Chapter 120: Why Does Julian Fletcher Hate Cecilia Caldwell?

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Why Does Julian Fletcher Hate Cecilia Caldwell?

Assistant Foster drove to a villa downtown.

The houses there are very expensive.

Years ago, my dad said that it was a luxury residential community developed by the Lancaster Group, a place our family couldn’t afford even if we worked hard for another twenty years.

’Even if Asher started earning prize money, scholarships, and money from part-time jobs since he joined the gifted class at fourteen... he couldn’t possibly afford a house here, right? And ever since Marcus Lancaster passed away, it doesn’t seem like the Lancaster Family has been in a position to give Asher any money.’

’He only just took over the Lancaster Group, and he doesn’t even have any real power yet. He’s been constantly suppressed and on the defensive.’

"How... how did he afford a house here?" I asked Owen Foster in surprise.

Owen Foster was silent for a long time before answering, though he didn’t directly address my question. "He’s incredible. He’s a genius."

The car came to a stop at a villa in the middle of a lake. I stared at the surroundings in shock. This truly was the most expensive piece of real estate in Meridia.

’This house... surely Asher didn’t buy it himself, did he?’

As I walked into the yard, I froze. The garden was filled with flowers—the balloon flowers and roses I loved most in my memories, and climbing roses blooming all over the walls.

"Cece, we’ll have our own home..."

"Cece... I’ll hide you away, so no one can ever hurt you again..."

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by that familiar headache. My memories were slowly returning.

And every memory I recalled was connected to Asher.

"Asher..."

I ran into the living room, searching for him.

His bedroom door was locked. From outside, I could see the curtains were drawn, letting in no light.

"Asher! Open the door."

I started to panic, afraid he would continue to hurt himself.

"He’s in a very unstable state. I’ll have someone break down the door," Owen Foster said, also worried.

"Asher, I have something to tell you," I coaxed softly, terrified he would keep hurting himself.

"Whether you’re Cecilia Caldwell or not..." Assistant Foster lowered his head, his voice low and hoarse. "Save him."

’Owen Foster used the word "save".’

’A word filled with pleading.’

’As if Asher were about to die.’

"Asher..." I pounded on the door.

"Don’t come in. Don’t look at me." His voice was urgent, not wanting me to see him in such a wretched state.

This time, I didn’t run. I took the initiative and admitted I was Cecilia Caldwell. "Asher, I remember... we first met at the orphanage."

The room suddenly fell silent. Soon, the door opened. A frantic Asher stared at me, his hands covered in blood as he tremblingly cupped my face. "Cece... you remember everything?"

’What was he so afraid of?’

’Did he want me to remember everything, or was he afraid of it?’

"Asher... I only remember meeting at the orphanage when we were kids. The year of the college entrance exams, I think I told you to wait for me... What exactly are we to each other?" I asked him, my eyes red.

Asher’s eyes reddened. "You remember me..."

’Even if it’s only our first meeting.’

"Nothing else matters. As long as you remember me, that’s enough..." Asher suddenly pulled me into an emotional hug, his fingers still dripping with blood.

The metallic scent of blood on him filled my senses, making me inexplicably nervous.

"Cece... the bad people are almost dead... soon," Asher whispered.

I clutched his clothes for reasons I didn’t understand. "Asher, don’t do something you’ll regret... Tell me the serial killings have nothing to do with you."

’Don’t kill anyone.’

Asher shook his head. "I swear, I will always be with you."

I took Asher’s hand, led him back into the room, and helped him treat his wounds.

He reverted to his docile, obedient self, sitting quietly in front of me.

"Can’t I leave you alone for even a moment?" I chided softly.

"Cece... don’t leave my sight," he whispered in a pathetic plea.

’And there’s the guilt trip.’

Resigned, I could only nod to placate him for now. "Okay."

"Cece... I don’t blame you," he said suddenly.

"For forgetting me, I don’t blame you," he said again.

My eyes reddened for no reason, tears streaming down my face beyond my control.

’I didn’t know what I was crying about.’

"Cece... don’t cry." Asher, at a loss, wiped away my tears and held me in his arms. "Cece, it’s in the past. It’s all in the past. Please, fall in love with me again, okay?"

"Sebastian Lancaster, I will get to know you all over again," I whispered.

"Okay."

He was very happy.

’It seemed like everything was moving in a good direction.’

’Everything will be alright...’

"I went to see Charlie’s sister today. Although she’s not as sharp as most people, it seems... she’s involved in some shady business," I said softly.

’I wondered if Asher knew, and if he should help. After all, she was Charlie’s sister.’

Asher froze for a moment, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "You went to see her?"

I nodded.

"Don’t go see her again, and don’t believe a word she says." Asher looked at me nervously, still cupping my face. "Cece, from now on, don’t believe anyone but me."

Seeing his panic, I quickly nodded. "Okay, I believe you."

Only then did Asher let out a breath of relief.

My phone rang. I picked it up and saw that it was, surprisingly, Erin Whittaker.

’How strange.’

"Silvia Lynch, I’m being discharged from the hospital."

"Are you crazy? If you’re being discharged, call Julian Fletcher. Why are you calling me?" I snapped, happening to be in a bad mood.

"I know you’re with Julian Fletcher." She was pretty good at guessing.

"He’s in the shower. Want me to call out to him?" I used the same old trick to provoke Erin Whittaker.

To my surprise, Erin Whittaker still fell for it. She took a deep breath. "Tonight, I’m going to cooperate with the police to lure out the killer. Don’t you want to see who it is with your own eyes?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t miss it," I snorted. "Just try not to die so easily."

"Silvia Lynch, you’re very good at imitating Cecilia Caldwell, but there are some secrets about her you don’t know... Come find me tonight. Wait for the killer with me, and I’ll tell you a secret about Cecilia. The people who knew this secret... they’ve almost all been killed by the murderer."

Erin Whittaker’s offer was tempting. It sounded like she knew some incredible secret.

’Ha. What secret could there be that I don’t know myself?’

"Even if you are Cecilia Caldwell, it’s a secret you wouldn’t know. Cecilia had amnesia; she forgot a lot of things," Erin Whittaker said again.

I frowned, suddenly recalling my first encounter with Erin Whittaker. She had looked at me nervously and whispered, "Cecilia Caldwell? You... don’t remember me?"

’She was testing me.’

’But back then, I really didn’t remember her.’

’Since Erin Whittaker was also from the orphanage, we must have crossed paths before.’

"You care so much about Cecilia Caldwell, so don’t you want to know why Julian Fletcher treated her that way? Don’t you want to know... what I did to make Julian Fletcher hate Cecilia so much? If it were just me framing her for pushing me down the stairs, Julian wouldn’t have hated her that much." Erin Whittaker really did know a lot of secrets Cecilia didn’t.

I was silent for a long time, standing by the window and watching Asher, who was sitting obediently on the bed, waiting for me.

’He’s so well-behaved. It seems like he’ll listen to anything I say.’

"Besides, I know about Cecilia Caldwell’s relationship with that lunatic Asher, and it’s inextricably linked to this serial killer case! If you want to know the truth, come see me!" Erin Whittaker’s voice trembled, her will to survive palpable.

’I knew she was afraid of dying. She was convinced Sebastian Lancaster was the killer, so she was dragging me into this, thinking it would increase her chances of survival. After all, Sebastian would be afraid of hurting me and the baby in my belly and might go easy on her.’

’I knew Erin Whittaker wanted to use me as a ’hostage’ at the critical moment.’

’Not a single word this woman said could be trusted.’

"Actually, I’ve always known about the secret room in the orphanage’s basement... And I know about the orphanage’s dark, hidden secrets. Don’t you want to know?"

She had successfully convinced me.

’These were things she refused to tell the police, no matter how much they asked.’

’Perhaps today, out of fear, she really would tell me everything.’