Chapter 457: He Shouldn’t Know Anything About This
Lariette sat alone in a restaurant’s private dining room. She clasped her hands weakly on her lap, shivering against the linen tablecloth. The cup of tea before her had gone cold, staying untouched.
Her eyes, once bright with anticipation just an hour ago, had now lost their luster. She stared blankly at the empty chair across from her, the same one where Mr. Eastwood had sat not long ago.
"...hic... hic!"
Lariette’s throat burned from holding back the sobs, but tears still escaped from her reddened eyes, casting silent trails against her cheeks.
As she tightened her hands into fists, she felt the dull ache of her nails digging into her palms.
The air in the room was suffocating, heavy with the weight of everything he had just told her. As if she was strangled by an invisible force, she gasped for air, her chest heaving.
Ring! Ring!
Her phone rang again, the soft melody shattering the stillness for the fourth time. His name flashed across the screen, and yet again, she didn’t answer.
Lariette hovered a hand over the device for a second, then it fell limp beside her. Despite the guilt that weighed heavily in her heart, she ignored Ruediger’s continuous phone calls.
Disbelief, horror and the cruel truth that had just surfaced after so many years turned the calm state of her mind into chaos.
As the snow began falling again, her thoughts drifted back to one hour ago.
**********
<.3 PM.>
As Lariette stepped into the restaurant, the gentle chime of a doorbell and its warmth greeted her. The cozy lights glowed warmly. The air was filled with the soft murmur of diners and the gentle melody played in the background.
After telling the hostess of the reservation made by Mr. Eastwood, Lariette was shown into a private room. She sat down while smoothing her skirt.
Lariette was still surprised by Mr. Eastwood’s invitation to meet. The message came so without any warning.
After she confirmed the announcement of his sudden resignation last week, he had been very quiet. She was afraid it would be hard to reach out again if she declined his invitation.
She wondered what the middle-aged man wanted to tell her, thinking whether it would be about school.
"Ah... How could I forget?"
Lariette clutched the strap of her handbag, realizing with a pang of regret that she had forgotten to bring the farewell gift she and Ruediger had prepared. The one from the other teachers was entrusted to Principal Smith.
Lariette reminded herself to ask Mr. Eastwood if she could just leave it at his apartment unit’s mail storage box. But she actually preferred to give it to him personally.
Although they were colleagues for only one semester, Mr. Eastwood was always helpful. That was one of the reasons why Lariette and the other teachers were reluctant to let him go.
As she sat with quiet anticipation, she was unaware that a confession soaked in vengeance awaited.
In a few minutes, the door slid open.
"Mr. Eastwood," Lariette greeted as she rose to her feet, smiling softly, "I’m glad to see you today."
The man in his late fifties nodded slightly, "I feel the same, Ms. Elsher."
Mr. Eastwood stepped in, wearing a dark suit. His usually gentle expression seemed unreadable at this moment as he sat across from Lariette. He still carried the faint chill from the outside.
A waiter came in, bringing a tray of tea pot and cups. After serving them some tea, he left.
Lariette reached for her cup, "I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. Actually, everyone hopes to see you again. How have you been? You said you have something to tell me? Is it about your remaining tasks?"
Mr. Eastwood lingered his gaze on the steam rising from his cup. Then, slowly, he spoke. His tone low but sharp, "I’ll be direct. You’ve been wanting to know about your birth, right?"
"...pardon?"
Lariette blinked, caught in a daze as she was surprised by his question. She watched as Mr. Eastwood lifted his eyes, still calm and steady, yet shadowed by something dark.
"Ms. Elsher, you’ve been searching for answers, haven’t you? About who exchanged you and the other infant decades ago."
Her breath hitched, "H-how... How do you know about that?"
"I know more than you think," Mr. Eastwood leaned back as he crossed one leg over the other. He folded his hands neatly, resting them on his lap, "Since your dear brother has been investigating the case, I think I should tell you the truth."
A strange chill ghosted down her spine. Her heart pounded wildly, buzzing in her ears.
His words didn’t sound like comfort at all, and she was still surprised by his knowledge about the hidden part of her life.
"You shouldn’t know anything about this."
She tightened her clasp around the cup, its heat seeping into her skin. Her mind was in a jumble, unable to fully comprehend his words.
How did he know about the infant switch? How did he also know that someone was digging into the case? Was it because...
Once again, Mr. Eastwood didn’t waste time disguising his words, "And yet, I do. I know everything. I returned to the country and joined that middle school because of you."
Lariette’s brows furrowed, her eyes widening, "Because of... me?"
"Yes," Mr. Eastwood nodded plainly, "To keep an eye on you. To see what you and your damn family have become."
Her confusion deepened, "I don’t understand. Why would you—"
He abruptly cut her off, "Because everything that happened back then, all of it ties back to me."
Her blood ran cold. The words hit her like a stone sinking into her chest. Her entire body shivered as if a frosty breeze had just blew past the private room.
"Mr. Eastwood... what, what are you talking about?"
Was it... was it just what she had just thought?
That, this man, he...
Mr. Eastwood curled his lips but mockery was evident in his eyes. For the first time Lariette had known him, she saw a cold and unnerving clarity behind his pair of glasses.
"Because I was the one behind it."