Chapter 155 Investigation

Chapter 155 Investigation
Knox,

“Mr. Knox!”

Detective Bryan, who had been working with Violet, walked into the café we had come to yesterday. I didn't intend to come here to meet that woman again. The only café I knew around this area was this one. But I wouldn't lie that I had a thought of meeting her here and I might use that chance to question her.

“Hey, Detective Bryan. Thanks for your time!” I stood up and shook his hand. My grip lingered a fraction longer than necessary before I pulled away, my fingers slightly cold.

I needed support from someone who wasn’t involved with my life. Right now, all I felt was as if I had been broken into pieces that didn’t belong to anyone, anywhere. The weight of it pressed down on my chest, making my breaths shallow without me realizing it.

I didn’t even know where I belonged in this life.

“What’s up, Mr. Silverfang? I thought you would be happy to go back home. You look like you haven’t slept for years!” he said, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for something underneath.

“Well, I need to know more about my background. I am just… lost.” I paused briefly before the last word, my throat tightening.

“Lost? Well, that’s understandable since you have no memories of your past! But I thought Miss Riverwood would have been helping you!”

“Well, she does. It’s just…” My fingers brushed against the edge of the table, tapping once, then stopping as if even the sound felt too loud.

“This is not what you want in your life?”

I didn’t respond to him. My jaw tightened, and I looked away, fixing my gaze on the glass of water in front of me, untouched.

“Listen, Mr. Silverfang. Miss Riverwood sent me to your location around six months ago. All the information about you—your crimes, your activities—everything was filed thoroughly. You were one of the most wanted criminals in the Italian system." He paused, thinking something profoundly.

But I was shocked. They were watching us for six months and I had no idea?

" But in order to protect you, Ms. Riverwood gave out a list of most wanted criminals who weren’t even from our country, using her own way. Just to make sure there were no criminal records under your name, she even had a serious conversation with higher-ups. She used the excuse of being kidnapped by your family and brainwashing you to do something horrible” he explained while ordering his latte. " She did everything to make sure you aren't responsible for everything. And you aren't legally. After all, you were forced to do it!"

The word criminal sat heavily in my head. My fingers slowly curled into my palm, nails pressing into my skin.

“She is one of the respected businesspeople who have connections with higher-ups and can change the dynamics of politics.”

He said with a serious expression. Reminding me that she wasn't someone he even dared to mess with.

“If you know so much about her, what about the relationship between the Silverfangs, Riverwoods, and Smiths? I need a clear picture of them.” I leaned forward slightly, my elbows almost touching the table.

“Well, there is a committee for business tycoons in this city. The Business Association. In this association, anyone can join, including Mafias. But this association strictly controls illegal businesses, crimes, and other things the Mafia does. So crimes is limited in this city ”

“Then why do they join if they can't act like the way they are supposed to be?” My brows drew together, a faint crease forming between them.

“That’s the interesting part!”

“The Business Association has the biggest clients all over the world. Not only do they provide the best profit, but they also control the local market. And two years ago, three companies were at the top of the list—Silverfangs, Riverwood, and Smiths. Miss Riverwood was the mastermind, the leader, who sat on the throne after the founder, her grandmother Violette Riverwood, died.”

“Violet is the leader?” The words slipped out, sharp and quiet at the same time. My chest tightened. That woman… I thought she was just intelligent and brave. The realization settled slowly, uncomfortably. Now she was much more than just a billionaire.

“Since you don’t remember, you don’t know. But Violet is someone we consider out of league. She is one of the most level-headed leaders; even our authorities think twice before speaking in front of her. And as for the Riverwoods and Silverfangs…” He paused briefly before continuing, then sipped his latte.

“They are quite against her existence. Violette Riverwood gave her entire estate to her youngest granddaughter, Violet, who is her perfect clone. It made both Riverwoods and Silverfangs go through a frenzy."

He paused and then added, "Elder Silverfang—your grandpa—wanted to dominate the Business Association as well as the market. Since he was leading a Mafia group, it wasn’t quite possible. So he decided to force you to marry a Smith to strengthen the power.”

A dull pressure formed behind my eyes.

He leaned back in the chair, staring at me. “Sarah Smith, the former actress and the only daughter of the Smith family, was engaged to you.”

“What?” My lips parted slowly. “You mean she is my fiancée?”

“No. Not anymore. Your grandpa used her to keep you away from Violet. Well, I didn’t tell anyone about it, but my coworker said she was Elder Silverfang’s side chick. We don’t know whether it’s true or not. No valid evidence.”

“Side chick?” The word tasted bitter. My stomach twisted uncomfortably.

“Yeah. Well, the Smith family is one of those who have connections with underworld and wanted to kill Ms. Violet multiple times.”

“Do you have any evidence?” My voice tightened despite my effort to keep it calm. “How did I marry Violet if Sarah was my fiancée?”

“I don’t know much, but I think you tricked them and married her instead. Using some leverage. Why not just ask your wife instead?”

My jaw clenched hard, a sharp ache running along it. “Can I go through the case file? I don’t think I can trust anyone.”

“Sure." He said without any hesitation.

" Are you sure? Shouldn't it be a top-level casefile?"

He shook his head while enjoying his latte, "Miss Violet has already given you access.”

“She has already?” I looked up sharply, my heartbeat stuttering for a brief second. " I didn't even tell her about it!"

“ C'mon. She knew that you would investigate everything yourself sooner or later. Judging by your personality, it’s not quite hard for her to predict!” He chuckled, unaware of the tension coiling tightly inside me.

She even knew that I would contact someone to investigate. As if she knew what I would do next. The thought lingered, unsettling.

After the conversation, I left the café with more conflict than resolution. Standing under the open sky, I felt strangely exposed. I didn’t even know myself. What I was doing, what I should have done… everything. It felt like I was stuck in some kind of dilemma, my chest rising and falling unevenly.

Even my therapist said that it was normal for a person who lost memories. But the feeling of standing somewhere with no knowledge of the life I had before felt like imprisonment.

“Knox!”

My attention snapped to the voice. My muscles tensed before I even turned. I found the woman standing there, a soft, sad look on her face, her eyes fixed on me as if she had been waiting.

“Sarah Smith?” I whispered.

“You finally remembered?” Her voice carried shock and hesitation. “Did you remember everything?”

“No.”

Her face lit up subtly, relief flickering across her expression before she could hide it. “Can we talk? I will talk for a few minutes. Please… all I want is to talk!”

“Let’s talk here. I don’t know you.” My shoulders squared, my stance firm without me consciously deciding it.

“It’s just—!” She stopped abruptly, hesitating, her eyes drifting over my shoulder.

I narrowed my eyes and turned to see what she was staring at.

A chill ran down my spine the moment I did.

“I am sorry. I didn’t want you to see. I didn’t want you to face the truth this way! Knox.” Sarah panicked, her hands trembling slightly.

But my attention was solely on the people across the road. My fists slowly clenched at my sides as a wave of discomfort surged through me, followed closely by a restrained, simmering rage coursing through my veins.