Chapter 117
HAZEL
PRESENT TIME
Two long and painful days have crawled by since my little girl disappeared, and the absence of any
concrete developments. is bing an unbearable burden. Each passing moment seems to stretch
into eternity, leaving me increasingly on the precipice of losing my sanity. I often find myself standing in
front of the mirror, reciting to myself like a desperate incantation that my beloved daughter is still out
there, that she’s alive and will soon be reunited with me.
I staunchly refuse to relinquish the lifeline of hope, as it’s the one thing I can grasp onto in this
overwhelming darkness. Sshing more water onto my face, I clung to the sink’s edge, releasing a
heavy sigh that carried the weight of my relentless anxiety and heartache.
A soft,forting knock on the bathroom door diverted my attention away from the bathroom sink.
Ravel gently pushed the door open and entered the room. He watched me closely, his eyes reflecting
the pain he tried so hard to conceal. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voiceced with genuine concern. I
stared at him, my gaze unwavering, and he quickly averted his eyes, realizing that it was an impractical
question given the circumstances. “The detective is here to speak with us,” he informed me, trying to
shift the focus.
I nodded in acknowledgment, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my mind. “I’ll be down
shortly,” I assured him, my voice steadier than my heart felt.
Ravel approached me, his strong arms enveloping me in a tender hug, and he nted a gentle kiss on
my temple. “All of this wille to an end soon,” he murmured softly, “and our daughter will grow up,
leaving these painful memories behind.”
I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, and they flowed freely down my cheeks. “Yes,” I replied, my
voice quivering, “I believe she’lle back to us. We’ll watch her grow, and one day, she won’t
remember any of this.” The hope in my words. served as a lifeline in the abyss of despair that had
engulfed us.
Sniffling, Ravel buried his head in the crook of my neck, holding me close for a moment longer. “Let’s
not keep the detective waiting. Perhaps he has some good news,” he murmured before cing one
last tender kiss on my temple. Reluctantly, he released me and exited the bathroom, heading
downstairs.
I spent a final moment scrutinizing my reflection in the mirror, wiping away any lingering traces of tears.
Then, I followed Ravel downstairs. As I entered the room, I found Ravel offering a ss of water to the
detective.
The detective epted the ss and swiftly drank its contents, returning it to the housekeeper. He
began with a somber tone, understanding that what he had to say might not be what we were hoping
for. “I know this isn’t exactly what you
both
would like to hear, but I’ll keep it brief.”
Seated beside Ravel, I felt a mixture of tension and exhaustion. My hands were crossed, and my
unbrushed hair cascaded. over my face, framing a picture of disarray that mirrored the chaos inside
me. It was hard to recall thest time I had cared about such trivial concerns.
Desperation filled my voice as I asked, “Do you have any news about my daughter?” The detective met
my eyes with empathy and tried to offer reassurance. “Not yet, ma’am, but please know that we are
committed to achieving a positive
oue.”
With a heavy sigh, the detective continued, pulling out his notepad. “I spoke with Ms. June yesterday,
and she vehemently denied any involvement in the kidnapping.”
I couldn’t help but offer a wry response. “Wouldn’t such a denial be expected?” I quipped. Ravel,
recognizing my frustration, wrapped his arm around me, offering me sce and support.
The detective, undeterred by my tone, proceeded with another question. “Can you tell me about your
rtionship with
David?”
A puzzled frown creased my forehead as I pondered the detective’s curious line of questioning
regarding David. “David was my college mate, and over time, he became a dear friend andter a
business partner. Why do you ask?” My confusion was
mirrored by Ravel’s increasingly inquisitive expression as he absently drummed his index finger on his
knee.
The detective didn’t provide a direct answer to my query and instead posed another unusual question.
“What is his rtionship with Ms. June?” His persistent focus on this connection seemed peculiar.
“They have no rtionship,” I replied firmly. “At least not one that I’m aware of.” I scrutinized the young
detective intently. “I’ll ask you again, why do you ask?”
The detective divulged, “After my interview with her yesterday, she went directly to David’s ce
without any detours.” His revtion sent a frown rippling across my features. “If there’s no connection
between them, then I believe we should bring him in for questioning as well.”
The revtion about June’s actions left me in a state of disbelief. I leaned forward, distancing myself
from Ravel’sforting embrace, as the pieces of this bewildering puzzle began to form a disturbing
picture. “Wait a minute,” I spoke, my voiceced with incredulity, “June has been meeting with David?”
This situation was bing increasinglyplex, like something out of a Hollywood drama. I turned
to Ravel, seeking rity on the matter. “Have you noticed any unusual behavior from June?”
Ravel hesitated before responding, blinking slowly as if to carefully consider his words. My patience
dwindled, and I pressed him firmly, “Ravel, answer the question.”
Finally, he conceded, “You mentioned that you saw her attempting to unplug the machine connected to
Elenor while she was still unconscious, right?” I nodded in agreement. The detective listened attentively
to our conversation. Ravel went on, “Well, Elenor told me something quite unsettling. She overheard
June and my mother discussing ns to sabotage your art exhibition.”
The weight of this revtion was almost too much to bear. It felt like my life had taken a sudden and
surreal turn, as if I were a character in an borate and bewildering Hollywood saga.
My eyes widened in utter shock. “What in the world are you saying?” I struggled toprehend the
magnitude of what I had just heard.
Ravel’s gaze remained steady as he continued, “My mother and June were behind the sabotage of
your art exhibition, and it appears that a close male associate of yours provided the crucial contact
information of your most important clients.”
A shiver of realization coursed through me. “There’s only one male close enough to me who would
have ess to the contact details of my important clients.” I felt a sense of dread looming as I pieced
the puzzle together. “Are you saying it’s David?”
Ravel’s response was nonchnt, and he shrugged. “You asked about the connection between June
and David, and I simply provided an answer. I had to reopen Elenor’s ident case before I came to
Seattle.”
My determination solidified as I dered, “As soon as I find my daughter, I will undoubtedlyunch a
legal case against your mother, Anne, and David. You better not attempt to interfere or take sides.”
The detective’s curiosity deepened, and he probed further, clearly baffled by theplexity of the case.
“Why would Ravel’s mother want to sabotage your business?” he inquired, recognizing the need to
uncover the motives behind the plot.
A surge of irritation washed over me, and I responded sharply, “She never liked me. So, I’m not
surprised she’s plotting my downfall.”
Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.
Ravel, not one to back down from seeking answers, interjected. “Hold on a minute.” The collective
attention shifted to him. “Why aren’t you more surprised to hear that David might have betrayed you?”
My heart raced as I found myself at the center of their scrutiny. I blinked, searching for the right words.
“I had already started to be suspicious of him and his family.”
Ravel’s eyebrows arched as he probed, “Suspicious in what way?”
I shrugged, unraveling a bit more of the mystery. “That’s why I hired the private investigator. David was
the stalker I encountered in New York,” I disclosed, and Ravel’s eyes widened in response. “I ran into
him at the hospital, and he provided an excuse for his behavior. I also discovered that he’s not their
only child, and his family is denying it.” The unraveling
secrets had now caught Ravel’s attention, adding anotheryer of intrigue to the perplexing situation.