Chapter 396


    Chapter 396


    I couldn’t be sure. The moment the thought took root, though, I couldn’t suppress it.


    If Karina simply ignored me during my ordeal, I might have used her of having an icy heart but if she


    intentionally tied that rope around my ankle, that’s a different kettle of fish. Wasn’t that akin to


    attempted murder?


    “Neil, could you fetch me some wet wipes from my bag? My hands are all greasy,” Karina requested,


    shaking her oil-slicked hands in mild exasperation.


    Karina had brought a bag, which was ced just a few feet away from me.


    Neil responded, “Sure, in a moment.””


    I got up first, “I’ll get it for you!”


    Seeing me approach her bag, Karina’s expression momentarily flinched in resistance, she quickly


    stepped forward, “It’s okay, I’ll get it. God knows this bag is already dirty enough.”


    She then moved her bag away to a ce beyond my sight, only then did she proceed to take out a


    pack of wet wipes.


    This action of hers seemed a bit odd. Was she worried that I would have seen something in her bag?


    Or was she just being protective of her privacy?


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    “What’s up?” My distracted demeanor caught Russel’s attention; he asked in a low voice.


    “Nothing,” I snapped back to reality, shaking my head.


    A whileter, Karina and Neil prepared lunch, which was all seafood,plemented by a bottle of wine


    provided by the hotel. The spread was quitevish.


    Russel and I sat on one side, with Neil and Karina opposite us.


    Karina seemed quite pleased with her culinary achievement. She beamed at us, “Ms. Finch, Russel,


    please try it and tell me how you like it!”


    “It should be delicious. It looks very fresh,” I praised, even before starting my meal.


    “Then, eat more,” Karina shot Russel a meaningful look, “Russel, shouldn’t you be more attentive to


    your wife? She’s hurt her hand. You should be helping her with her food, or even feeding her.”


    Neil chimed in unexpectedly, “She’s not left-handed.”


    That was true. I had injured my left hand, but I was right-handed, so my daily activities weren’t much


    affected, especially when it came to something as simple as eating.


    Even though that was the case, when Neil said it, it sounded strange.


    Even Russel’s expression cooled a bit, but Karina remained rxed, even offering Neil a smile, “Right,


    I forgot one can eat with one hand. I just wanted to give Russel an opportunity to show his caring side.


    He’s always been so slow on the emotional uptake. I’m worried that Ms. Finch might not stand his


    wooden nature.””


    Iughed lightly, and turned my head towards Russel, “He’s just a bit introverted in front of others, but


    he’s actually quite attentive and considerate.”


    Since Karina was so keen on highlighting my rtionship with Russel to Neil, I decided to y along.


    Hearing my praise, Russel was pleasantly surprised, and a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. He


    seemed to relish mypliments.


    Neil, sitting opposite us, had an inscrutable expression, mostly keeping his eyes on his te and not


    participating much in our conversation.


    That meal was quite a bore for me, having to face Neil and Karina. Only Karina was enjoying herself,


    initiating most of the topics.


    “I need to go to the restroom,” Karina announced midway through the meal.


    After her departure, it was just Russel, Neil, and me left. My gaze fell on the bag lying on the edge of


    the table: She was so protective of that bag earlier. Why didn’t she just take it with her?


    I reached for a piece of lobster, and ‘identally’ smeared my hand with sauce, “Where are the wipes?


    I think Dr. Karina has some in her bag. Russel, could you fetch them for me?”


    Russel didn’t think twice, and only nced at Neil once. After all, meddling with someone else’s


    belongings wasn’t really polite, especially with Neil


    present.


    Neil responded indifferently, “Yeah, go ahead.”


    Russel reached for the bag and as he opened it. I deliberately took a few nces. That’s when I


    noticed something odd. There was a piece of rope in the bag, identical in pattern and thickness to the


    one that had been tied around my ankle underwater!


    At that moment, a strange feeling overcame me. If Karina really was the one behind it, why didn’t she


    just dispose of the rope in the ocean instead of keeping part of it in her bag? Wasn’t she leaving


    evidence behind?


    Also, her bag which she was so protective of earlier was then left unattended as she went to the


    restroom. It was as if she was deliberately drawing my attention and giving me a chance to discover it.


    I could have pulled out the rope and confronted Karina with it as evidence when she returned. But I


    decided against it. Instead, I took the wipes, cleaned my hands, and continued eating as if nothing had


    happened.


    A few minutester, Karina returned. The first thing she did was check her bag. Noticing it had been


    moved, she nced at me.


    “D. Karina, I got my hands dirty and took a few wipes from your bag,” I exined proactively.


    “Oh, it’s okay.”


    My calm demeanor apparently took Karina aback. She seemed slightly confused, and her eyes hinted


    at an expectation that I would have said more, but I


    /stayed silent.


    Observing my silence, Karina furrowed her brows slightly and her chatter subsequently lessened.


    After lunch, our outing ended and we sailed back to shore. Karina kept probing me about my injury on


    the way back. I had the distinct feeling that she wanted me to expose her.


    Once back, our rooms were next to each other. As I was about to enter my room, Karina said, “Ms.


    Finch, do take care of your wound. If it leaves a scar, I could help you with scar removal.”


    “Thanks,” I replied distantly, then entered my room, with Russel following behind.


    Once we were inside, Russel spoke, “The rope in Karina’s bag is identical to the one that was tied


    around your ankle.””


    So, he too had noticed but chose not to bring it up then. He was always one to think things through,


    and was never impulsive. And I was d he wasn’t.


    “I know.” I sank into my chair, feeling a tinge of fatigue. The wound on my palm throbbed slightly,


    making it impossible to do anything with my left hand for the next few days.


    “Did she do it?” Russel’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint shing within.


    “It feels like she wants me to use her. Otherwise, why would she leave the bag? She could have


    taken it with her, or simply discarded the rope. What’s the point of leaving it in the bag?” I reasoned,


    “The rope looks like the type used to tie up lobsters. We can ask around the hotelter to confirm.”