Hence, I was resolved not to tell Tessa anything for fear that the information would simply be passed on to Armond. I was afraid that before I could even get around to persuading Brandon, he would already have died under suspicious circumstances in prison.
It wasn’t difficult to uncover news about Tessa. We moved about in the same circles, after all. One could easily obtain any desired information with some effort. Nuthana Gardens was a newly-developed piece of property. Not long after it was completed, its prices skyrocketed, and it was now sold for at least ten thousand per square foot. An apartment of a thousand and five hundred square feet was worth around fifteen million. Tessa had neither a stable job nor a steady source of income and had no projects on hand. Her sudden wealth had naturally raised queries in both Tabitha and Laurel’s minds. How could a village girl have acquired enough to buy both a posh apartment and a luxury car in just a few months?
Armond was clearly rewarding Tessa handsomely. What is Tessa doing for him that warrants such a hefty sum? I wondered. Armond wasn’t a spendthrift character. I thought of what had happened in Moranta. A niggling thought arose within my mind. Has Tessa been part of Armond’s numerous evil schemes?
I had no access to the residential area at Nuthana Gardens. It boasted tight security, and external visitors had no way of entering without permission from a resident. I could thus only observe discreetly from one of its exits.
It was the only method available but also the most labor-intensive. I waited an entire afternoon before Tessa’s car pulled up at the entrance around four in the late afternoon. She drove a black Mercedes-Benz that was the latest model.
I watched as the car entered the basement carpark, then fished out my phone to call Laurel. I had intended on inviting her out along with Tessa. Before I could dial her number, however, my phone rang with a call from Ashton.
I picked up the phone. Ashton immediately demanded, “Why were you sitting out there for the entire day? Did anything happen?”
I was baffled for a moment. Then, I suddenly recalled that Ashton had arranged for a bodyguard to watch over me from afar. I giggled sheepishly. “It’s nothing! I wanted to snoop on Tessa a little, so I waited outside her residence to see when she came back. The security here at Nuthana Gardens is way too tight, and I have no way of entering. So sitting out here was the best I could do.”
Ashton was silent on the other end of the line for a while. When he next spoke, there was a note of resignation in his tone. “Scarlett, when will you finally remember that your husband isn’t a poor man?”
Sensing my confusion, Ashton continued, “Nuthana Gardens’ developer gave me a few units within the residence when it had been completed. I’m sending the key over to you right now. What are you investigating Tessa for, though?”
“She has adopted Brandon’s child. I wanted to see if there was anything there I could use to win Brandon over,” I replied. I’d already reasoned that Brandon’s testimony would be the most damning weapon against Armond.
Ashton was silent for a while. Then, he said slowly, “Scarlett, don’t interfere anymore in this matter. I’ve already made plans to handle this. Go back to K City and take care of yourself. If you’re bored of that place, come over to Moranta.”
I could detect undercurrents of meaning rippling beneath Ashton’s casual manner. He seemed unwilling to tell me just what he’d planned. Exasperated, I fumed, “I’m going to stay in A City. Armond took all of us for a ride from the start. If I don’t get to witness his conviction and imprisonment, I won’t be able to rest.”
Ashton sounded helpless. In a patient voice, he soothed, “It’s not time yet. Don’t rush into things. Just leave everything to me.”
I bit my lip in frustration. Ashton was once again treating me with the same patronizing manner as he would a child. It made my blood boil.
I hung up the phone. Someone arrived shortly thereafter with the keys. I was still harboring resentment towards Ashton for his condescension earlier. I was in no mood to continue with the investigation any further that day.
With that, I turned and headed back to the villa.
I headed into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed, ruminating over the events that had occurred. I felt as if everything I’d done had been rendered worthless and grew even more infuriated.
Just then, a phone call came from Hannah, reminding me that I had to go to K City to attend her wedding. Amidst my busyness, I’d totally forgotten about it. I hurriedly replied to Hannah that I would definitely be there.
The wedding had been scheduled for two days later.
After much deliberation, I decided to head back to K City first. After Hannah’s wedding, I’d immediately return to continue scrutinizing Tessa. I thus booked my tickets for the flight to K City.
…
Hannah’s wedding was to be held at Chandler’s childhood home. The house was situated rather near K City’s suburbs. It wasn’t much of a drive away at all. Hannah had familiarized herself with the customs there. She had no intention of being caught by surprise by any rituals she hadn’t prepared herself for in advance.
As she sat in a cafe in the city center, Hannah’s radiant smile nearly filled the room. When she caught sight of me entering, Hannah looked overwhelmed with elation. She greeted me enthusiastically, then fired, “Why did you stay in A City for so long? Chandler has been clinging to me so much lately. I haven’t even been able to tear myself away to go shopping!”
I listened to Hannah’s rapid prattle in amusement. “Wouldn’t you want him to stay by your side every day? What’s so annoying about that?”
Hannah pursed her lips. She grandly got to her feet and did a small pirouette. Noticing that all eyes in the cafe had immediately fastened themselves upon her, Hannah immediately sat down bashfully once again. “Did you see how fat I am now? I think Chandler’s been stuffing me too much food!”
I guffawed, then stopped at the sight of Hannah’s sober face. “Don’t you think you look beautiful now? Even as another woman, I can’t take my eyes off you!”
