Chapter 119
HAZEL
PRESENT TIME
On the fifth day, our anxious wait continues, and we remain in the dark without any tangible news or
updates. The detective. handling David’s case has yet to share any information with us. In an attempt
to gain some insight, Ravel made a call to the detective today, seeking rification on the progress of
the investigation. The detective, in response, offered assurance that he would visit uster this evening
to provide the long-awaited update.
My trust in David has waned significantly, prompting me to make a crucial decision. I’ve taken the step
of transferring the responsibility for business decisions to Agatha. In all honesty, I find myself in a state
of me ntal disarray, making it impractical for me to be the one making important choices regarding my
business affairs. It’s for this reason that I’ve opted to ce my trust in Agatha to handle these crucial
matters.
In contrast, Ravel is taking a hands-on approach to the management of his business affairs. While he’s
currently not engaged in the creation of new jewelry sketch designs, he holds the primary responsibility
for making critical business decisions, often in conjunction with Raymond. It’s evident that Raymond
doesn’t possess an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of Ravel’s business operations.
Consequently, they engage inte-night discussions to bridge this knowledge gap. Each night, their
discussions culminate in a n of action that Raymond diligently puts into motion the following day.
What’s particrly considerate about Ravel’s approach is his discretion when ites to business
matters in my presence. He goes to great lengths to avoid bringing up business discussions or taking
business calls while I’m around. It’s only when he thinks I’ve drifted off into slumber that he quietly slips
out to the balcony, where he can converse with Raymond in privacy.
After luxuriating in a refreshing shower, I opted to change into a morefortable ensemble. Dressed
in cozy attire, Iset off on a quest to locate Ravel. Eventually, I stumbled upon him in the garden,
basking in the serene ambiance with a ss of wine in hand.
With a heavy sigh, I took a moment topose myself, then slowly approached him, letting my hand
gently encircle his. waist. My voice was hushed as I asked, “Are you okay?”
He inhaled deeply, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine, before he turned, his strong arms
enveloping me in a reassuring embrace. “I’m fine,” he replied, though his eyes betrayed the facade. He
nuzzled the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply, a small moment of sce amidst the uncertainty.
“You smell nice,” he murmured, a genuinepliment amidst the tension.
I mustered a tight smile, attempting to infuse some levity into the moment for his sake. I recognized that
he was carrying his own burdens in this situation. “Well, I did just have a shower, so smelling nice is
part of the deal,” I yfully quipped. “But speaking of showers, maybe you should consider a cold one,
and, dare I say it, a haircut.”
Hisughter was a wee sound, a brief respite from the heaviness of the situation. “Personal
grooming isn’t quite at the top of my priorities right now,” he admitted, drawing back slightly to gently
tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “What do you think about an early dinner? You ski pped lunch
today, and it’s essential to keep your energy up.”
Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.
Despite my diminished appetite, which had seemingly vanished alongside the void left by our
daughter’s absence, I felt at strong urge to provide Ravel with one less concern to bear. “I’ll take care
of the cooking,” I mused softly, “What would you like to eat?”
His eyes darted about in contemtion, considering the question. Before he could respond, our
conversation was abruptly interrupted by Daisy’s nanny. “I apologize for the interruption, ma’am, but the
detective has arrived.”
My heart quickened at the prospect of potentially positive news. “We’ll attend to him shortly,” I assured
her with gratitude in my voice, and she nodded before retreating. Ravel attempted to guide me away to
deal with the detective, but I firmly grasped his hand, halting his progress. “Ravel, you don’t need to
conceal your emotions from me. You have every right to grieve and express your feelings, and I want to
share that burden with you.”
His gaze bore into me with a raw intensity, a reflection of the depths of his emotions. My hand,
trembling ever so slightly, rose to gently cup his cheek, a tender gesture that seemed to unleash a
torrent of feelings within him. Tears gathered in the
corners of his eyes, their steady descent mirroring the silent, heavy rain of his pain. Without hesitation,
I guided his head to rest upon my shoulder, offering him thefort of my embrace. He clung to me,
and in that moment, he sobbed uncontrobly, each heave of his shoulders a release of the anguish
that had been festering within.
For a full minute, I remained there, the steady rhythm of my hand stroking his back acting as a soothing
balm for his wounded spirit. “I miss her,” he croaked out, his voice breaking with the weight of his
sorrow. “I miss her so intensely that it feels as if I’m slowly losing my mind.”
My heart ached in perfect resonance with his words. I understood that feeling all too well. At times, it
seemed as though I could still hear herughter and the sound of her cries, as if her giggles still
reverberated within her room. But when I mustered the courage to step inside, all that greeted me was
the oppressive and cold silence, a stark reminder of her absence that echoed in the very depths of my
soul.
“We’re going to find her, aren’t we?” he whispered, his voice quivering with vulnerability, and the raw
emotion in his words. threatened to bring tears to my eyes. “She’s going toe back to us, right?”
Gently grasping his cheek, I nodded, doing my best to muster strength for both of us in that fragile
moment. “She will most definitelye back to us, Ravel. Never doubt that.”
He nodded in response, biting his lower lip as he tried to regainposure. I reached up, using my
thumb to wipe away the lingering traces of his tears. “Now, let’s go find out what the detective has to
say about David.”
Nodding once more, he wiped the rest of his tears away, and a faint chuckle escaped him. “I’m grateful
to have a strong woman like you, Hazel.”
I couldn’t help but grin widely in response. “I know, right?” I took his hand and led him toward the living
room. Just before we entered the living room, he wiped away all traces of his tears, expertly concealing
his emotions behind his usual mask of cold and unyielding demeanor.
The detective, a picture of professionalism, had risen from his chair to greet us, a gesture that
conveyed respect. “Good evening, Mr. Southwark,” he addressed Ravel, who responded with a crisp
nod. We assumed our positions on the sofa, positioning ourselves directly in front of the detective
before he took his seat.
“In the course of my investigation involving David,” he began, leaning forward slightly, “I conducted a
series of inquiries about you, to which he provided responses. When I delved into his rtionship with
Mr. Southwark, he stated that he neither categorized it as a friendship nor enmity.”
Restlessness crept over me, and I couldn’t suppress my impatience. “And what about his connection to
June?”
Maintaining his professional demeanor, the detective continued, “In regard to that, he asserted that he
lacks a significant closeness with Ms. June. Nevertheless, he did acknowledge that she visited him at
his residence yesterday, seeking insights into Mr. Southwark’s emotional state.”
I couldn’t help but scoff at the exnation. “And what stopped her from simply asking him directly?” I
mused aloud, skepticism apparent. “June has never been one to respect boundaries, so what
prompted this sudden change?”
my
The detective, maintaining his calm, ryed David’s side of the story. “ording to David, he posed
the same question to her, and her rationale was that she and Mr. Southwark had a mutual agreement
not tomunicate, and she didn’t want to risk breaking that agreement, as she was uncertain about
how you would react.”
I turned to Ravel, eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. “Did you really have such an agreement with her?”
He nodded. “So she went over to his ce to ask him about you? Since when did she assume he
would have any insight into how you’re feeling?” I questioned with exasperation, my frustration nearly
driving me to pull at my hair. “I don’t know about you, detective, but I’m not buying this story.”
The detective’s agreement was clear. “I don’t buy it either,” he acknowledged. “That’s precisely why I’ve
deployed some of my men to keep a close eye on both David and June. If they engage in any
suspicious activity, it will be promptly reported to
me.”
“That’s reassuring,” I replied, my heart heavy with the hope that Ravel wasn’t involved in our daughter’s
disappearance. The mere thought of such betrayal was almost unbearable.
“For the time being, you’ll have to exercise caution around him,”
The detective’s words brought my attention back to the moment. I found myself staring at the bracelet
he had gifted me on myst birthday. It felt like a stark contrast to our current situation, a reminder of
how things had taken a turn for the worse
between us.
My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, and I quickly retrieved it. When I saw the caller’s name, I
raised the phone to Ravel’s face. “It’s Rigger. I think he might have some information about David.”
“Answer it and put it on speaker,” the detective advised.
With a swipe of my thumb, I epted the call and ced it on loudspeaker. “Hello, Rigger.”