Chapter 34 Investigation

Chapter 34 Investigation
I walk into the room and gently seat little Ria on the bed. Innocence is scattered all over her tiny face. Without wasting a second, I rush into the bathroom, almost as if I am running away from myself. Just then, I hear the sound of footsteps. My heart skips a beat. I understand immediately Neil has entered the room.

Even from inside the bathroom, I can hear Ria crying. Her sobs pierce straight through my heart. I hurriedly change my clothes because my periods have suddenly started today. Because of this, both my mind and body feel strange fatigue, pain, and restlessness all crashing into me at once.

As soon as I freshen up and step back into the room, I see Ria standing near the door, crying. Fear and tears fill her eyes. The moment Neil sees me, he asks worriedly, “Kiara, what happened? Are you okay?”

Trying to hold myself together, I reply softly, “Yes… I’m fine.”

He doesn’t seem fully convinced. He immediately asks, “Then why did you suddenly run out of here like that?”

I decide to tell the truth straight away, “Nothing… my periods just started.”

Concern instantly appears in Neil’s eyes. In a gentle voice, he says, “Oh… then you should rest.”

Out of habit, I reply, “No, I still have work to do.”

But he doesn’t listen to me at all. He makes me sit on the bed and gently lays me down, saying firmly, “No work. You need to rest.”

I look at Ria and gesture for her to come to me. She immediately runs over. I make her lie down right beside me. Her tiny body curls toward mine, seeking comfort.

Looking at Neil, I ask, “Mom?”

He replies, “Mom is with Eileen. You take care of yourself. You haven’t slept for two days.”

With a faint smile, I say, “You haven’t slept either. You should sleep too.”

Neil takes a deep breath and finally lies down on the other side of Ria. Ria snuggles closer to me again, as if my presence alone gives her peace.
But Neil can’t stay still for long.

He gently lifts Ria and pulls her against his chest, asking softly, “What happened, princess?”

Ria starts crying again. Neil quickly takes a chocolate out of his pocket and puts it in her hand. And just like that, she becomes busy eating it, as if all the worries of the world have vanished.

A little irritated, I say, “This is wrong. You give her so many chocolates. This is the result of your leniency she’s becoming stubborn.”

Neil doesn’t take my words to heart at all. He simply replies, “Don’t say anything to my princess.”

And saying this, he hugs Ria even tighter against his chest.

Just then, a sharp wave of period pain hits my lower abdomen. I shift uncomfortably, my restlessness clearly visible. Neil immediately looks at me and asks, “Should we go to the doctor?”

I refuse at once, “No.”

Looking straight into my eyes, he says, “You’re feeling restless.”

I answer quietly, “It’s always like this.”

Without saying another word, Neil gets up, “Wait, I’ll be right back.” He leaves the room.

After a while, he returns with a warm water bottle in his hand. Gently, he places it on my stomach and says,b“This will help you feel better.”

In a tired voice, I say, “I really hate these days.”

With a slight smile, balancing humor and seriousness, Neil says, “Don’t talk too much… or I’ll make these periods stay away from you for nine months.”

At first, I don’t understand what he means. I fall silent for a few seconds. Then suddenly, his words sink in. My eyes widen in shock, I quietly close my eyes, and slowly drift into sleep.

It is 10 p.m. The room is filled with a soft yellow light. I am sitting on the bed, slightly bent forward, resting against the pillow, as if the entire day has drained every bit of strength from my body. Neil is sitting very close to me, so close that I can feel his presence even without looking at him.

There is a plate in his hands, and he is feeding me dinner with his own hands. Today, he has specially ordered my favorite food from outside perhaps because he knows I always find excuses not to eat properly. There is no stubbornness in his eyes, only concern… deep, silent concern.

In a tired voice, I say, “I’ve eaten enough.”

He immediately looks at me, as if my voice alone tells him that I’m just saying it, not truly meaning it. In a slightly firm yet loving tone, he says, “Eat properly. You haven’t eaten anything yet.”

With a hint of irritation and overwhelming exhaustion, I reply, “That’s enough… I don’t feel like eating anymore.”

Without saying a word, Neil brings the spoon close to my lips. In his eyes, there is both a request and a command. Softly, he says, “Just a little more.”

I look at him, at the face that worries so much for me. Without arguing, I take one more bite. Only then does he place the spoon down, as if he has won a small battle.

For a few moments, silence fills the room. Only the faint hum of the AC and the ticking of the clock can be heard. Gathering some courage, I ask, “Did you find out… who that man was?”

The moment he hears my question, Neil’s face turns even more serious. He doesn’t look at me directly. His gaze drifts elsewhere, as if he is trying to piece together an incomplete picture. In a low voice, he says, “No. I had investigations carried out everywhere. I searched everywhere. But… there was no clue.”

There is frustration in his voice, though he is clearly trying to control it. I can see the worry rising on his face the worry he hides from everyone else, but never from me.

Trying to lighten his heart, I say, “It’s okay. You’ll forget it… maybe it was an old enemy of yours. Leave it. Just stay happy with what’s around you.”

My words are calm, but there is fear in my heart fear that he will never let this go.

Neil says nothing. He simply remains silent. And that silence says everything. I know it well… this is the silence that comes before a storm. The man who is quiet in front of me is fighting a battle deep inside.

Looking at his face, I understand he is not going to stop. No matter how much of the world he has to search, no matter if he turns day into night… he will keep looking for him. For Neil, the truth will not be complete until he sees that man with his own eyes.

I say nothing. I just sit close to him, sharing a small part of the weight of his silence. Because I know until he finds the truth, Neil will never find peace.

TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!

Who is the attacker who wants to kill Ria ?