Chapter 115


    JUNE


    PRESENT TIME


    I can’t believe they’re summoning me for questioning in this case; it’s just so unbelievable. Seriously,


    what the heck is going on? As the car slowly came to a stop outside the detective’s office, my anxiety


    was escting with every passing moment. I had to keep reminding myself to stay calm and not do


    anything that might give them further cause to suspect me. The weight on my shoulders was already


    overwhelming, and this situation wasn’t helping.


    Taking a deep breath, I carefully reached into my purse, retrieved a mint, and gently ced it in my


    mouth. Just as I had anticipated, the mint’s coolness spread through me, gradually working to calm my


    frayed nerves.


    Exiting the car, I casually tossed the car key into my purse, retrieved my sleek, dark sunsses, and


    shielded my eyes with them. With an air of confidence, I gracefully strolled into the building,pletely


    unfazed by the lingering gazes from onlookers, as well as the female cops deeply engrossed in


    conversation with another person.


    Honestly, I couldn’t me them. After all, it’s not every day you see someone donning a five–


    thousand–dor mini leather gown paired with a sixteen–thousand–dor fur jacket, red sole heels, and


    a luxurious Birkin bag. It was all part of my strategy to make asting impression. Looking impable


    was a necessity, especially when you had to send a powerful statement with your presence. I was


    determined not to resemble a heartbroken ex still hung up on her past rtionship, even though, truth


    be told, I was. But they didn’t need to know that.


    Coming to a halt in front of the olderdy, I greeted her with a friendly, wide smile. “I’m here today


    because I received at summons for questioning rted to the case of the missing youngest


    Southwark.”


    She acknowledged my statement with a nod and then gracefully gestured towards the hallway. “Please,


    have a seat in there, and I’ll go and fetch Detective Ryan.” Following her instructions, I made my way


    into the designated room.


    I couldn’t help but inwardly roll my eyes at how stereotypically dimly lit the room was. Just as I settled


    into my seat, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a young man who I presumed to be Detective


    Ryan. He entered with a polite, apologetic smile. “I’m sincerely sorry if you’ve been kept waiting,


    ma’am.”


    I was quick to notice his polite manners and found it quite agreeable. “Not to worry,” I responded, and


    he took a seat across from me, opening his notepad. “I’m curious, though, why is this room so dimly


    lit?”


    He hesitated, his pen hanging over the first line of the book, a concerned expression on his face. “Do


    you have a fear of the dark?” he asked, sounding genuinely worried, almost as if he were willing to alter


    the room’s lighting if it made me ufortable.


    I casually brushed off his concern with a small smile. “I’m not afraid of anything,” I assured him,


    although I couldn’t help but think about the one exception, poverty. I had no intention of returning to a


    life of financial struggle. “However, I’d appreciate it if we could move on with your questions so I can


    return to my regr routine. The flight to Seattle was both lengthy and unpleasant.”


    Detective Ryan tilted his head, maintaining his focused gaze on me. “I’ll have to kindly ask you to take


    off your sunsses, ma’am. Feel free to put them back on when you’re ready to leave.”


    I slowly set my sunsses aside with deliberate care, offering a faint but friendly smile. “Are you


    looking to read my honesty through my eyes, perhaps? Rest assured, I have no intention of being


    anything but forting during this interrogation.”


    “That’s reassuring,” Detective Ryan remarked in a rather nonchnt manner as he continued to jot


    down notes in his notepad. It was clear that he harbored doubts about the veracity of my words, a


    common skepticism given the nature of his profession. “Could you please provide more details about


    your past and current rtionship with Mr. Southwark?”


    I crossed my arms, maintaining an air of indifference as I met his gaze. “He used to be my employer,


    but our rtionship evolved into a romantic one following his divorce. Now, he’s my ex.”


    He nodded thoughtfully, his expression remaining stoic. “May I inquire about the specific reasons that


    led to the termination of your romantic rtionship?”


    “I was essentially a rebound for him, and he served as a stepping stone for me to climb the social


    hierarchy. When he informed me of his intentions to rekindle things with his ex–wife, I made the choice


    to release him.”


    Detective Ryan raised an inquisitive eyebrow, clearly in search of further information. “So, you simply


    let him go, just like


    that?”


    I offered a knowing smile, fully aware of his underlying suspicion. It seemed he might be contemting


    whether I had a motive to abduct the missing girl as an act of vengeance for his departure. “I didn’t just


    leave him, Detective. I was offered at substantial sum of money and a house, more than sufficient to


    help me achieve my aspirations. There was no reason not to grant his request.”


    He nodded, diligently jotting down notes once more. “Now, could you provide additional insight into


    your rtionship with Ms. cks?”


    I couldn’t help but clench my jaw, working hard to keep my contempt for her in check. “She was my


    boss, but it’s safe to say she began to view me as her rival once she discovered I was involved with her


    ex–husband.”


    Detective Ryan continued with his line of questioning. “So, there was no hostility between the two of


    you?”


    I offered a wry smile. “You mean aside from the icy res we exchanged whenever our paths crossed?


    No, there wasn’t any overt hostility,” I replied, a touch of sarcasm in my tone. “She resides in Seattle,


    and I’m in New York, so it was quite rare for us toe face–to–face.”


    He shifted the conversation. “What about the little girl? Did you ever have the opportunity to meet her?”


    “I never had the chance to meet her in person,” I answered truthfully. “I’ve only seen her in


    photographs, but I can’t recall ever meeting her face–to–face.” Detective Ryan nodded once more,


    diligently recording the information in his notebook.


    I cleared my throat to regain his attention, and he looked up at me. “You’re barking up the wrong tree


    here. Abducting a child is a heinous act I would never contemte. I grasp the immeasurable value a


    child holds for a mother, and I can empathize with how Hazel must be feeling right now.”


    “Are you a mother?” he asked unexpectedly, and I offered a shy smile.


    I gently rubbed my stomach and nodded. “About to be one,” I responded. “I only found out two


    days ago.”


    Detective Ryan nodded and offered his congrattions.


    “Thank you, Detective,” I responded with sincere gratitude. “I’d like to request a favor, though. Could


    you kindly keep this information from Ravel? I understand you’ll be providing him with updates on the


    case, but I’d prefer to break this news to him in person. Moreover, it wouldn’t be right for Hazel to find


    out that the father of her child is expecting another baby.”


    If Detective Ryan was taken aback by the revtion that the baby belonged to Ravel, he didn’t disy


    it. He gave a reassuring nod. “I have no intention of meddling in any private matters that don’t pertain to


    our mission of locating the missing child.”


    I offered a warm, appreciative smile. “Thank you for understanding.”


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    Detective Ryan rose from his chair, and I followed suit, standing alongside him. “That will be all for now,


    Ms. June. It’s imperative that you refrain from leaving the country until further notice.”


    A sense of unease crept over me, and I couldn’t help but furrow my brows. “Detective, am I considered


    a suspect in this case?”


    Detective Ryan’s diplomatic expression remained unwavering as he reiterated, “It’s essential to


    understand that everyone connected to this case, be it directly or indirectly, is initially regarded as a


    potential suspect until proven otherwise.” With a subtle bow, he concluded, “Until we meet again, Ms.


    June,” gently gesturing for me to leave the room.


    Quickly, I snatched up my sunsses, using them to shield my eyes as I exited the building. The


    determination in my stride was unwavering as my mind zeroed in on the next destination: the residence


    of the true culprit. I was convinced that only one individual possessed the same depth of malevolence


    that I did, and that person shared the same level of desperation. This journey was far from over and


    that is what Hazel and Ravel is yet to understand.