Chapter 6 Garrett family

The body of Mariah Garrett was never found after the tragic incident. A five year old girl, the sole heir to the Garrett empire.

Something seems odd, she was the same age as me if she hadn't had that incident. How was I connected to the Garrett family in my past life?

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen. The information felt like a puzzle, and I couldn’t fit the pieces together.

Could I somehow be connected to this Mariah Garrett? A part of me wanted to dismiss the thought, but another part of me...something deep inside felt like the name was too significant to ignore. Was it possible?

I stared at the name for a long time, trying to make sense of it. But nothing came to me.

A small, unsettling feeling gnawed at my stomach. If I was somehow tied to the Garrett family... what did that mean for me now?

Scrolling through my screen, I stopped suddenly, my breath caught in my throat as I felt my hand trembling.

The clear picture of Emily Garrett, the mother of Mariah Garrett. Her soft features, her almost round face that incited protection. But there was one more thing that made my heart drop.

Her eyes, same as mine. Blue in contrast with hazel brown. What? How could this be? I don't understand.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. My breath quickened as the realization sank in... Emily Garrett had the same heterochromatic eyes as me.

I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me as I leaned back in my chair, struggling to piece everything together. I was staring at a picture of the mother of Mariah Garrett, but... why did it feel like there was something deeper at play here?

I couldn’t understand how or why, but it felt like the world was starting to tilt. The resemblance between us was undeniable. How could I have never noticed this before? Could this be some kind of sign?

The truth was slipping through my fingers, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face it. But deep down, something told me the answers were connected to the Garrett family, and to me.

I stared at the picture for a long time, trying to steady my racing thoughts. It couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?

But if I was somehow tied to the Garrett family… what did that mean for me now? Was I truly connected to Mariah Garrett in some way? Had I been part of this story all along without even knowing it?

Was this the reason I was killed in my past life? Was this the reason my mother always made sure I hid my eyes behind contact lenses?

If this was the reason I was killed, then I needed to be careful. I must first find out how I was related to the Garrett family before anything else.

"What are you doing?"

I flinched, shutting my laptop instinctively, I raised my head and immediately met Mark's questioning gaze.

Settling my beating heart, I replied "Nothing, sir" before moving my laptop to the side of the table.

"Why aren't you having lunch?" He asked again.

I took a moment to calm my nerves, my heart still pounding from the shock of everything I’d just uncovered. I tried to steady my voice as I answered, "I’m not hungry, sir."

Mark studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. He didn’t press further, but there was something in his eyes, something sharp, as if he knew I was hiding something. Maybe it was just his usual way of observing, but the weight of his gaze made me uneasy.

The Garrett family, my hidden past, the strange connection to Emily Garrett, everything felt like it was closing in on me. I couldn’t afford to slip up now. I needed answers, and I needed to be careful.

"Don’t skip lunch" he said after a beat, his tone softening just slightly. "It’s important."

I nodded, feeling the pressure of his gaze, before offering a tight smile. "I’ll eat later."

With a final glance, Mark turned and walked toward his office, leaving me to sit there, lost in my thoughts.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I opened my laptop again, the screen still showing Emily Garrett's picture, her eyes so eerily familiar. How could my mother have known all this? Was my past life the reason for everything that had happened to me?

Sighing, I closed my laptop, ready to go get some lunch. I walked into the cafeteria, my thoughts still consumed by everything I had uncovered. The soft hum of conversation filled the air, but I barely registered it. My mind was racing, trying to piece together all the fragments of my past, my connection to the Garrett family, and what it all meant for my future.

I grabbed a tray and walked down the line, trying to focus on the simple act of getting lunch. I needed to clear my mind, but it seemed impossible.

As I scanned the cafeteria, I spotted a few familiar faces, but none of them really caught my attention. Then, my gaze landed on Charles, sitting in a corner all by himself, eating lunch.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should approach him. After all, I had been trying to figure things out on my own, and I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. But something about Charles sitting alone made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I could talk to him.

I walked over to his table, my footsteps quiet against the tiled floor. He glanced up as I approached, his expression neutral, though there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Mind if I sit?" I asked, my voice soft but steady.

Charles nodded without saying much, shifting his things over to make room. I sat down across from him, taking a deep breath as I settled in.

"Everything alright?" he asked, his gaze flicking to me briefly before focusing back on his meal. There was a hint of concern there, but it was masked by his usual stoic demeanor.

I nodded, trying to seem casual, but I knew my mind was still racing. "Yeah, just needed a break" I said, offering a half-hearted smile.

The silence between us stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just... familiar. Charles has been the one that kept me company in my past life, when I was ignored by Mark.

After a few moments, I couldn’t help but ask, "You know anything about the Garrett family?" I kept my voice low, not wanting to make it obvious that I was digging for something.

Charles paused mid-bite, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. "The Garretts?" He seemed to consider my question before continuing. "Why do you ask?"

I bit my lip, hesitating. I had to be careful. "Just... curious" I said simply, avoiding his gaze. "I’m trying to piece some things together."

He didn’t respond immediately, instead finishing his bite before setting his fork down. "What kind of things?" he asked, his voice low and thoughtful.

I shifted uncomfortably, realizing how vague my question sounded. "Just... connections. I just came across this article about the Garrett family and got curious." I said, shrugging my shoulder in an attempt to seem laid back.

Charles studied me for a moment longer, then shrugged also. "You should be careful" he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not everything is what it seems with the Garretts. It’s better to stay out of it."

The cryptic response made my stomach tighten. What did he know? And why was he warning me?

I couldn’t help but press further. "Why?" I asked softly, leaning in a bit. "What’s going on with them?"

Charles looked around, his eyes scanning the room coldly before he answered "Some things are better left in the past. You shouldn't poke your nose in where you aren't concerned."

His words left a bitter taste in my mouth. There was something he wasn’t telling me, and I needed to find out what.

But for now, it seemed that getting answers from Charles wouldn’t be as easy as I hoped.

"Okay" I mumbled dejectedly. Eating my lunch slowly as I felt his gaze linger on me.

The silence stretched between us, uncomfortable yet strangely charged. I could feel Charles gaze on me, but I didn’t dare look up from my food. His warning was clear, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it, something he wasn’t telling me.

I ate slowly, every bite feeling like an attempt to occupy my mind, to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my head. The Garrett family, my strange connection to them, Emily Garrett’s eyes… it was all too much to process in one sitting.

Finally, Charles cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "If you’re smart" he said, his tone almost too calm "you’ll drop it. There’s too much at stake, and poking around in things you don’t understand could be dangerous."

I looked up at him, meeting his gaze for the first time since I sat down. His expression was unreadable, but the sharpness in his eyes suggested he knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Dangerous?" I repeated, my voice laced with curiosity and unease. "What do you mean by that?"

Charles hesitated, his gaze flickering for a moment. It was subtle, but I caught it. He was considering something, whether or not to tell me more. But after a beat, he leaned back in his chair and shrugged, his indifference returning.

"Just… be careful" he said, pushing his plate aside as if the conversation was over.

I didn’t want to let it go, but there was little more I could say without pushing him too far. For now, I was getting nowhere with Charles. His cryptic warning hung in the air like an unresolved question, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he was letting on.

I finished my lunch in silence, the unease growing in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

When I finally stood to leave, Charles didn’t say anything else, his gaze following me as I made my way out of the cafeteria. Something told me I had just scratched the surface, and now, I needed to dig deeper.

But where to start? The Garretts, Emily Garrett… the past was still shrouded in mystery, and I had no choice but to keep digging until I found the truth.