspeth was shocked when she was tied up in the inner room she had never been to before and discovered it was full of drug testers. All of them had mottled skin, sunken appearances, and thin figures. Some even looked as if they were taking their last breath. The few who seemed reasonably lively saw her bound and thrown in there, felt sorry for her, and closed their eyes.
Nonetheless, her hands and legs were tied up and pushed toward a corner. However, there was another woman in the corner who appeared to be her age, but her temperament appeared to be calmer than Elspeth’s. Elspeth could tell the woman had been tortured because her body was abnormally skinny. The only thing that set her apart from the others was that she wasn’t bound, and she didn’t appear to be plotting her escape; instead, she lay on the ground in a submissive manner.
“You look better than the rest physically. Have you recently been sent here?” Elspeth believed that the woman was her best chance or could at least gain a brief understanding of the situation by conversing with the woman.
“If you feel that everything here is new and interesting to you, you won’t feel so curious anymore after you’ve experienced certain things.” That woman obviously didn’t bother to entertain her. Then, she turned over and faced her back against Elspeth.
“Why don’t you escape when you’re not tied up?”
“You don’t have to know that.” The woman sounded even more unfriendly.
Elspeth made an effort to initiate conversation but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, knowing the woman would eventually converse with her.
Then, around dinnertime, someone came by and handed the meal boxes through the small window at the door. Unfortunately, those who had been here for a long time had lost their strength. They were all on the ground in exhaustion and the woman was the only one who stood up and went to get the meal box. So, Elspeth tagged along and took a box for herself. Even though they were drug testers, their food was pretty scrumptious.
Watching that woman eating with gusto, Elspeth approached her and sat beside her. “Is it good?”
The woman stuffed food into her mouth and ignored her.
Looking at the eggplants in the woman’s meal box, Elspeth inquired, “I like eggplants. Can you share half of them with me?” Every meal box had different food, so she stared at the eggplants as if longing to eat them.
The woman shot her a look of disdain before placing all of her eggplants into Elspeth’s box.
“Thanks.” Elspeth grinned. “I knew the daughter of the Rover Family is hot and cold.”
At the mention of the Rovers, the woman trembled. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“Winter Rover. I remember you.”
It had been a long time since someone had called the woman’s name. She even nearly forgot what her name was. When she heard her name at a place like that, Winter suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes. Nevertheless, she had always been a cold person. Even if she was moved by something, her eyes would redden at most.
“Why are you being locked in here?”
Winter Rover was one of her acquainted classmates when Elspeth was studying abroad back then. One of her memories of Winter was that her name accurately reflected her personality. Winter, like the winter season, was cold and indifferent.
On the other hand, Elspeth knew that Winter’s outward demeanor was nothing more than a mask and that underneath it all, she was a warm-hearted person.
Elspeth was chastised severely by her foreign professor for criticizing their motherland in class while studying abroad. While everyone in the room watched her like a joke, the girl named Winter silently pinched her hand. “I think you’re right.”
At that moment, she noticed Winter’s name on the book’s cover, which was how she recalled her.
Still, Elspeth was shocked that they would run into each other again after all these years in that place.
“I’ve always wanted to study traditional medicine, so after completing my studies abroad, I returned to learn from a famous teacher, and that’s how I met Old Mr. McGrath.”
Elspeth could predict what had happened next after hearing that. Haris admired Winter’s talent and took her on as an apprentice, then used her as a drug tester under the guise of an apprentice.
“Still, why doesn’t he tie you up?”
Winter chuckled. “My family is considered influential, so he doesn’t dare to hurt me. I’ve been here for two years and have only tested a handful of drugs.”
Suddenly, Elspeth recalled when Haris offered to take her in as an apprentice and suddenly found it appalling. She was afraid she would have ended up here if she had been determined to learn from him back then. Then, she asked, “Have you ever tried to escape?”
Winter shook her head without a word but rolled up her sleeves to reveal the bruises and wounds on her arm. It seemed that she had suffered a lot of torture.
Elspeth felt sorry for her. Since her hands were tied, she hinted at Winter to pull something out of her pocket. “These are some ointments that I bring along everywhere I go. It’ll heal your wounds.”
Winter offered her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it, but I have a few more questions for you.”
Winter kept the ointment and answered, “Go on. I’ll do my best to answer your questions.
Elspeth looked around. She kept getting the feeling that there was something fishy about this fairly small room.
“This room is filled with cameras pointing at every angle. Old Mr. McGrath had the security cameras installed to keep track of everyone and make sure no one escapes.”
“What else?”
“There’s a signal jammer installed in this room as well. Nothing can be sent out.”
Elspeth frowned. “That’s why he didn’t even search me.”
“Why would he need to? All he has to do is toss you into this room and drug you. You’ll be nothing more than a sitting duck.”
Winter found Elspeth pitiful. “How did they manage to kidnap you and throw you in here?”
Elspeth pursed her lips. “He said I’m an exceptional drug tester. Plus, I have beef with him.”
“How did you manage to have beef with a recluse like him?” Winter began to get more talkative after getting to know Elspeth better.
“He’s no recluse. He’s just someone who’d do anything for the sake of his granddaughter.”
The two of them carried on talking.
“My family knows that I’m here to study. Also, for the past two years, Old Mr. McGrath has been sending letters to my family that were written in my handwriting, so they don’t suspect anything yet.”
Winter felt rather helpless.
She could only chalk it down to the fact that she was an unfavored daughter. Her family wouldn’t have thrown her abroad if that hadn’t been the case. She knew that the Rovers would have stirred up a frenzy if her younger brother had been the one who went missing.
“But, in your case, if you disappear for long, I think plenty of people would come looking for you.”
Elspeth nodded. “I managed to send out a text before I was brought to this inner room.”
Harper should be trying to find a way to enter McGrath Residence right now.
“You’re so smart.” Winter gave Elspeth a look of approval. “If only I were as smart as you. I wouldn’t have been locked up in here for so long.”
It had been two years since she last stepped foot into the outside world. She didn’t know what it was like anymore.
Elspeth gave her a warm smile.
“Don’t worry. If I manage to leave, I’ll take you with me.”
Winter’s eyes lit up with a trace of hope.
“Really? Do you mean I can leave too?”
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