Chapter 162 - Hundred And Sixty Two
The pale light of dawn crept through the tall windows of their room, casting long shadows across the floor. Two weeks had passed since Doris’s death, weeks filled with grief, suspicion, and the gnawing fear that something far more sinister will happen.
Ryan stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, but his thoughts were far away. The image of Doris’s lifeless body, the blood staining the floor, was seared into his memory. He had found the strange leaves in Doris’s room, tucked away in a small pouch, the same leaves that had been used to poison Suzy.
A cold fury had gripped him then, a burning need to uncover the truth.
He had taken the leaves to the doctor, requesting a thorough examination. The doctor’s report had confirmed his suspicions. The leaves, a rare and potent herb, were known to cause memory loss when ingested. It was clear now. Doris had been responsible for poisoning Suzy, not with a fatal dose, but with something that stole her memories, her past. The realization was a heavy blow. Doris, her trusted companion, her friend, had betrayed her. "But why?" He asked.
The investigation into Doris’s actions had led to a dead end. The maid who had delivered the poisoned food to Doris had been apprehended, but before she could reveal the identity of her employer, she had taken her own life, running headfirst into a stone wall. The abruptness of it, the desperation, only deepened the mystery. Who was behind this? Who wanted to erase Suzy’s memories and why?
Ryan turned from the window, his gaze falling on Suzy, who sat by the fireplace, staring into the flickering flames. She had recovered physically from the poisoning, but the emotional scars were still visible. The light in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by a quiet sadness.
He walked over to her and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "Duchess," he said softly, "how are you feeling?"
Suzy looked up at him, her eyes filled with a weariness that went beyond the physical. "I’m... I’m better," she replied, her voice soft as a whisper. "But... I still miss her."
Ryan squeezed her hand gently. "I know," he said. "She was... she was a part of your life."