Chapter 179
I found it a bit strange; after all, we had only spent a day together. Why was he so worked up? Maybe he had a bit too much to drink. I didn’t dwell on it. I gently patted his back and began, “Mr. Reyes, about what happened
earlier…”
He pushed himself up from where he was leaning on me, studying me intently until his gaze landed on my forehead. The sadness in his eyes disappeared in a heartbeat. For a fleeting moment, his eyes grew cold again, with a hint of disappointment and loneliness.
“Sorry,” he said, his tone icy, as he moved asidet a second thought. He sat on the ground, his long legs
stretched out, and instead of his usual commanding presence, he seemed engulfed in a sense of melancholy.
In my mind, Derek, despite his disabilities, had always been like a warrior–mature, composed, aloof, and defiant. Never before had he shown such vulnerability, let alone in such a disheveled state. He didn’t seem to care about the way others looked at him, just sitting there, not bothering to get up or do anything else.
In the still and eerie silence, I was unsure of what to say.
“Uh…”
“You…”
We both started speaking at the same time. I quickly shut my mouth, letting him go on.
After a brief pause, he asked, “Did you see her?”
I tilted my head, trying to figure out who he was referring to.
Derek picked up a wine bottle, his fingers gently tracing its surface. His voice was rough as he asked, “How did you find out about the statue’s secret?”
Given Derek’s sharp mind, it was understandable he’d be curious. Fortunately, the whole situation was steeped in mystery, defying ordinary logic.
“Well, when I saw that statue yesterday, I felt something was off, like it was pulling me in. Before I knew it, I saw a woman in a white dress inside the statue. She looked a lot like me, except she didn’t have the mole on
her forehead.”
Derek’s grip on the bottle tightened, veins standing out on his hand, his long lashes hiding the emotions in his eyes. His voice was low. “And then?”
“Somehow, I suddenly fainted, and while I was out, I heard a gentle voice. She said her name was Amanda and asked for my help.”
At this, Derek quickly looked up and grabbed my uninjured hand with a firm grip. This body was younger and more delicate than my original one. Even a gentle touch could leave a mark on my skin, as soft as ice and smooth as jade.
Ignoring the pain, I looked at him, confused.
Derek swallowed hard, looking anxious, “What did she say to you?”
I didn’t understand why he seemed so invested in this. We hadn’t had much interaction before. The only reason
I could think of was that he felt sorry for my unfortunate circumstances.
“She said she was trapped in the sculpture, unnoticed by anyone, and wanted to get out… Mr. Reyes, I Lemember Chase’s wife was named Amanda, right? Could the woman in the statue be his wife?”
Derek closed his eyes, struggling to accept the truth, “Yes.”
I took the chance to express my sympathy, “That’s so tragic, to be turned into a statue and placed at her own home’s entrance after death. Who could hate her that much? It’s unbelievably cruel!”
So far, only suspected Nicole, but I didn’t have solid evidence. This time around, I needed to look into my own
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apter 7
death and get to the bottom of Nicole’s true intentions.
Hapter 180
