Chapter 9
Following a loud clatter, the phone fell to the ground. Shailey froze as if her soul had left her body, leaving behind a mere empty husk.
Fortunately, the phone was sturdy. Coincidentally, the fall turned on the speakerphone.
Victor Falco’s voice came through loud and clear “We found the corpse of a young man in the reservoir on the eastern outskirts. Judging from the age and clothing, there’s a high likelihood that it’s Mr. Gardner…”
Jacob was equally stunned.
Was Warren dead? Had he committed suicide? Was he so deeply in love with Shailey that he killed himself on her wedding day?
But in the next moment, Jacob thought of something else.
Shailey’s feelings for Warren ran deep. If he had indeed died because of this, she would surely blame Jacob for it. And to make things worse, Warren would forever remain the untouchable, frreplaceable ideal in her heart. He would forever be the one who got away.
No one could compete with that. No one could ever replace a lost love or a “could have been“.
Even so
so, that didn’t matter anymore. Warren was gone now, so Shailey would belong to Jacob alone. No one could challenge him for her.
A smirk began to tug at Jacob’s lips, but he quickly reminded himself that this wasn’t the right time to smile. He pinched his thigh hard, and the sharp pain instantly brought tears to his
eyes.
Choking back a sob, he covered his mouth and let the tears fall as he said in a tearful voice No! How could this happen, Warren? If you had problems you couldn’t solve, you could’ve talked to me. I could’ve helped you…”
“Shut up!” Shailey roared. “Who told you that dead body is definitely Warren’s?”
Jacob was so startled that he immediately held back his tears. “But Officer Falco just said there’s a high chance that it is—”
“A high chance doesn’t mean that it’s him for sure. Warren is a tough guy. He wouldn’t have taken his own life so easily,” Shailey said firmly.
With that, she got up and started heading for the door.
Jacob bit his lip, tears swimming in his eyes as he clung to her. “Where are you going? Are you going to leave me alone here on our wedding night?”
Shailey turned back, her gaze narrowing dangerously. “Jacob, you’d better remember your place.”
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“… I…” Jacob stammered.
“Save your tears,” Shalley said sharply with a frown. “Tell me the truth–does Warren’s disappearance have anything to do with you?”
Jacob denied it vehemently. “I’m the groom today, and I’ve been on the stage the whole time. I barely even spoke to Warren.”
Shailey was in a hurry to leave. So, she left him with one parting warning. “If I find out that Warren’s disappearance has something to do with you, you know what will happen to you.”
Jacob flinched and released her sleeve.
Shailey drove through the night to the reservoir in the eastern outskirts that Victor had mentioned. Upon arriving, she saw the body had a white sheet over it.
Victor pointed to a sealed evidence bag. “This was retrieved from the water. It’s his clothing. Please confirm if it belonged to Mr. Gardner.”
Shailey didn’t even need to examine it closely–one glance was enough.
The light–blue shirt was Warren’s favorite clothing. She had given it to him as a birthday gift when he turned 18.
Seven years had passed since then. The shirt’s cutting was outdated, and the color had faded at lot, but it remained Warren’s most cherished piece of clothing.
“Ms. Ralston?” Victor prompted.
Shailey let out a soft whimper, her voice barely audible as she said, “It’s his.”
Victor nodded sympathetically. “Ms. Ralston, I’m very sorry for your loss. It’s a tragedy for such a promising young man to be gone so soon.
Shailey didn’t respond for a long time.
Victor assumed she was overcome with grief and didn’t press her. Instead, he tried to say some comforting words. “I heard Mr. Gardner was a talented photographer. Artists can be
emotionally fragile and sensitive-”
“He wasn’t fragile,” Shailey cut him off.
Victor froze. “I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
Shailey shook her head. “This isn’t Warren.”
“But didn’t you just identify that the shirt was his?” Victor asked, surprised.
“All of his clothes were donated long ago,” Shailey replied.
As she spoke, she yanked the white sheet off the body.
Everyone around gasped in shock, including Victor. “Ms. Ralston, what are you doing?”
Shailey stared at the dead man’s face, and all the strength seemed to drain from her body.
“Ms. Ralston, are you alright?” Victor asked anxiously.
Shailey closed her eyes and let out a relieved sigh “It’s not him. Thank goodness… It’s not him.
Victor then reminded, “Ms. Ralston, your phone is ringing. Do you want to answer it?”
Shailey glanced at the screen and saw that it was Jacob. Without hesitation, she declined the call.
When Jacob called again, she declined it once more.
When her phone rang a third time, her patience shapped. “What do you want?”
The voice on the other end was timid. The person seemed to be startled by her outburst as he said, “I’m sorry to bother you, Ms. Ralston. There’s a parcel for you. I need you to sign for it.”
A parcel?
Shailey frowned and repeated, “There’s a parcel for me?”
“Yes. I’ve brought it to the entrance of your villa, Can you come and sign for it now?”
“I’m busy right now,” Shailey responded.
“I understand. I’m sorry for bothering you. I’ll contact you again tomorrow.”
“Wait.” Shailey suddenly thought of something.“Who sent it?”
“It’s from Mr. Warren Gardner.”
Shailey shot to her feet, her voice sharp. “Stay where you are. I’m heading back right now!”
