Chapter 47 Intuition meets Evidence
Lilac was not sure how long she was in bed for. It took a while of sobbing before she calmed down and dressed for lunch.
Truthfully, she did not want to go, but she was afraid Eric would barge in if she stayed inside.
She made her way to the dinning room where Eric was already seated and waiting. Eric looked to be working on his tablet, but truthfully, he was lost in thought.
Lilac took a seat and looked up to acknowledge her. His eyes met hers and immediately noticed the redness on her lids and paused. She had been crying. The moment this thought found its way into Eric's head, he looked away.
He needed not telling that it was his fault.
"He cleared his throat and the staff immediately brought out steaming hot plates of food. Lilac looked across the table at the amount of food and resisted the urge to frown. It was too much food.
"I believe you," Eric suddenly said and Lilac paused.
"I looked into a lot and it seems you may not have been involved in my mother's abduction," he said and Lilac let out a loud sigh. She felt as though she had been vindicated.
"But I still want to know how it managed to happen, so sorry if I probe once in a while," he continued and Lilac took in a deep breath. She registered his softer tone and frowned. She was not sued to him being soft spoken unless he wanted to use her. She recalled there were times he was soft-spoken on the family ship, but it soon became clear he just wanted to keep her in control because he assumed she was still in love with him.
"The inheritance," she started to ask, but met his sharp gaze and forced her self to continue.
"Don't get me wrong, I just want to share my suspicion with you. But it means nothing if I am wrong about the inheritance,"Lilac quickly explained.
"Alright, go ahead," he conceded.
"Is there any consequence if you get it wrong?" She asked and he raised a brow in question, urging Lilac to continue.
"I mean, if for some reason, I am not the heir, or maybe you gamble on me and loose or something, is there any consequence?" She asked.
"I and my family would acquire a lot of enemies from Europe. And given the critical nature of our family's business expansion, it might cripple us," he answered.
"Now you know why I was pissed out to marry you instead of Teresa Harold," she said and Eric frowned. She could tell he did not quite believe her speculations.
"That is a leap, don't you think? I have a lot of enemies," he said.
"How many of them would know about a family history of the Harts that even I do not know?" Lilac asked and his face darkened. Lilac could tell he was considering the same person she was.
"Eric, if what you had said about my bloodline was right, it means, either my father or my sister are not related to my grandfather. And my grandmother would know that. Only she would. But why would Micheal marry my sister instead? And from what I know, he used underhanded means much worse than people assumed I did to marry her. It means someone lied to him," Lilac said.
"Why would you suspect him and no one else?" Eric asked.
"I know Micheal. I have reason to believe he does not love June the way many assumed. But I have always thought he was not a person to make deals without benefits. So, why marry my sister? I could not explain why I have always suspected that he is the brain behind my family's business. It almost felt as though he was pushing their actions, yet staying out of it. My stupid sister is convinced she dreamed up her crazy plans running the family business, but I call bullshit," Lilac sneered.
Eric considered her words. He was not a trusting person, but he trusted his instincts. His instincts told him that Lilac was much smarter than she let on. He was truly considering her words.
"So, you suspect he had a hand in our marriage? Why?" He asked Lilac.
"Why? That very question why, is the reason he is the most likely suspect. Eric, my family do not like me much and could even be said to hate me. Even a fool can see that. Why would they help me marry you? Of all the people in the world, why you? You are more successful than Micheal and honestly, much more desirable as a husband, Eric," she said and for some reason, Eric could not hold her gaze. Hearing her call his name sent off shivers down his spine.
"Even in my wildest years, I would never believe that my sister would let me marry someone above her husband. She so competitive that way and the entire family thinks the same as she does. Why do you think I actually believed they had plotted to help me marry you for my good? By that single disgusting act of dragging me to your bed, I began to ah e hope for that family and even begun listening to them and obeying. Because I thought they might really like me somewhat for risking becoming enemies with you just because I had a stupid crush," Lilac said and this time, Eric could not look away. Her eyes carried such mix of emotions. Anger, self admonishment, disgust, mockery and even a bit of hatred.
Eric dared not looking away. He did not want to miss a single one of those emotions that flashed across her eyes. He could tell she blamed herself for falling for the trap. He could tell she regretted marrying him and regretted having a crush that led to all this.
"But we all know now since that boat cruise that they do not love me. So, if we cross out love for me, why? Why push me to become your wife? Did someone pull the strings to make them think there was a goal where I would not win? Who would pull the strings of my family? Yes, I suspect Michael Leslie. But why? From what I know about him, he does not like your family, so why? Is marrying me going to help him take you all down or what?" Lilac asked and Eric stabbed down at his steak.
"He does not like my family?" Eric asked. Her train of thought seemed logical, except there.
"Does not look like that to me," Lilac answered.
"He is my friend," Eric said.
"Has never looked that way to me," she answered.
"Everything you said seems to make sense until that point. We have known each other for years. I would know if he hated me or my family," Eric said.
"Would you?" Lilac sneered, leaning back on her chair to take in Eric's form. Eric felt uncomfortable as her eyes combed over him.
"I know a lot of things Eric. You at least guessed this after the entire bidding situation. But do not worry, there are no large factions feeding me information.. no, something, I just have a knack for stumbling upon information others don't know. I wonder, why was Teresa hurt from your mother's attempted abduction? No one, but her?" Lilac asked.
"What are you implying?" Eric frowned.
"Don't be hasty. I am not here to take bad about the woman you love," Lilac said dismissively. Eric suddenly felt the urge to explain.
"She is not..." He started today say.
"I am only implying that a random Harold's family not involved with either of our situations ended up being the the biggest beneficiary of our marriage. I don't believe on coincidences, Eric" Lilac sneered.
"Neither do I believe in pure institution and not evidence," Eric retorted.
"That is why we both stay in our lanes. I will trust my intuition that leads me to odd information, you will find the evidence," Lilac said, and stood. She had no appetite and honestly, wanted to step out for some air.
"So start by finding out why your dear friend Micheal is sibling with Teresa Harold and prove this information that fell on my lap based on my intuition wrong," she said and walked out, leaving a frozen Eric.