Chapter 75 The Truth She Must Hide
Chapter 75
Darcy's POV
I sit on the balcony, closing my eyes as I massage my temples as the cool morning breeze graze my skin.
Memories from yesterday, replay in my head.
..."What do you think?" I ask Anna.
"I just want to let you know that if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," she says quietly.
Tears blur my vision as I take another sip.
"Will you drink with me too?" I laugh and she looks at me suspiciously.
She bites her lower lip. Hesitating.
I sigh, nodding. "Exactly what I think. I'll be fine Anna. You don't have to force yourself." I pause. "You can leave!"
None of us says a word but I can still feel her presence. I shake off the thought that anyone will listen to how I feel.
"No one is forcing me. I really want to help," she insists and sit opposite me. "Since we started working here, you treat us with respect despite the class distinction."
My lips quiver as I look away. "What's the point of been respectful and loving if the man I love, doesn't see it. Only adding to my burden."
Anna goes silent for a while. I watch as she pour herself a glass of drink.
She empty the glass at one go and squeeze her face as she swallow the liquid.
I roll my eyes, "it's obvious you don't drink. You can stop now." I shake my head.
Anna ignore me and pour another round and then a third. All at once.
My eyes widens a bit. She slams the glass on the table and lock eyes with me.
"I can hold my alcohol pretty well, as you can," she smirks.
It's not amusing. The only thing I can do I nod. At least, we can talk for a long time.
"So... do you perhaps want to talk about it now?" She urge and a fresh round of tears spill before I can control myself.
"I really love Adrian," I declare. "Not just him but Hazel. However, I don't know how long I can last."
"Hazel's maternal family wants her back. How can I a stranger really take this place of a mother in her life?"
I drink another glass and she did too.
"It's must be hard. Especially since they are dragging you too into the lawsuit," she slurs.
"Anna?" I raise my eyebrow and lean forward, searching her eyes. "How do you know about that?" I ask with droopy eyes.
She clears her throat and stutters. "It... It's not surprising because they already hate you. They might even feel like you're slowly taking the place of their sister and mother, in Adrian's life."
I blink slowly and lean backward. Digging my fingers into the scalp of my hair. "How can I possibly compete with Camille? I don't even know her."
My throat tightens.
We continue drinking. Minutes passed as we are now on the third bottle.
"You're right madam but people are selfish. And there's nothing wrong with you being selfish too." Anna suggests, laughing out hard.
"How can I do that?" I ask absentmindedly. Counting my fingers.
Her laughter gets louder but rough. She shrugs, "separate yourself from them. The first hearing is in two days. What about you let go of all the information that ties you to them?"
"Information?" I hold her face and press it together playfully. "You... you mean secrets?"
I wave my finger at her, "let's play a game. I'm bored!" I shout and she nods.
"You're wake!" Adrian's voice booms behind me, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I glance at him from over my shoulder and he's holding a tray.
"I made breakfast."
My eyelids blink randomly. As I fiddle with the hem of my dress. My heart, beating frantically.
"Is there anything else you need?" He ask and I shake my head.
"Sorry for startling you like that?" His voice drops.
My voice is hoarse. "It's fine. Thanks for the food."
Goosebumps creep onto my skin as the atmosphere becomes tense.
Guilt is ripping me out from within because I wasn't supposed to react the way, I did. My words were cruel. The accusations were chilling.
Adrian cried because of me.
How to take back words like that? But the damage has been made.
No excuse can justify my actions.
"Alright, then. I'll leave you alone." He informs quietly. The door closes behind him.
With all the strength I can muster, I walk back inside and stare at the breakfast. It's mouth watering. Do I even deserve this after what I did?
My appetite is almost non-existent. However, it will hurt him more if I don't eat at all.
After a few minutes, I'm done.
Descending down the stairs, my steps falter as I see Adrian feeding Hazel. His eyes are hollow and empty.
He turn in my direction and I quickly look away. Entering the kitchen Anna keeps cleaning one spot repeatedly as she zones out.
I furrow my eyebrows and snap my fingers in her face. She gasp and recompose herself.
"Good day, madam" she greets.
"Good morning, Anna. Thank you for yesterday. It helped a lot." I flash her a small smile.
"It's nothing madam," her smile is nervous.
I leave her to her work as I discard the leftover food. I can feel her gaze on me.
"Is there something you want to say to me?" I question without looking at her.
"Uhm, I had too much to drink and I want to know if..." Her voice trails off.
I finally turn to her and she shifts uncomfortably. "Go on. I'm listening."
"I want to know if I didn't speak out of turn or say what I'm not suppose to say." She chokes out.
Confusion plasters on my face. "How is that possible? You were so much helpful to me and I can't thank you enough for it."
She still looks uneasy, as if she doesn't believe me.
I close the distance between us a bit and rest my hand on her shoulder. "If indeed you said something, I will definitely tell you. You gave me a listening ear when I needed it the most."
She visibly relax and smile. But it doesn't reach her eyes. It seems like she's bothered about something else.
Her alarm goes off and soon the two maids joins us in the kitchen.
"We have to get going. Our work here is done for the day."
"Oh, right. I shouldn't keep you waiting."
"Bye ma'am."
"Bye, I wave my hand and they exit the house.
My gaze shifts back to Adrian and Hazel.
The house falls into silence once again. Tomorrow is the first hearing and I fear that I have dampen his spirit.
All yesterday was not for nothing. The person I overheard talking over the phone is Anna.
She desperately wanted to find something. I needed a tangible reason to make her believe that I have fallen out of love with Adrian.
Also, a reason to distract her from getting close to Adrian's office and overhear his response practice.
Why did I go that far?
Anna is dangerously smart, cunning and calculative.
I walk towards Adrian to explain myself and present the video recording I got yesterday, when my phone rang.
My heartbeat quickens as I see an unknown caller.
The mastermind.
Adrian and I lock eyes.
With shaky hands, I click on the answer icon.
"Hello,"
"You're very smart," the familiar female voice booms.
"I'm glad that you're my son's choice."
Adrian's mother?
"However, if you want him to pull through and win this lawsuit. You must withhold the major truth, you learned from Anna."
"If not, it will destroy him."