Chapter 67 Angela's True Identity
It was 6.30 p.m., and Bryce decided to call it a day from work. He stepped out of his study and heard the TV talking in the living room. He walked in that direction. He strode into the living room to find Angela lying on the sofa, asleep with the TV on.
"She used to be full of energy. Why is she sleeping a lot lately and occasionally falling ill?" Bryce thought. "Could it be the drug effect?" he thought and drew closer to the sofa Angela was sleeping on.
He stared at her face and couldn't help but admire her. He stared at her sleeping face for a while, taking every inch of her in. He was not sure when he drew closer, but he planted a kiss on her lips, making her move in her sleep.
"What have you done to me? Why do I suddenly get this feeling anytime I am close to you?" Bryce thought after pecking her lips just because he was drawn to her.
He waited a while for her to go back to sleep, and he carefully carried her from the sofa. He exited the living room and went upstairs to the bedroom. Inside the bedroom, he lay her on the bed and couldn't help but plant another kiss on her lips.
"Hmmm," Angela made a sound, feeling the softness of Bryce's lips and slowly opened her eyes.
Bryce was sitting on the edge of the bed, close to where her head lay on the pillow, with his back resting against the bed headboard, staring down at her. Angela quickly pulled herself up to sit on the bed.
"How are you feeling now?" Bryce asked, staring at her face.
"I am fine. Okay," Angela answered, not sure of what to make of Bryce sitting on the bed and watching over her while she slept. "You brought me here?" she asked.
"Yes, you slept off on the sofa," Bryce replied and stood up from the bed, and Angela relaxed a bit. "You must be hungry," he said. "Let's go have supper," he suggested.
"Thank you. I am not hungry," Angela replied, still sitting on the bed.
"Angela, are you okay?" Bryce asked with concern and returned to the bed, sat on the edge and faced Angela.
"I am fine. I am sure it's the recent happening that is making me feel sick," Angela explained, not sure what was wrong with her.
"Hmmm," Bryce said, staring at her. "Okay, get some rest. If you are still vomiting and not eating well by tomorrow. We will go to the hospital," he said, and Angela nodded. "Get some rest," he repeated, and Angela lay down to sleep.
Bryce stood up, covered her with the blanket and kissed her forehead before exiting the bedroom.
Back at Bryce's family home, Devon was in the living room watching the news with his wife Patricia when one of the servants walked in.
"Good evening, sir, madam," the servant greeted. "Mr Mark is here," she announced.
"Let him in," Devon said.
"Mark is here, at this hour? Who are you investigating?" Patricia asked, knowing Mark was her husband's private investigator.
"Just something that was brought to my attention. Nothing to worry your head about," Devon replied and pecked his wife on the cheek.
"Good evening, sir, ma'am," Mark greeted upon entering the living room.
"How are you, Mark?" Patricia inquired with a smile, getting up from Devon's lap, where she was relaxing and watching the news with him.
"I am fine, ma'am and apologies for disturbing your evening," Mark replied.
"Let's go to my study," Devon said and stood up to his feet.
The two gentlemen exited the living room and soon entered the study. Mark handed the file he had in his hand to Devon.
"This is all I found on her," Mark said, and Devon accepted the file.
"Her name, given to her by her birth parents who are both deceased, is Angela Adams," Mark reported while Devon scrolled through the document in hand. "Her parents were murdered when she was just thirteen years old. It was also her birthday," he continued, and Devon lifted his head to stare at Mark. "She was moved into an orphanage home and was later adopted by Mr and Mrs Anderson. In their home, her birth date was changed, and her surname was also changed to Anderson before she completed junior high," he reported
"She was employed by Diamond Corporation upon completion of her college degree. Which she passed with distinction," Mark continued.
"You said her parents were murdered when she was thirteen years old, and her surname is Adams, not Anderson?" Devon asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, sir. She was also shot in the back, but she survived the shot," Mark replied.
"That girl can't be around my son," Devon said with eyes widened.
"Sir, your son secretly married her. They are husband and wife. The images that were sent to you were of Susan and her best friend's scheme. She is a decent girl, from what I have gathered concerning her life. If anything, if your son had not married her, she may never get involved with any man, probably," Mark said and continued. "She stays with Bryce, who is not just her boss but also her husband," he added, emphasising the fact that Angela and Bryce are husband and wife and indirectly hinting that there was nothing wrong with them staying together.
"What!" Devon screamed. "What do you mean they are married?" he questioned angrily, bringing his voice down, recalling his wife was just in the living room.
"Well, your son married her a day after her interview at Diamond Corporation. What necessitated the marriage? I am not sure," Mark reported.
"No, no, no, no, this can't be," Devon said, almost whispering as his eyes moved in their socket but not staring at anything in particular while he processed the information.
He sat down behind his desk and looked at the documents in his hand, and there was a picture of little Angela. He recalled the image that was sent to him years ago, and he knew Angela was the little girl from that image who was lying next to her dead parents with her back stained with blood.
"Sir, is there anything you want me to do?" Mark asked.
"No, for now. I will handle my son," Devon said, still shocked by the news. "That would be all," he added and was about to dismiss Mark, but remembered something. "Wait, do you have any idea who murdered her parents?" he asked.
"No, sir. Some reports said it was a robbery, but there was no mention of any item stolen from the apartment. Again, the people who carried out the operations are all dead. They died under strange circumstances," Mark replied.
"Okay," Devon said. "That will be all," he repeated and dismissed Mark from his office.
Devon went through all the documents multiple times, and his heart was troubled. He fetched his phone, dialled Bryce's number and waited for him to answer.
"Bryce, tomorrow morning I want to see you," Devon said.
"I have some scheduled meetings. Can't it wait?" Bryce asked.
"In that case, come over now," Devon said. "This is an emergency," he added.
"Fine," Bryce replied.
Back in Bryce's apartment, it was a few minutes past 8 p.m. He had not changed into his sleeping clothes yet. He went upstairs to the bedroom and found Angela sleeping. He ensured she was okay and exited the bedroom.
"If Angela is looking for me, tell her I have gone to the family house. I will be back soon," Bryce informed Josephine before leaving the apartment with Marcus.
After a couple of minutes' drive, Bryce arrived at the family's house and parked his car under one of the sheds. He got out of the car and went into the house.
"Ah! Bryce, my darling. How are you?" Patricia greeted Bryce.
"I am good. Father wanted to see me. He sounded urgent. What happened?" Bryce asked.
"I don't know. Mark was here a while ago, but he left. Your father is still in his study," Patricia replied.
"Okay," Bryce replied and headed for the study, leaving his mother in the living room.
He knocked and entered the study and found his father sitting on the sofa with a glass of whisky in hand and a small brown envelope lying on the centre table in front of him.
"Good evening father," Bryce greeted. "You wanted to see me," he added.
"Yes, I do. Explain to me why your secretary is staying under the same roof with you," Devon asked once Bryce was seated, and he brought out the two images of Angela leaving Bryce's apartment in the morning and returning in the evening, which he threw onto the table for Bryce to see.
"You had Mark invade my privacy?" Bryce questioned, shifting his gaze from the pictures on the table to his father's angry face.