Chapter 79 Her Background
It was a face identical to hers.
The same fair skin, the same slender jawline, the same proud and stubborn nose, the same smile that revealed eight teeth...
Kevin walked over and handed the medicine bag to the woman. He leaned through the car window and kissed her cheek. The woman playfully pushed him away with a coquettish pout. He let go and walked around to the driver's seat.
Quinley couldn't resist her curiosity and quickly walked toward the Bentley. However, the window rolled up and the car swiftly drove away from the parking lot.
Quinley stood there, her heart pounding relentlessly. There were many people in this world who looked similar, but finding someone who appeared to be cut from the exact same mold was extremely rare.
Quinley suddenly remembered the day Sylvia was attacked—she clearly hadn't been at the scene, yet surveillance footage had captured her image. So that person might have been the woman she just saw.
Also, before William's attack, he'd received a stack of obscene photos. Quinley had never done those things, yet she'd been splattered with that dirty water. So the person in those photos might also have been that woman.
Kevin worked for Harold. If Harold wanted to frame Quinley, finding a woman who looked exactly like her wasn't impossible.
The more Quinley thought about it, the more uneasy she became. She quickly contacted Detective Wilson.
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They arranged to meet at a restaurant near the hospital. Like last time, when Quinley arrived, Detective Wilson was already waiting in a private room.
He wore a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and despite the hot weather, he was dressed in an oversized trench coat. When Quinley entered, he sat by the window, carefully observing every movement outside.
"Ms. Elikin, what's so urgent that you needed to see me?"
Detective Wilson found a corner seat. He didn't remove his hat or sunglasses, making him look very mysterious.
Quinley took her seat. "Detective Wilson, I'd like you to help me investigate someone."
Detective Wilson remained silent, his deep eyes looking at Quinley through the dark lenses. "Give me a photo and basic information. For something this simple, you don't need to meet me in person—email contact would suffice."
Quinley took a deep breath, still not recovered from her earlier shock. "I don't have a photo, and I don't know her information either."
"No photo? No information—how do you expect me to investigate?"
Detective Wilson seemed agitated and stood up directly. "Ms. Elikin, my help with your last case has already drawn the Davis Group's attention. I'm willing to help you because you once helped me. As you know, I'm a private detective, but I'm not Sherlock Holmes. Some things can be investigated, others cannot."
He was about to leave when Quinley stood and stopped him. "Detective Wilson, do you remember that 'me' from the surveillance footage last time? That person wasn't me—there's a woman who looks exactly like me. That woman really exists, and I'm telling you, I just saw her."
Quinley poured out everything she knew. Detective Wilson, perhaps encountering such a case for the first time, returned to his seat with interest, removed his sunglasses, and questioned Quinley about the details.
After finishing his questions, he remained silent for a long time, as if deep in thought.
"Ms. Elikin, don't tell anyone about this, and don't act rashly. Be careful not to alert them. I promise I'll do my best to help you uncover the truth."
"Thank you."
Detective Wilson didn't linger. He got up to leave. At the door, he seemed to remember something and stopped. "Ms. Elikin, are you your parents' only daughter?"
This was the first time Detective Wilson had inquired about Quinley's personal life. "I have a younger brother." She hesitated and didn't tell the complete truth.
---
After seeing off Detective Wilson, Quinley went to the hospital. Marlee was accompanying Colin through rehabilitation exercises.
"Dad, Mom, let's take a break. I bought Dad's favorite roasted turkey."
Quinley opened the small table and unpacked the food containers one by one, filling the air with the aroma of roasted turkey.
Marlee scolded gently, "Quinny, why are you spending money carelessly again? The hospital cafeteria is cheap and affordable—stop buying things outside."
Marlee was worried about money, so Quinley lied to comfort her. "Today this restaurant had roasted turkey as a special. I happened to pass by and thought I'd let Dad try some. The doctor said Dad needs nutrition now."
"You don't earn money easily. At your age, you should save up for your dowry instead of just spending on us." Marlee continued her nagging.
Quinley acted coquettishly toward Colin. "Dad, listen to her—Mom's trying to kick me out! I'm still young. I don't want to get married so early."
Colin smiled kindly, shakily trying to serve Quinley food with his fork and knife. She quickly took over and served both Colin and Marlee.
The table was small, but having family gathered together felt extraordinarily warm. Quinley was grateful for the warmth Colin and Marlee had given her, yet deep in her heart, she harbored an unspoken longing.
After dinner, Colin went to sleep. Quinley accompanied Marlee to wash the dishes. They were alone in the washing room.
After struggling internally for a long time, Quinley couldn't help but speak up. "Mom, when you and Dad found me, did I have any documents with me?"
Quinley wasn't Colin and Marlee's biological daughter—she'd known this since she was very young. But Colin and Marlee had always treated her as their own. Even after Dennis was born, they'd never treated her poorly.
So Quinley had never asked them about her origins. "Quinny, why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Marlee looked surprised. Quinley put her arm around Marlee's shoulder. "Mom, it's nothing. I was just curious."
"Quinny, it's our fault for letting you down. We're useless and have burdened you. Even though we're not your biological parents, we've always treated you as our own daughter."
Marlee's eyes reddened as she spoke. She thought Quinley was tired of giving so much and saw them as a burden, which was why she wanted to find her biological parents.
"Mom, don't say that. You may not have given birth to me, but you raised me. Being your daughter is my blessing."
When Marlee's eyes reddened, Quinley's heart softened. She couldn't bear to see Marlee sad, so she could only wrong herself. She couldn't ask any of the questions she wanted answers to.
Marlee didn't seem to want to discuss this topic. She hurriedly finished washing the dishes and returned to the ward.
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In the afternoon, Quinley went to Dennis's room. Surprisingly, he wasn't there. The nurse said he'd gone out in his wheelchair.
Quinley assumed Dennis had just gone downstairs for some fresh air. She dozed off on Dennis's hospital bed, and when she woke up, it was already dark, but Dennis still hadn't returned.
Quinley became anxious and went downstairs to look for him, but only found his empty wheelchair in the small garden. She quickly called Dennis.
The phone rang for a long time with no answer.
Quinley didn't give up and called several more times. Finally, the call connected, but a stranger's voice came through.