Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Meanwhile, Hope stood by her sister’s side, a sense of unease creeping over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, causing her apprehension to grow.
“Why did you admit to it then?”
“Those ingredients were bought by my sister, Faith. I’m Hope. She told me that if I took the initiative to admit this, you would treat me differently because you like someone who takes responsibility-” When Hope said these words, tears streamed down her face as if she had suffered a great grievance.
Callum felt like he had heard an immense joke and snapped, “Didn’t you find something wrong when you said that? Admitting a mistake would make me treat you differently? You plotted against the person I hold precious in my heart. Do you think I would easily forgive you? If you’re coveting Mrs. Winthrop’s position in the Winthrop Family, let me tell you now, with your face and your foolish mind, I will never be interested in you in this lifetime.”
Hope hadn’t anticipated the situation would escalate to such an extent. Her face flushed bright red, and overcome with shame, she could not lift her head.
“Your actions have warranted this punishment, and even if I were to silently end your life, you would deserve it,” Callum seethed, his anger reaching an unprecedented level. He leaned down, his gaze piercing the trembling woman before him, his voice turning icy cold. “Tell me everything you know,” he demanded, his tone brooking no further resistance.
Despite her fear, Hope understood the gravity of the situation and, fueled by what had been said earlier, a certain resentment toward Faith grew within her. Summoning her courage, she decided to speak up. “Faith did it because she received benefits from someone else!”
On the other hand, Faith’s countenance immediately contorted into an intensely unpleasant expression. Nevertheless, she still wanted to preserve her fragile image in front of others. So, she retorted defiantly, “What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly receive benefits from someone else?” While saying this, she deliberately conjured two tears, making it appear she had endured a great grievance. Her performance was executed with such convincing emotion that it could have easily deceived others.
Remaining unmoved by her tears, Callum disregarded the display of emotion and pressed on with his questioning. Firmly, he reiterated, “I will ask you one final time, and it is in your best interest to tell me the truth. Whose benefits did you receive?”
Despite this, Faith remained resolute in her position and persisted in withholding the truth. She maintained her claim, stating, “I didn’t receive any benefits.”
“Fine. If you don’t tell me, perhaps Hope will,” he declared, redirecting his gaze toward her sister.
Meanwhile, Hope, initially thinking she had evaded scrutiny, began to feel a sense of unease upon witnessing Callum’s stern gaze fixed upon her. Gathering her courage, she recounted her recollection, “I can’t provide all the specific details, but on that particular night, Faith quietly left her room, claiming she needed to use the restroom. Something felt amiss, so I decided to follow her. To my surprise, I discovered her engaged in a hushed conversation with a stranger in the secluded corner of the Winthrop Family’s garden.”
“Where did they meet?”
“It was near a wall in a secluded corner of the garden. At that moment, I overheard fragments of their conversation, which appeared to be about tampering with the food.”
Raising an eyebrow, Callum shifted his gaze to Faith, whose pretense had begun to crumble. With a stern tone, he confronted her again, “Are you still not admitting it?”
“Fine. Since I’ve done it, I’ll admit it,” she declared, lifting her head and discarding her previous facade of helplessness. Then, she boldly confessed, “Yes, I did it. So, what?”
She exuded a sense of certainty, seemingly convinced he wouldn’t dare take drastic actions against her. While she harbored some fear about facing his intense questioning, she was not entirely helpless or devoid of a plan.
Callum, keenly observant, took notice of her demeanor, and suspicions started to form in his mind. He inquired, “You admitted it rather quickly. Is there someone supporting you from behind, influencing your actions?”
“No, but I want to clarify that you wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me.”
After witnessing Faith’s unwavering confidence, he was on the verge of laughter. Suppressing the urge, he retorted, “What status do you possess? Why do you assume I wouldn’t dare confront you?”
“Only I possess the antidote.”
When she mentioned the word “antidote,” Callum’s expression turned grim, and his demeanor grew even more resolute. He swiftly approached her, gripping her collar firmly, and demanded, “What antidote? What did you put in the food?”
“A simple food incompatibility wouldn’t be enough to kill anyone. Food poisoning is just a cover on the surface. The truth is that the food Mrs. Winthrop consumed was laced with drugs. So, if you dare lay a hand on me, she will die with me.”
Since she has revealed the incident’s truth, it is plausible that she has made extensive preparations, and it is also possible that she does not possess the alleged antidote.
Despite his anger, Callum recognized the importance of acting cautiously to ensure Elspeth’s safety. He refrained from recklessly searching Faith and released his grip, causing her to fall. However, he acknowledged her willingness to reveal the truth indicated her desire to survive. Then, he asked, “So, what are your conditions?”
Even though she lay somewhat disheveled on the ground, Faith’s smug smile revealed her satisfaction with the outcome. She believed she had emerged victorious in the gamble, and her words were triumphant. “I knew it. Mr. Winthrop, you’re indeed a shrewd person.”
“What do you want to do now?”
“I don’t want to do anything. My actions were purely based on someone else’s orders. Therefore, I sincerely hope you won’t take any action against me.”
“Besides this condition, do you have any other requests?”
After hearing this, Faith gingerly rose to her feet, massaging her sore elbow. “I desire to depart from the Winthrop Family without harm befalling me.”
On the contrary, Callum’s suspicion was stirred by the woman’s words. “So, who exactly instructed you?”
Then, Faith shook her head, a hint of intrigue dancing on her face. “I can’t tell you that, but you just need to know that you have offended someone powerful.”
“Slevin Damazio?” After careful consideration, Callum concluded that no other plausible candidate could orchestrate such an act.
“You don’t need to ask anymore. I won’t tell you.”
Since extracting the truth from the woman seemed futile, he decided not to pursue further questioning. He acquiesced to her request without hesitation.
As Faith breathed a sigh of relief, Callum shifted the conversation toward Hope. “Would you like to take this woman with you?”
Meanwhile, Hope found herself utterly dumbfounded at this unexpected turn of events. She had never anticipated that, despite her sister’s role in devising and executing the plan, she would be the one held accountable. Furthermore, she couldn’t fathom what her fate would be if left behind, which instilled a sense of fear within her. Her eyes betrayed her apprehension as she pleaded, “Please, take me with you.” I don’t want to remain alone in this place. Considering Mr. Winthrop’s inability to direct his frustration elsewhere, I am sure he will unleash his anger on me. As she contemplated her fate, she felt a deep sense of fear.
“Take you with me? After you intentionally exposed all of my secrets, do you honestly believe I would still consider taking you away?” Faith sneered, her face devoid of expression as if the woman standing before her had no significance. Then, she shifted her attention to Callum and declared, “Mr. Winthrop, you may do as you please with my sister. Henceforth, she has no connection to me.”
In the meantime, he had already anticipated this answer from her. Without uttering another word, he promptly directed the people beside him to escort Hope away. Due to her knowledge, deliberate concealment of information, and malicious intent, he could not simply let her go.
Shortly after being taken away, the sound of Hope’s cries resonated throughout the entire kitchen.
As the cries gradually subsided, Callum nodded at Faith, gesturing toward a waiting vehicle. “I have already made arrangements for your transportation. Simply inform the driver of your desired destination.”
Meanwhile, she was taken aback by his unexpected consideration, a touch of surprise evident on her face. However, a hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes as she contemplated everything he had done out of concern for Elspeth’s safety. How could Mrs. Winthrop be so fortunate?
While observing Faith lost in her thoughts, Callum asked, “What’s wrong? Do you have any other requests?”
“No. I’m fine,” Faith responded. Given her circumstances, successfully departing from the Winthrop Family was the most favorable outcome. Then, she smiled and walked out the door.
Nonetheless, Callum chose not to follow her. The assistant beside him glanced at his composed demeanor, somewhat astonished by his reaction.
“Mr. Winthrop, are you truly letting her go just like that?” Regardless of how the assistant contemplated the situation, he couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied. This woman has perpetrated such actions, yet not only has she managed to evade punishment, but she is also leaving the premises so effortlessly.
Still, Callum remained unaffected by any sense of displeasure.
This unusual reaction surprised the assistant.
“Did she promise to give me the antidote just now?” Callum asked.
The assistant widened his eyes in response and shook his head. “No. She didn’t mention giving you the antidote after leaving the Winthrop Residence.”
“So, it’s not an exchange but a deception,” Callum said, his gaze sharpening with a chilling touch of ruthlessness.
Having worked with him for many years, the assistant immediately grasped the underlying significance behind his words. “Are you suggesting that there is, in fact, no antidote, and she didn’t poison Mrs. Winthrop? She merely employed that phrasing as a clever ruse to facilitate her escape.”
Callum curled his lips, and a faint smile appeared. “You’re smart.”
“So, you don’t actually plan to let her go, do you?” The assistant’s voice held a touch of apprehension, well aware of Callum’s vengeful nature, which mirrored that of Elspeth. Faith wouldn’t escape easily, and her consequences would likely be severe.
Callum nodded, his expression growing steely, while a soft chuckle escaped his lips. “Anyone who dares to harm the people I care about won’t have a favorable outcome.”
…
Meanwhile, Faith sat in the car, a sense of relief washing over her for the cunning lies she had concocted earlier. If she had not devised that clever deception, she would likely face the same fate as Hope, punished by Callum himself. Given her knowledge of his unwavering devotion to his wife, Faith understood that by offending Mrs. Winthrop, her survival would have been unlikely without this ruse. She also counted herself lucky that she had chosen her words carefully to avert disaster.
Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice that the scenery outside the car had gradually transformed into an unfamiliar and desolate landscape. It wasn’t until the car abruptly came to a halt, causing her to lurch forward and almost collide with the front seat due to inertia, that her impatience took hold. “Do you even know how to drive? Why did you stop without uttering a single word?”
However, the person in front remained motionless, not making a single move or uttering a word.
Soon, an unsettling feeling began to wash over Faith, intensifying with each passing moment. Sensing something was amiss, she turned and peered out the window, only to be met with a desolate and unfamiliar landscape. Confusion and frustration welled up within her as she voiced her growing discontent. “Didn’t I make myself clear? I said I wanted to go to Southdale. Why have you brought me here instead?”
At that moment, she realized that the situation might be far more complex and ominous than she had initially assumed. Her instinct for self-preservation kicked in, prompting her to try opening the car door, only to discover that both the windows and doors were securely locked, trapping her inside. A sense of helplessness enveloped her, but she refused to succumb to despair. With caution, she extended her trembling hand, feeling around in the confined space, desperately searching for anything that could serve as a means of self-defense.
However, before Faith could find anything to defend herself with, the person in front of her moved with lightning speed, turned around, and brandished a dagger. He ruthlessly plunged the weapon into her heart without giving her a chance to react. In an instant, the gushing blood stained her clothes crimson.
“You!” she gasped out. Her immense agony overwhelmed her senses, causing her consciousness to gradually blur and fade away.
“I’m sorry. If anyone is to blame, it is you for offending Mrs. Winthrop. You must have had a considerable audacity to take action against her,” the man responded coldly, showing no sympathy for Faith and her malevolent intentions. He couldn’t find compassion for someone who would go so far as to drug a pregnant woman. In his eyes, she deserved the fate that befell her.
Disgusted by her lifeless eyes, the driver exited the car, tidied up her body, cleared the scene, and quickly left the area.
…