Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“What happened?”
Elspeth was taken aback. When she opened her lips to explain, Ophelia immediately interjected,
“It’s all my fault, Callum. Mrs. Winthrop fell accidentally due to my actions, as it enraged Elspeth. It’s entirely my fault!”
Ophelia sobbed as she spoke and even glanced at Elspeth with sadness.
“But Mrs. Winthrop is not guilty. How can she be at ease if the assailant is not brought to justice?”
Falling from such a high stairwell would cause serious injury even if one did not die. Ophelia was free to change the truth now that Margot couldn’t testify.
Elspeth knew Ophelia would say something like this, so she gave Ophelia a stern look.
“You did it on purpose to frame me.”
Meeting Elspeth’s fierce gaze, Ophelia got behind Callum, seemingly frightened.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do it. Please don’t push me.”
She looked as if she witnessed Elspeth push Margot off the stairs with her own eyes and the shock still. lingered in her mind.
“Ophelia, you’re responsible for Mrs. Winthrop’s injury and you know it. You pushed me in the first place, which in turn caused me to release her hand. Why are you putting all the blame on me?”
Tears rolled down Ophelia’s cheeks.
“Elspeth, Mrs. Winthrop practically raised me. I would rather risk myself than hurt her. Besides, there’s some kind of history between both of you. There’s no way I’ll hurt her.”
Callum’s first thought was to deny Elspeth’s responsibility in pushing his mother, but he began to waver when he saw the certainty on Ophelia’s face.
He studied Elspeth with scrutiny. When he found the blank look on Elspeth’s face, he couldn’t describe the feelings that surged within him.
“Callum, you suspect me too, don’t you?”
In a split second, anger arose inside her as she noticed his hesitant expression.
“He hasn’t said a word, Elspeth. Why are you getting carried away? Are you perhaps feeling guilty?”
Ophelia chimed in to stoke the fire, trying to drive a wedge between the pair..
“Elspeth, I’m not trying to blame anyone.”
Callum paused, voice stern.
“However, I don’t know whom I’m supposed to believe when my mother is lying here unconscious.”
His words sent a pang through her heart. Who would have thought the man who promised to marry her last night was the same person who doubted her character today?
“You don’t believe me, do you? Fine. It’s my fault that your mother fell down the stairs.”
Callum was taken aback when she simply took the responsibility. He didn’t mean to blame her, but it seemed like she had misunderstood his words.
“Elspeth, you know I don’t mean that.”
At that, Elspeth took a deep breath.
“If so, pray tell, what are you suggesting? Do you expect me to ignore the look you give me when all you do is stand there and look at me as if I’m a suspect?”
He did not dare to meet her gaze.
“You know what, Callum? Remember not to make promises you can’t keep in the future.”
Closing her eyes, she burst into laughter.
“It’s ridiculous.”
It was indeed a ridiculous situation to her, which explained the tears threatening to trickle down her cheeks.
“I will go. Are you happy now?”
Ophelia was pleased to watch the fight unfold between the two. However, she wasn’t impressed with the outcome. Thus, she added,
“Not so fast. The accident might turn out to be a criminal offense. It can’t be solved with just a reprimand. It needs a sentence.”
Callum clenched his fists, and his eyes were shooting daggers at the talking woman.
“Enough, Ophelia.”
“Why should I stop? Callum, she’s the cause of your mother’s injury, but you’re choosing to side with her? Have you forgotten all about your mother?”
She couldn’t understand it. Why is he hesitating and worrying about his romantic relationship when his mother’s life is hanging in the balance?
“Mind your own business. I’ll deal with my affairs on my own.”
“Then, ask her to prove it, Callum. If she can prove her innocence, I’ll apologize to her. Or else, I’ll never forgive her for hurting Mrs. Winthrop!”
Her words came cut powerful, so much so that even Elspeth could almost believe that.
“Elspeth.”
Callum turned to Elspeth with a hint of a plea in his eyes.
She knew that look-Callum was asking her to show him the evidence to prove her innocence.
He put too much faith in her, believing she could find a solution and get out of the mess. Unfortunately, he was wrong this time.
No matter the conflict between her and Margot, or the fact that she let go of the other woman’s hand in the first place, everything pointed to her as the culprit.
It was funny to learn there wasn’t even a surveillance camera around such a huge villa.
“I don’t have any evidence.”
When Callum heard that, the light in his eyes died down,
The ambulance arrived and took Margot away on a stretcher. Callum cast Elspeth one last look before he withdrew his gaze. Then, he turned around and left with the ambulance.
He paid no mind to explain his behavior to her. All he felt was calm after being hit by disappointment.
Callum’s stance was clear, and Elspeth realized something from the look he was giving her. The corners of her lips curled into a bitter and self-loathing smile. Arthur’s right. Callum has always been a cold and heartless man. How is it possible for him to open up that easily and give someone his heart? It seems like he hasn’t given me his full trust. If so, what’s the point of staying?
It shredded her heart into pieces and the pain was agonizing.
Looking around the villa, which was in a mess after the accident, Elspeth felt like she was an outsider all along.
Since nobody welcomed her, she chose to leave.
And just like that, Elspeth left without telling anybody.
Callum was keeping his mother company in the hospital when he learned the news of Elspeth’s departure. Her departure immediately left a void in him.
Ophelia interpreted the lost look on his face as Callum being worried that Margot was unable to wake up. Hence, she immediately comforted him.
“Don’t worry too much, Callum. You know they say that the good ones are blessed. It’s time for you to take a break. It’s been a whole night since you’ve been sitting there.”
She wouldn’t deny that she felt bad to see the stubble on his face and the dark circles under his eyes.
“I’m fine. Edmund needs to manage the company and Arthur is busy with operations. Blake’s career comes first and Max has his studies. There’s no one else to look after Mom if I don’t take responsibility.”
Callum was looking at the bigger picture. Noticing Ophella was yawning from time to time, he felt sorry to drag her into this matter.
“That’s enough. You’ve been staying here the whole night just like I have.
