<b>Chapter 117 </b>
Gloria
<b>40</b><b>% </b>
I lunged, sping my hands together as I stared at Mr. Harry in front of me. “This is what we’ve found.” He pushed an envelope towards me. I nced at it, furrowing my brows before picking it up and bringing out its contents.
“You had over five years, and the information has not changed as I expected.” I have high expectations after I’ve spent over ten years in
search and over 50 million dors, yet I have no information about Irene.
“We are trying our best.” Mr. Harry said in his usual deep voice. “If we get any more information, I’ll let you
know.”
I nodded, pushing the envelope back to him, “Make sure to watch her closely, I can’t shake this feeling that she has something to do with
this.” I said.
“We have her tailed, but there’s nothing abnormal. I’ll report whatever I find suspicious.” He said. “I’d like to ask something. I hope you don’t
find my question offensive.”
I squinted. Mr Harry wasn’t really the nosy type. He only worked with what you’ve specifically requested, so having him talk about asking a question felt off.
“Of course, you can,” I said, hoping he’d feel free and speak what was truly in his mind.
“Do you think it’s time to tell your daughter?” He paused and continued, “She had been in the dark for years, telling her about this won’t be bad, who knows, she may have a thing or two to add to the search.” I fell into my chair.
I pondered on what Mr. Harry said for a while and then shook my head, no, I don’t want Lydia to know about this, not now, when I don’t have any tangible information.
“When we have more information, I’ll tell her, for now, keep this search between both of us as it has always been.”
I brought out my shades, ready to leave, “I can trust you on that, right?”
He nodded, “Of course.”
I know I can trust him because he didn’t fail me when he searched for Lydia. If not for Mr. Harry, I’d probably not have met with my daughter.
He wasn’t just a private investigator to me; he was like a friend. He has been helping me for the past ten years. He worked solely on my project as I asked.
I stood, pushing my chair back, “I’ll send you your money before today ends. If we get any tangible information before this month ends, then I’ll double your pay.”
That was to boost him, and it worked.
“I will, ma’am“, he bowed slightly as I worked out.
I drove back home, and Liam and Mnie were in their room when I returned.
“Grandma,” Mnie saw me first.
“Hey, babies.” Liam turned at the same time, Mnie leapt out of her bed, ran towards me, and wrapped her hand around my waist.
Liam joined her in a few seconds.
“Grandma.” I picked them up, held them in both arms, and walked to the end. I sat on the edge and ced them on myp. They sat facing. each other.
“How are my babies?” I questioned, smiling.
“Fine. But I’m a bit bored. Mom left for a party, and even Mason has refused to y with us.” Liamined.
Mason didn’t refuse to y with them. He was also in the same party as Lydia.
“I am not bored,” Mnie said.
“I am,” Liam said, and that’s how their banter began.
“You can’t be bored, we’ve been ying, do you not like mypany, Laim?” She asked.
“I never said I don’t like it, but you always want to be the only one ying with the toys.”
“Because the toys are for girls, they are all mine.”
“I like them too.”
“Okay, okay, babies, how about we go shopping for new toys?”
I spent the rest of the day with the kids. We went shopping, and afterwards we went for ice cream. By the time we got home, I was beyond exhausted. Liam and Mnie, however, weren’t.
Zoe’s POV
I watched Mason walk away, staring at the back of his head with blurry eyes. “Why can’t you just listen to me?” I yelled, but he never turned; he probably didn’t hear me.
“Miss Zoe. You need to go back to your room.” That voice. I fist my palm and turned face to face with Mrs. Rita, ady mom hired to watch me.
“Why did you leave your room?” She asked, walking towards me.
For the past two weeks, my freedom has been restricted. I couldn’t go out or do things the way I wanted to. Mom’s reason was that she didn’t want me <i>to </i>make any more decisions that maye back to bite me in the future.
“I wanted to speak <i>to </i>Mason. Surely you won’t stop me from speaking with my brother now, will you?”
“I won’t stop you if you get your mom’s approval.”
“He’s my brother, I need no one’s approval,” I yelled, agitated at the thought that they tried to control that, too.
I can deal with that, the fact that he doesn’t care, all I just needed to do was speak to him and tell him the truth that has been weighing on <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
I barely got to use my phone, and when I did, the time I spent on it was restricted. I have not been able to reach Mason, and for some reason, he seemed not to care about me anymore.
“Please go back to your room.” Mrs. Rita had her hands ced over each other in front of her.
“You can’t stop me from speaking to him.” A part of me wished he’d walk back and see this. Maybe he forgot something, anything to make him walk in on us.
“If you don’t go back, I’ll be forced to use force.” Her tone remained calm, but I knew she was anything but calm or polite. She was nothing, like she tried to portray herself.
“You can’t keep me in my room forever,” I said through gritted teeth. I wiped the tears off my face.
“You’ve left me with no choice.” She said and began to walk forward. She held me. By my hand, and pulled me forward forcefully. “Why do you keep making me do this?” Her fingers dug into my flesh, and I drew in a sharp breath, not wanting to give her the satisfaction that I was
hurt.
“Let me go,” I said, trying to hold my feet on the floor, but she was too strong.
“Not until you agree to walk yourself.”
“Fine.” I gave up; I couldn’t bear the pain ripping through my arms anymore. “I’ll walk.” She stopped and turned to me, a sly smile tugging the
corners of her mouth, “Don’t try anything stupid.” She said and pushed me.
I fell on my butt. She wiped her hand on the back of her dress. “Let’s go.” I peeled myself off the floor and walked behind her.
As she led me through the sitting room, I saw Mom seated on the couch; she didn’t even spare me a nce. She had her fingers in her lips,
biting on them as she tapped her feet on the floor.
I heard a part of her conversation with Mason. I have never been proud of Mason. He finally stood his ground and broke off the engagement
with Julia.
It was clear he never loved her, but I knew with Mom, that never mattered. All she cared about was the benefit of the wedding, even if Mason ended up being unhappy for the rest of his life.
Mason chose Lydia and his kids.
This will make what I’ll tell him next easier.
Mrs. Rita opened the door of my room, and I walked in. She stepped in with me, her eyes moved around my room before settling on me. “If you want peace, I’ll suggest you stop being rebellious.” She walked to my nightstand and grabbed my phone.
Raising it, she said, “You won’t be using this until I decide otherwise.” I red at her. I want to fight, and tell her to fuck off. Not my phone, it was myst strand of sanity. But I held back, I knew it wouldn’t change a thing.
Besides, I was too weak for that. It was best to allow her to leave with the phone without a fight and reserve my energy to think of how to
escape this.
Two dayster, the chance to escape finally arrived. Mom left with Mrs. Rita.
Mrs. Rita locked my room and kept the keys with her. Unknown to her, I had a key of my own, the one I never turned in and imed to have
misced.
I opened the door. No maids were in sight, perfect. Now all I had to do was leave without being seen by anyone.
Fortunately, I was able to do that, so I walked away from the mansion and into the city. All I needed was to find Mason. I had no phone or
money on me.