Chapter 185 Bad Memories

Chapter 185 Bad Memories
"So," she glanced at Ethan, "we worked together with Mr. Brown, and we finally found the head of the organisation that was looking for Miss Davis."
I glanced at her in disbelief. Could it be that I no longer needed to worry about them finding me? Could I finally live in peace from this day forward?
She opened the folder she had brought and placed a picture in front of me. "Do you have any memories of this man, Miss Davis?"
I looked at the picture and was confident that I recognised his face. He looked much older now, but he had come to visit us occasionally, and my biological mother had hated him. I had the same feelings for him.
I nodded, hoping that would be enough, but it seemed Miss Turner wanted to know more. I sighed. "He was a frequent guest of my father. I remember he visited us often. My biological mother hated him. That’s all I remember."
"Are you sure that’s all?" she asked. I began to struggle with my memories, but just then, Spencer interjected. "I’m sure Cora will contact you if she remembers anything else."
Miss Turner smiled, as if she understood something. She handed me her number. "Please, if you remember anything, call me. It could be useful for the trial."
I took the card and nodded.
“So, we spent hours with him, but finally, he broke down. After we offered him a deal, he told us everything. He claimed he bought Miss Davis from her father when she was only four. He was promised that he would receive her as his employee when she reached legal age.”
I closed my eyes, feeling Spencer's hand on mine. I didn’t push his hand away simply because I was lost in thought. I was transported back to my childhood, back in the dilapidated apartment, watching two repulsive men eat something that looked delicious. The only thing I knew was that it smelled amazing. I didn’t realise it was fried chicken until the Astor family adopted me.
"He confessed that he had been looking for you after he heard about your parents' accident. He tried to take you from the orphanage, but because he had a criminal record, the guardianship authority refused his request. He appealed, but he didn’t have time to start the process again, as the Astor family adopted you. He contacted Raymund Astor to claim you. Initially, it seemed like he was willing to give you to him, but then he changed his mind. That’s how he got the contact. Raymund Astor reached out to him again before he forced you out of his apartment in Manhattan. However, when they arrived, they couldn’t find you there. They searched for you for a while, but fortunately, they never succeeded in finding you."
She sighed, and I could tell she realised the emotional wounds she had just reopened. She looked at me apologetically.
"I’m sorry, Miss Davis, but from my perspective, letting you know the truth is essential. Often, when the victim is a relative of the culprit, they think about forgiving and try to downplay the crime. I believe facing the harsh reality will help avoid those kinds of feelings."
I nodded. "I understand, but you don't have to worry about that. Ray never liked me, nor did he treat me as his daughter. He just accepted that I lived in the house because my mother and the boys liked me."
Miss Turner wore a bitter smile, then sighed. "That’s all for now. The trial's appointment will be scheduled for this week. Get ready, Miss Davis. I think it will be a tiring procedure, especially since Mr. Astor has a strong legal team behind him. However, I’m confident that we have the winning cards."
She stood up, and we followed suit. Only then did I fully awaken from my daze.
"I'll escort the guest out," I said, signalling to the others that I needed to speak with Miss Turner privately. She smiled, and when we reached the door, she turned to me.
"Is there anything you want to tell me, Miss Davis?"
"Yes, two things." I met her gaze. "That man often harmed my biological mother, alongside my father. I only have fragmented memories of him."
"I'm sorry to hear that," she replied, and I nodded. "What was the other thing?"
I suddenly looked at her, as if I had just remembered. "Miss Turner, when Ray forced me to leave, he took my university certificates. I believe he did this to make my life more difficult. Is there any chance of getting them back? I called the university in Cambridge, but because Ray has the documents related to my name change, I can't reclaim them."
Miss Turner looked at me, her expression showing that she understood completely. "I'll do my best to help you get them back."
I nodded and said, "Thank you for everything you have done for me."
"It is my pleasure, Miss Davis," she said before leaving. I closed the door with a heavy heart, unsure if there would ever be a day when the memories wouldn’t torment me anymore. When I returned to the living room, Spencer was holding Ellie. This time, it didn't annoy me. They all looked at me with curiosity, which I hated. "What?" I asked.
"Are you okay?" Ethan asked me, and I nodded. "Yes, you don't need to worry."
After I said that, Mom stood up, came over to me, and kissed my forehead.
"I'm here if you need to talk to someone," she said.
I nodded, and then she went back to the kitchen. I walked over to the boys and watched them playing with Ellie until dinner was ready. We had a quiet dinner, with Ellie being the only one entertaining us.
When it was time, Spencer asked me if I wanted him to put our daughter into the tub, and this time, I was happy with his question.
I was unsure why I felt this way, but I worried that the trial would reveal much more about me and my family than I ever wanted the Astors to know.
When I finally got to bed, I tried to focus on the next day. I was excited, but not about the job itself; it was because of Spencer. However, I couldn't fall asleep for a while, and I was surprised when Mum entered my room. First, she checked on Ellie, and then she came to my bed. When she saw that my eyes were open in the dark room, she sat down beside me.
"You can't sleep, can you?" she asked.
I shook my head.
"Cora, sometimes it helps to talk about what's bothering you."
I sighed, knowing she meant well. "I know, but it's hard. Since Miss Turner told me about that man, memories keep popping up, and I hate them."
She held my hand gently.
"My biological mother loved me, you know? My father wanted her to give me to an orphanage, and that would have been the right choice because she couldn't keep me. I witnessed so many times when my father hurt her physically. I could blame her for being selfish and letting me go through all of this, but I only truly understood the depth of that kind of love when I held Ellie for the first time. Since then, I no longer blame her. But I should have done something for her—maybe called for help—but I was so little."
I felt Mum caressing my hand.
"Cora, you were just a small child. You couldn’t do much, and trying to intervene might have made things worse. Your biological mother deeply loved you, and sometimes love can lead us to make the wrong decisions. Everything that happened in your past isn’t your fault. You need to understand that you were just a child, and there was nothing you could have done."