Chapter 121 Hidden Truth

Chapter 121 Hidden Truth

"Actually, I don't remember anything," Sofia said, her lips twitching slightly.

These two women, barely acquaintances before, suddenly found an unexpected harmony. When Penelope invited Sofia to stay for lunch, Sofia simply walked away.

She moved so quickly that Penelope couldn't even stop her.

"She could compete in a marathon with that speed," Penelope muttered, frowning before turning to invite Kate and Ethan to eat.

Halfway through the meal, Penelope hurriedly left—her bridge game was short a player, and she was a key participant.

Kate and Ethan exchanged glances, sharing a helpless smile. Just as they were about to continue eating, Kate's phone lit up.

Unknown message?

She glanced at it with confusion, but after reading the first line, she put down her fork.

"Work emergency?" Ethan asked.

Kate frowned. "No, it's from Sofia."

As she continued reading, her expression darkened, and Ethan's brows furrowed in response.

He leaned closer to see the message.

[This is Sofia. I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I feel I should tell you: your mother's death seemed suspicious. It might have been connected to Richard.]

Kate clenched her fists tightly.

She recalled Elizabeth's words from her memories, "You think you'll get everything now that I'm dead?" Kate suddenly stood up and headed for the door, but Ethan quickly wrapped his arms around her.

"Kate, this is just speculation right now."

"I know, and that's why I need to ask him. I need to know how my mother really died," Kate said, her voice shaking. "Ethan, I was so blind in my previous life!"

She had lived an entire lifetime without questioning her mother's death. If not for Sofia's message, she wouldn't have remembered that every fight between Richard and Elizabeth had been about property division.

Ethan tightened his embrace around Kate's trembling body.

"Let's not rush into this. We need to be prepared before confronting Richard. That cunning man will only turn the tables on us if we don't have evidence."

He gently patted her back, trying to calm her.

But Kate's emotions wouldn't subside. Her nails dug into her palms. "I can't wait anymore."

She looked up at Ethan, her eyes brimming with tears and burning with a cold fury. "In my previous life, I trusted Richard blindly. My mother must have been so disappointed. This time, I will avenge her."

She tried to break free from his grip, but Ethan held firm.

Only when she exhausted herself and stopped struggling did he lead her to the sofa. Knowing she had calmed down, he poured her a glass of water.

But suddenly, Kate grabbed Ethan's wrist as she remembered something.

"Ethan, let's go to the Jennings estate right now. I think there's evidence in my mother's diary."

She remembered how Elizabeth would always write in her diary, carefully preserving it no matter what.

After Elizabeth passed away, Richard had sealed away all her belongings. He didn't know about the diary—it must still be there.

She tugged at Ethan's wrist, and this time, he didn't resist. He could see she wouldn't be deterred.

Thirty minutes later, they stood outside the Jennings estate.

As Ethan stepped forward, Kate grabbed his hand and pointed to the second window on the right side of the second floor.

"That was my mother's study. Richard locked all her things in there."

The house would likely be empty, but since the security code had been changed, she couldn't get in. They would need to climb up the drainpipe.

Ethan looked up. "I'll go."

It was too dangerous for her to climb that high.

Kate shook her head, pulling him toward a corner. "No, you wouldn't know where to look. Stay here and keep watch for me."

Before Ethan could stop her, she had already started climbing the drainpipe. All he could do was position himself underneath, ready to catch her if necessary. When she safely made it onto the balcony, he concealed himself in the shadows.

The balcony door wasn't locked, so she stepped inside.

A faint scent of sandalwood permeated the study, completely different from the jasmine fragrance Elizabeth had preferred when alive.

Kate crept inside, scanning the bookshelves. All of Elizabeth's books were there, but after searching, she couldn't find the diary. She sensed something was off.

If the diary contained important information, Elizabeth wouldn't have left it in plain sight.

Then she remembered—Elizabeth's desk had a secret compartment!

Kate's eyes lit up as she quickly bent down to search. She felt around until her fingers found a slight protrusion. She pressed it gently, heard a click, and a compartment popped out from the inside.

It was a password box, and judging by its size, it likely contained the diary.

The password...

"Kate, remember, your birthday and Mommy's birthday are both very important."

Kate recalled Elizabeth's words, her eyes brightening.

Of course! The password must be a combination of her birthday and Elizabeth's.

She crouched down, about to open the box when she accidentally bumped into the chair. She frowned, quickly steadying it.

She listened carefully, hearing no sound from the doorway, and had just sighed in relief when—

"Who's in there?"

Richard's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway. Kate's heart lurched violently.

Why was he home?

She heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. Biting her lip, she grabbed the wooden box and ran toward the window.

Richard had already burst in, and when he saw the box in her hands, his expression changed instantly.

"Put that box down!" he demanded, grabbing Kate roughly. She stumbled from the force but regained her balance.

He advanced toward her step by step as Kate gradually retreated.

When she reached a corner with nowhere else to go, knowing escape was impossible, she suddenly smiled.

"Richard, you're so concerned about this box. Are you afraid? Afraid I'll find evidence that you killed my mother?"

She confronted him directly.

With the box in her hands and her intentions clear, Richard wasn't a fool. There was no need to hide her suspicions.

Richard stopped in his tracks, his eyes venomous.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your mother died of illness. The hospital has the diagnosis certificate!"

"Diagnosis certificate?" Kate held up her phone, pressing the record button. "Then explain why mother suddenly had a heart attack without any warning signs!"

Richard's face grew increasingly pale. He lunged forward to grab the box, but Kate stepped backward, half her body already outside the window.

At that moment, Ethan's voice called from below.

"Kate, jump! I'll catch you!"

She looked down at Ethan's outstretched arms, then back at the furious Richard. Without hesitation, she leaped.

Landing in the warmth of Ethan's embrace, she clung tightly to his neck. Ethan immediately turned and ran toward their car, while Richard's enraged shouts echoed behind them.

"Stop right there, both of you!"

He tried to jump down after them but twisted his ankle. All he could do was watch helplessly as they drove away. As the car disappeared, he screamed in impotent fury.

"I should have killed you! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"

That diary—he had searched for it for so long without success, yet Kate had found it so easily.

She was looking for the box, which meant she must know something. This troublemaker—he should have eliminated her when he got rid of Elizabeth!