CHAPTER 6

The driver pulled in front of Erickson's villa. Erickson's eyes were closed, leaning on the car seat. He was so exhausted and needed to rest. His driver opened the backseat, then he stepped out. But there was a little anticipation in his mind as he opened the front door and stepped into the villa.

He met the butler preparing dinner. After greeting him, he turned to ask, "Where is my wife?"

Unknown to him, a little smile played on his lips.

The butler replied with the smile of an elder, his face wrinkled up. "She's upstairs. Madam has retired to her room."

"Alright," he replied, running up the staircase in twos. The exhaustion from the day seemed to fade as he climbed higher. His mind kept drifting to her—that stubborn girl with the fierce eyes. Why did he care? He didn't even know her.

Before he entered his own room, he moved to check on her. Peeping made him look like a pervert, so he walked inside and sat beside her, stroking her face. The moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her soft features. She looked so peaceful, so innocent.

He couldn't help but mutter, "So pretty."

Just as he was about to touch her again, she stirred and opened her eyes.

She was a little bit more clear-headed now. She blinked a few times, confused. "Are you back? And what are you doing in my room?"

Erickson rolled his eyes, feigning arrogance, and said, "Learn to close your mouth while sleeping so flies don't get in."

Ava suddenly felt confused. She looked around this villa and though she hadn't lived in such a comfortable place before, she was sure a fly couldn't get in here.

Erickson ignored her, picked up his tuxedo, and said with a hint of arrogance, "Your brother's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, so you have to be there on time to avoid delay of the surgery."

"Alright. Aren't you coming with me?" she asked softly, her long lashes sweeping against her lower cheeks.

Erickson felt a ticklish urge in his belly but still held a straight face. "Why would I? I have better things to do," he said with a sneer.

Ava kept smiling. She was so happy. At least this loveless marriage was worth it, she muttered. But Erickson heard it. He scoffed.

"Who wants to marry you?"

As he returned to his room, he got a mail. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, remembering Ava's statement. He sneered. "Stubborn pig," he cursed.

Then he sat down on his grey armed chair and tried to click on the mail. Just then, a message popped up on his phone. It was a news message. Top 5 hot search was the event of everything that happened today after he had tried so hard to suppress. This was just too much for him.

Just then, a message popped on his phone. The message was from his personal assistant.

"Sir, the executives requests a meeting tomorrow by 9am, sir."

Erickson sighed and replied to the text message. "Alright then."

He exited the message center and opened the mail his private investigator sent to him. And what he saw shocked him. His instincts were right on track. Richard was responsible for this, according to the message sent to him by his private investigator.

And it turns out that Richard and Kate had met on two occasions. On those two occasions, there were two financial transactions that went between them—the sum of three million dollars and two million dollars, both went at different times. Erickson found these transactions very questionable. He wondered what led to these transactions and this huge sums.

As he scrolled further, he also saw that the land at the south side which had been handed to Richard by his grandfather—that was planned to be constructed as a resort—its ownership was handed to Kate White. All these transactions were questionable to him because if she was given all this, why the need for the suicide? And what was the reason for the Richard he knew, who had always prioritized the south side project, to let it go?

And at the last side of the mail, Kate White had a character/behavioral disorder.

After this, Erickson closed his mail and sat down to analyze the situation. He came to a conclusion that there must be something fishy about all this, and it circulated around Richard.

He called his assistant and said, "Find out the last place Kate visited before her death. And investigate those voice records and photos."

He cut the call and went in to take a shower. He came out drying his hair and met Ava searching his drawer.

"What was this bunny searching around for?" he muttered to himself.

Before she could react, he tossed his towel onto a chair in his room and pulled her close to himself. His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his chest. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, his lips brushing against her skin.

"Want to fulfill marital duties?" he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Ava felt her heart stop. Her face flushed hot. But she forced a gentle smile and kissed his neck softly.

"I just came to... ehm..." she stammered, trying to think of an excuse. "See you," she said with an exaggerated smile.

Erickson knew obviously she was here for another purpose. He could see it in her eyes—the nervousness, the way she avoided his gaze. But he didn't know why. And if she wanted to play, he would let her.

He pushed her out of his arms, his expression cold again. "Find something better to do," he said, closing his room door in her face.

Outside the door, Ava cursed under her breath. "Scum bag."

She walked back to her room and layed on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her heart was still racing from being caught. She was trying to obtain at least a file that had a signed signature to compare to the one Liam gave her. She couldn't wait for her brother to wake up so she could really understand what was going on.

She closed her eyes, exhaustion finally pulling her under.

Tomorrow was a new day. And she would find the truth.

---