Chapter 23

AUSTIN'S POV:

I should be with my Adria right now but here I was in the police station.

"I can't believe you called me here for such a petty reason", I stated looking directly into the officer's eyes.

"So you believe that's Edward Owensby's body", he asked showing me some more photos.

"Jesus! Officer, you could have called any of my employees. You seriously needed to fuck with my time", I yelled again making sure that he knows his place.

"Its a procedure sir. Please, I need your clear words to conform", his voice was a bit shaky. I could see he was scared but had to do his job.

Letting out a sign I took a brief look at the photos again. "Edward worked for me but it was just for a short time. Still, by looking at the photos, I can tell the person has the same height, physic and although the face is damaged a bit it still looks like him. And as you said you people found his documents near the body so I guess it can be Edward".

"It looks like an accident but we have to consider all possible points. What do you think caused his death. Any enemies you know of him?", the officer asked.

"No I don't know. But its good he is dead cause it helped him escape the painful death I would have given him.."

"So you wanted to kill him?", the officer interrupted. I glared at him daring him to interrupt me again. "Sorry, please continue"

"I trusted him and he passed confidential information to our rivals which caused me a great loss. He was in danger the very moment but he escaped. I assure you I did not kill him. Maybe my rivals did, not wanting me to get hold of the person who bribed Edward", I lied.

"What about his daughter, Miss.." he looked at the file in front of him. "Adria Owensby"

"I don't know about her. But I will make sure to find her and get my money back", I stated and stood up. "Now if you will excuse me I have a business to run", I spat at him and walked out of his office.

"I must say you can act well", Augustus said once I was in the car.

"Thanks for the complement but no one asked you", I growled to which he just laughed. "By the way I must say you did a great job, the body seriously looked like Edward's. I hope you did not kill anyone for it"

"Why? Thank you, sir. And no I did not kill anyone, but I had a shitty time for two days visiting every morgue in the city and searching for the body", he made puking sound to which I laughed.

All of a sudden anger took over me as I thought about it. I should be with Adria now but I had to come here.

Even though warning Connor not to poke his nose in Edward and Adria's missing case that fucker still kept going to the police for it. And the fact that his father was a politician did not help. I mean I can make him shut his mouth easily but I don't want to pressure anyone which might make me the major suspect. Well I still am but they don't have any proof.

So to close the chapter and their missing case Augustus and I formed a plan. We faked Edwards death. He found a same dead body which looks like Edward and put it in his car with some of his belongings and pushed it off a cliff. The police soon found it and with some adjustments of the medical report, we were able to show that its Edward's body only. But the fucker Connor still had to meddle.

But now I guess I will be out of the picture. Edward had no family except Adria and the police cant be more pressurised by Connor.

As per Adria and real Edward they will be hidden from now. Adria will be mine forever. Our marriage is to be conducted secretly. I will disclose it when the time comes, I have idea and plans saved for it. Not now. I actually dont care cause I can hide Adria forever.

"I want you to call the comisioner and warn him that I shouldn't be bothered again", I told Augustus. He immediately started making calls.

Now its time to meet my Angel.

-------------------------------------------

I kept looking at my Adria. She truly looked like an angel in the white gown mom selected for her. I had to admit the designer did a good job.

Adria was still scared of me. I could see that in her eyes. And whenever I saw fear in those beautiful eyes, guilt would eat me up.

We called a physiatrist, Mrs Karen a few days back to study Edwards case properly. She said that whatever happened to him was extreme and he has hurt his head badly. His skull was cracked which damaged a part of his brain. She also said that he is being violent cause he doesn't remember much about himself and assumes everyone around him as a threat. There was also a possibility that he lost his memory and as he sees faces he remembers the part they played in his life. Like when he saw me he got angry and when he saw one of the young nurses he started screaming something about leaving his daughter alone.

Mrs Karen told us that after studying his action she could tell there are big chances he could get his memory back completely and be normal but it will take time. We have to remind him about the past but also take care not put much pressure on him.

In short, he will be normal soon but till then I have to keep Adria away from him. She already hates me much, I don't want to increase her haterade by letting her see her fathers condition, which of course is because of me. I will also tell her about the fake news but not now, I'll tell everything to her after our marriage. I can't have any chances of losing her. Ones married she will be completely bound to me.

I also got Augustus to find complete information about Edward and Adria but we could not get anything except their old address and that they were living there since Adria was of 2 years or so. Their record has been good and clear, but the fact that we could find nothing about Edward's past was something fishy. Maybe it is somewhere related to Andrea.

I also found out that Edward was innocent. He was forced by some people that I don't know yet. I have a gut feeling that all this is somehow related to Andrea.

Anyways this still does not solve the mystery about Andrea and Adria. But whatever it is I felt guilty about ever hurting Adria.

Living with her for months now made me learn a lot about her. How she would smile due to small reasons. How she would find happiness just by dipping her toes in the river water. How she would get excited to try new recipes in the kitchen. How her face glowed when we complemented the dishes she made. How she jumped due to happiness when I told her about the college I searched for her. She is like a kid, who doesn't need materialistic things to find happiness. She is so innocent and pure.

I regret ever hurting her.

Her innocence made me fall for her.

And I want to show how much I have started to love her. It was finally time for me to move on from Andrea and appreciate what I have now.

Adria is precious to me. I can't hurt her now. I want to make up with her. I want to show her that I love her and I am guilty of my actions.

I made her hate me, now I am determined to make her love me. And I will do that.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Adria came back from the washroom. I smiled at her but she did not return it. What's wrong?

"You ok, Angel?", I asked her but she just gave me a nod. Her shoulders were stiff. She was not her old self. Something in her changed for sure.

The rest of dinner went silent. Mom did try to make conversation but stopped as her efforts were of no use. Adria seemed as she was in deep thoughts as if she was fighting some inner battle.

I wanted to talk to her so I asked mom to go home and took Adria with me.

We drove on the hilltop from where we could see the city. It was so beautiful. The lights from houses and buildings shining like stars in dark. It was indeed beautiful but not like my angel.

"Isn't this beautiful?, I asked her.

"Hmm", was the only thing she said. Her expressions held coldness.

"What's wrong my angel", I said making her face me.

"Where is my father Austin"

"I told you, Adria, wherever he is, he is fine", I said looking down. I couldn't look into her eyes without showing the guilt.

"Why can't I meet him Austin. Why can't I see him", she was now screaming.

"He is not in the .....", I could not finish my sentence as I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

My hands went towards the area and my fingers touched the cold metal of the knife. I could feel hot liquid oozing out from the wound. I held the knife tight not wanting to increase the blood flow.

But the wound did not hurt more. My heart did. I looked at my angel with hurt in my eyes and was met by her cold ones filled with hatred.

"I started loving you Austin. I was falling for you. I thought you really changed but I should have known a monster like you could never change. I took all the pain you gave me but I cannot take what you did to my father. He did not deserve to die Austin. You killed him. You monster. You killed him....", She kept screaming.

I fell on my knees still clutching the knife. My vision went blur and my mind went foggy. everything went blurry. The last thing I remember before passing out was Adria running towards a white car.