Chapter 81

Thea's Point of View

I was caught off guard when I remembered what Rayleigh had said to me. I guess my ears are deaf, and the words aren't getting through to my head since, even though Cray is yanking my garments, the absence still dazzles my eyes. Likewise, I dropped my sight to Cray and had already focused on him.

“Mommy. Daddy is here,” he said as he proceeded to touch me. I turned to face the door and noted Craig's solemn expression. I just gazed at him, not realizing he was already that near.

He kissed me since I didn't respond promptly. I smiled despite the fact that Rayleigh's remarks had made my heart rush. If that's the case, I'd prefer to check with Craig first. I let him finish the kiss first, and I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn't notice Cray standing next to us.

“Miracle, you seem that you don't mind or bothered by our son's presence.” I opened my eyes after the kiss, and his sincere and wonderful smiles continued encouraging me not to panic, and that what had happened to us previously may happen again.

“Hey, I have something to confirm with you.” I began, staring into his eyes, thinking of what I might say that he would no doubt believe.

I'm not going to say I saw the earring where the chemical explosion occurred. Perhaps it's simply a false alarm. But no matter how hard I try, someone would never be able to land this earring at that moment.

I recall how my worry commenced thinking that his mother was the culprit of that crime. It lingered and returned to my brain. I think back to how Rayleigh said whose earring was that.

-Flashback-

“Because I saw someone's earring here at our house the other day while I was cleaning, I was wondering if you knew who the owner was.” I was still seated, he had adjusted the stand, but I couldn't show him the earring because I had given them to the investigator.

Megan grabbed Rayleigh's ear and twisted it.

If it were simply a regular thing, I'd laugh at what they do because, even if they act like that, they're still happy to watch. However, because of what Rayleigh mentioned, I know what he says is not a joke. I also didn't tell him where I got the earrings. All I replied was that I'd have to look into who owned it. He didn't inquire.

“How can you say mommy Amelia is wearing it, Rayleigh? Take a look,” I said again, handing him the earring. “Look carefully if she is the owner of that earring.”

He snatched it up and brought it back to the light. “I'm not mistaken because that's the model of earrings that uncle didn't buy for her but for some unknown reason she had,” he said from the side. “Wait.”

He took out his phone after saying that. He tapped something for three minutes and then smiled.

“Here!”

He gave me and the investigator his phone, so I ended up taking that as well. He showed us one of their family photos. As he continued to talk, I would have raised my gaze to his.

“Zoom in on her part. Her earrings are visible because they shine out in the light. I'm not sure when he bought it, but if I'm not mistaken, it was approximately 2-3 years ago. I suppose.” He shrugged and return to Megan and hugged my friend.

I gave my full attention and glance at the glance to the intimate thing I was holding. Despite their modest size, the images are indisputably identical.

“Why are you asking and investigating that?” he eventually asks, unable to stop himself.

He didn't pull Megan's hold away when I spoke, given the fact that perspiration was already condensing on my hands.

“I just saw it in our house. I took it since it appeared to be quite costly. I was going to sell it because I'm already poor,” I laughed, despite the fact that my face was practically sour from smiling so much. “In any case, thank you. I'll keep looking into it just to be certain.”

—End of Flashback-

“Earring?”

“Yeah. It's a diamond earring,” I tried to think, hoping he wouldn't notice. “I believe it's your mother, but if not, it could be Felicity. It's a shame because if it can be returned, it could have nice memories.” I stood up to cook supper, but I found myself holding to his arm as I became weak as a result of his response.

“Oh, yes! The earring with a diamond. I believe it's mommy, but she's not looking for it anymore; therefore I believe she threw away the partner's jewelry you saw.” He also grasped my hand, which was gripping his, but he didn't appear to realize that I was fainting.

There is still a glimmer of hope in my heart that I just made a mistake— hoping that's not what I'm hearing. I lifted my face to halt the flow of tears that were as burning as my anguish now, with hot lava running down my chest. I'm not sure what would happen if it was true that mommy Amelia was the brains behind everything.

It pains me to think that the true perpetrator is simply wandering around Craig and my house. I feel it would be better not to accept that Craig's mother is the offender, and I'm at a loss for how to bury in my brain what I need it to accept. Why is this the case? What is causing the deterioration? Can't we simply be happy? I want to put a stop to everything.

“S-sorry,” I said as I diverted my gaze from Craig, who was going to kiss me. We're in the kitchen now, and I'm preparing something for him to eat before he goes to work. We haven't heard from Felicity since, and Craig hasn't had any problems yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry. But I feel bad since I'm avoiding Craig right now because of something that hasn't yet been proven.

I'm still waiting for the investigator's message to decide what to do next, but I can't think straight when I think Craig's mother should pay for it. Perhaps a lot is already going through his head at these moments. Possibly, it's only now that he regrets taking Cray and me again.

“Oh,” he muttered, releasing his grasp on both of my body's corners since he had me locked in while my back was resting on the table. I know he was dissatisfied, but he didn't say it because he was afraid of something. I was disappointed since I had promised not to make him uneasy, yet here we are again. We've lost communication again.

As I chased him, I turned him around and was about to come out when he was pulled to face me. As I unexpectedly kissed him, his eyes opened. Even though my cheeks were flushed, I talked to calm him down.

“Work hard today,” I said as I straightened his collar and kissed him on the lips again. He didn't say anything and simply stood looking at me. I patted his chest when he was dressed perfectly. “Goodbye.”

When I turned around, he was hugging me from behind. His massive arms were only wrapped around my waist as if he was scared I'd go away. He smelled my neck, ignoring the fact that there was no perfume on it, and he could smell my skin.

“I'm hoping you'll share your problem with me as well. Allow me to boost you in dealing with them as well.” When he said that in his husky voice, my hair sprang up, prompting me to snap at myself.

What exactly am I doing? He should be the first person I question about this since I know he understands it better than anybody else. If it is true that his mother is the perpetrator, I would like to discuss my options with both of us.

“Yeah …” I stroked the hands that gripped me. “Once I'm confirmed, I'll tell you everything.” When I said that, he progressively broadened his hold with me to prepare for his departure.

"When everything is in order, I'd like to take you on a tour of the world's most beautiful scenery. I want to show you the real safe outside, and there is no concern for you,” he replied, eventually removing his hug. I grinned, like if heavy metal had been taken from my heart. I was eagerly awaiting to see what would happen if things went smoothly.

I also aspire to reclaim the firm for which my parents worked so hard.

“Fine. Fine. If you go now, you won't be caught up in your work.” I turned away from him and went straight to the table to put away what he had eaten. Because of the faint footsteps of his feet, I heard him grin and go.

I assumed it would be simple to bring up the subject with him, even if we were talking about his mother, but I was mistaken.

Reading the investigator's confirmation message, I knew it wasn't going to be simple, and that's what scared me.

“Miss Thea, I have got all the information regarding the diamond earring you are looking for. I can only say two things based on the information I have gathered. The first:

According to the information I collected from retailers where this earring was on sale, there is no name Lily Holden. No one could locate her name in the store, but when the results showed and read, your daddy's name is there, he bought a pair of these diamond earrings. Second; I can't give you 100 percent confirmation since I haven't seen her name, but I can offer you 81 percent because the last time she wore this earring was after your parent died in the explosion. I discovered this information dead on the planned date in her images.”

Did daddy purchase these too?

That was the whole extent of his message to me. Simply stating that mommy Lily stopped wearing it following the explosion became my justification. Then came her rage at me, which I had no idea where it came from. I understand why she was agitated because Craig did not marry Felicity. After all, in her eyes, that lady was a saint.

While seated on the floor, I buried my face in the bed. Cray was also on the floor, and I didn't want him to see me sobbing right now. Craig is on his way, and he could catch me in this position. But I told him that when I confirmed, I would tell him the truth.

When I heard the sound of the car outside, I wiped the tears from my eyes. I brushed away any tears that might have fallen. Take a deep breath to get stronger because I need to address him so that we can go forward with what we're meant to do with his mother. I can't deny that I'm emotional, but I'm hoping he'll help me make the correct decision.

I took Cray downstairs to try to ease the tension between us. Cray dashed ahead of me as he saw his father.

“Careful! You might trip!” I yelled because if he made a mistake on the stairs, he might hit his head on the stairs.” I can't believe Craig has grown so much in such a short period; it seems like just a few months have passed, and I don't think his third birthday will ever come again.

We both hugged each other as I got down. I couldn't crack a smile, but I was determined to tell him the truth. In my arms, I broke away from his hug.

“Craig, I have something to say,” I said as I observed them. “Important. But first, let's eat and put Cray to sleep.”

We ate heartily and complimented him on his efforts. We chuckled as if there were no problems to resolve. I'm content. But I knew the time would come, that its hands would move and that I would have to open my lips.

“He just fell asleep, he's asleep again,” I said as we both stared at Cray. As we stood, I rested my back body on his chest. He also hugged me. I have no other wish but to feel this way every day.

However, the moment has arrived…

“What do you want to tell me?” he wondered.