Chapter 33 The Veil of Silence Begins to Lift
As soon as Ezra headed toward his faculty building, Aveline stood up. She veered toward the old campus wing, where the archive room—dusty and rarely visited—held forgotten files.
She felt she was getting closer to something. Something that might shatter everything left of her life.
However, someone blocked her path.
"Miss Aveline."
The voice made her stop dead in her tracks.
Professor Barbara stood at the end of the corridor, her face rigid, her eyes scrutinizing Aveline in a way that made her skin crawl.
"Where are you going?" Barbara asked.
"To the… staff room," Aveline answered reflexively, too quickly.
Barbara raised an eyebrow. "Don’t lie to me. I saw you coming out of the archive building a few days ago."
Aveline's blood seemed to freeze.
"Coincidence," she said, trying to force a smile. "I was just..."
"No," Barbara cut her off sharply. "You are looking for something."
She took a step closer. "Follow me."
Without giving her room to refuse, Barbara turned toward her office. Aveline hesitated for a moment, then followed. An uneasy feeling crept from the nape of her neck down to her spine.
Barbara's office was on the second floor, spacious with large windows and shelves of thick books. When the door closed, Barbara crossed her arms.
"You know," she said coldly, "I didn't give you that warning about Ezra for no reason."
Aveline stood stiffly. "I just want to know the truth."
"The truth?" Barbara chuckled dryly. "Or do you want to justify something you shouldn't be doing?"
Aveline lifted her chin. "I want to know about Selina," she revealed.
The name dropped like a stone into water.
"Why?" Barbara stared at her intensely. "Why do you suddenly want to know about her, despite my warnings about Ezra?"
"Yes, she is connected to Ezra. But she is also connected to my husband."
The last sentence came out abruptly, as if it had been buried for a long time. Barbara’s expression changed instantly.
"Your husband?" she repeated softly.
"Adrian," Aveline said. "Adrian Moreau."
It was at that moment that the world seemed to stop spinning.
Barbara froze. Completely frozen. It was as if someone had pressed a pause button on her body. Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parted, and her hands trembled before she hid them behind her desk.
Aveline felt her heart pounding hard.
"Professor?" she called softly.
Barbara took a deep breath.
"I think you misheard," she said. "What does Selina have to do with your husband?"
"There is a photo of Selina in Adrian’s desk drawer," Aveline replied. "Adrian admitted they went to college together here. I just want to know... how deep their relationship was."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Barbara turned her face toward the window. "You shouldn't be looking into her."
"Why?"
"Because too many secrets remain a mystery even now," Barbara answered faintly.
Aveline stepped closer. "Professor, you’ve taught at this campus for decades. You must have known them, didn't you? You know something?"
"I’m sorry, that is not my business, and I am under no obligation to tell you."
Expressionless, Barbara walked toward the window and stared outside.
"Professor, Adrian is my husband. And I have the right to know..."
Barbara turned sharply. "That is precisely why!"
Her voice was more emotional than Aveline had ever heard from her.
"You are too naive, Aveline. I cannot let you get any deeper into this mess."
Aveline scoffed. "I’m already in deep, Professor. I know Selina died mysteriously, and Ezra was accused of being the suspect without evidence. And I know Adrian was close to Selina during their college years—he even still keeps her photo. If you were me, would you just stay silent?"
Professor Barbara remained silent, contemplating Aveline's words. Finally, she took a long breath, trying to recall fragments of the past.
"You’re right," she nodded. "Adrian and Selina studied here. They were my students."
Aveline listened intently.
"I knew they were close. Everyone knew. Wherever Selina was, Adrian was there. But after they graduated, I didn't follow their news much. Selina also disappeared for a while."
"Disappeared?" Aveline repeated, puzzled.
"Yes. Selina was a brilliant student. I hoped she would have a stellar career. But unfortunately, she vanished as soon as she graduated. I didn't know where she went, until she finally reappeared as a different version of herself," Barbara explained.
Aveline frowned. "A different version? What do you mean?"
"She applied to be a lecturer here. At that time, she seemed quieter and more mature. But I saw that she was carrying a very heavy burden." Barbara looked out the window as she spoke, as if she were visualizing Selina’s state the first time she saw her again.
Barbara turned back to Aveline. "She begged me to give her a job. Like someone who was desperate."
Aveline was stunned. After disappearing, Selina returned as a desperate woman. What had happened to her during that time?
"What year did she start working here?" Aveline asked cautiously.
"I don't know. I forget exactly when."
The answer disappointed Aveline. If only she knew when Selina reappeared. Was it after she married Adrian, or before? Perhaps there was a connection.
"And Ezra?" Aveline asked again. "Why were Selina and Ezra close?"
Barbara shook her head again. "They became close as soon as Ezra started studying here. Some said their relationship was like that of lovers, though in terms of age, they were more suited as mother and son."
Aveline's eyes widened, as if she had been hit by something massive.
"Do... do you know about Selina's family?" Aveline asked hesitantly.
Barbara raised her eyebrows. "No. Selina was very private about her family. But I do know she had a younger sister who worked as a nurse at a private hospital."
Aveline stood up abruptly. All the information she had gained was becoming a vital clue to unlocking this secret.
"What was Selina's sister's name?"
"I forget. Maybe Marsha... or Maria..."
"Martha?" Aveline guessed.
Barbara looked at Aveline in surprise. "Yes. I believe it was Martha. How do you know?"
Aveline smiled. "Thank you, Professor. You’ve helped me quite a bit. But please, let me find out the rest on my own."
"Where are you going?" Barbara asked as she saw Aveline leaving the room.
"I have to go back to the archives," she said.
Barbara stared at her. "Whatever you find… it won't make your life any easier."
"I’m not looking for ease," Aveline replied. "I’m looking for the truth."
And for the first time, Professor Barbara did not stop her.