Chapter 42 The Woman in the Photo
The so-called ‘Buddha statue’ was not a Buddha statue at all, but rather a wood plaque carved with the date of birth, with four corners chained with red lacquer sprayed on it and firmly fastened to its base.
The picture frame to the right of the plaque was covered with a bright yellow piece of talisman paper with messy characters drawn on it.
Lexie’s feet felt like they were filled with lead, and her eyes were staring at the talisman paper, as if she wanted to see through the picture frame behind it.
Alan could see that something was wrong with her, “What’s wrong with you?”
As if she hadn’t heard him, Lexie reached out her hand towards the piece of talisman paper.
“What are you doing?” Alan pulled her back with one hand.
The things here could not be touched, or Peter must know that people came when he came back, if this time he could not get the prescription, the next time it will be more difficult.
Lexie’s face was white, and she remained staring at the piece of talisman paper like a demon.
What the hell?
Alan frowned, “Don’t you move.”
Never believing in superstition, he reached out and uncovered the piece of talisman paper directly, revealing the picture frame behind it.
In the frame was a black and white photograph, taken in a studio, in the style of the last century.
The woman was wearing a cheongsam, her young face with a warm smile inexplicably made Alan feel somewhat familiar, as if he had seen this woman before somewhere.
A sudden choked voice came from behind him.
Alan was stunned, and when he turned around, he saw a tear-streaked face.
Lexie’s gripped the bookcase with a deadly grip, her eyes were red, and despite her best efforts to hold back but still unable to suppress her great mourning, she choked out a hoarse voice.
Looking at Lexie’s face, Alan suddenly understood something.
The woman in this photo was…
Lexie’s eyes were blur, the crimson chains, the clear birth date, and the identical photo she had one of, all telling her what it was.
The sound of phone vibrating came from Alan’s pocket, and he glanced at the near-by safe, then at Lexie, annoyed.
He put the talisman back on, dragged Lexie and headed out.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Lexie struggled and refused to go.
“Come on,” Alan chided in a low voice, “She can’t come back to life even if you are here.”
This woman was such a pain in the ass, if he had known there would be such an accident, he might as well not have had her make this trip.
In the lounge on the second floor.
After sending the bag with the gown into the bedroom, Jack closed the door and came out.
“Mr. Alan, why is Mrs. Howard suddenly like this?”
Alan’s brow furrowed slightly in thought, “How did Lexie’s birth mother die?”
When he first wanted to marry Peter’s daughter, he had Jack do his research.
Jack froze for a moment, “It was a car accident.”
“Are you sure?”
“Here’s what the police station records show, Mrs. Howard’s birth mother had a precarious job, usually went out to work at night and drank a lot, and then died in a car accident.”
“What does she do for a living?”
” …” Jack hesitated.
In fact, this matter had already been reported to Alan at first, and it wasn’t difficult to find out.
In the file, Lexie’s mother was a prostitute, and because she was pretty, she was considered the headliner of a certain high-end club at that time, and Peter often went to patronize her.
“Later she suddenly quit and disappeared, and then it was Peter who received the news that she had died in a car accident, leaving behind a daughter, and Peter took the daughter back.”
Alan remembered the photo he saw in the Buddha Hall. The woman in the photo looked similar to Lexie, both with a virtuous face and clean eyes, she did not look like a prostitute.
Seeing Alan’s silence, Jack couldn’t help but ask, ”Didn’t you go to find the prescription today? Why are you suddenly asking about this? Did something happen?”
Alan returned to his senses, “I failed to get the prescription.”
With that, he lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch, “Has the party started yet?”
“Yes, they’re all waiting for you, and have urged several times.”
“I am not going.”
“What?” Jack revealed a look of surprise.
Alan said in a deep voice, “Tell Peter that I still have things to do, so I’ll take Lexie back first.”
His plan was for Lexie to go to the safe and wait for the camera in the hallway to record the video of her going in, so that even if he took the prescription, Peter would only suspect her.
But he didn’t expect the unexpected and was delayed.
Now, based on Lexie’s situation, she could not continue to attend the party.
Just as the words left his mouth, the sound of a door opening came from behind him.
Lexie pulled open the door and stood in the doorway, the new gown fit perfectly on her body, the black ruffled lace perfectly trimmed the line of her shoulder and neck, revealing her dedicate neck.
Her eyes were red, which showed that she had been crying, and now she looked fragile.
[I’m fine for the party.]
Alan was stunned.
It was already dark, and people were coming and going in the hall.
Edith was chatting with her friends when a waiter came and gave her a bottle of red wine from the wine cellar and said something in passing, she instantly showed a smug smile.
“What’s wrong, Edith? A bottle of red wine gives you such pleasure?”
“What’s so pleasing about red wine?” Edith raised her eyebrows, “What can make me happy is that someone got into the trap.”
“What do you mean?” Her best friend didn’t understand Edith’s words, looked around and wondered, “Didn’t you say Tina is here too? How come we haven’t seen her?”
“She is gone.”
“When?”
Edith said meaningfully, “Her good deeds have been spoiled, and she is unable to take care of herself, so she has no interest to the party. If I were her, I would definitely be thinking of how to kill someone right now.”
“What are you talking about?” Her friend frowned, “It’s getting hard to understand what you said.”
As they were talking, someone suddenly said, “Alan is here.”
At that, Edith’s eyes lit up and she immediately stood up from the sofa, straightened her hair and clothes, and looked towards the place where the crowd’s eyes were gathered.
“Isn’t that your sister?”
As the sound of her best friend’s voice fell, Edith had already seen the man.
On the stairs, Alan, dressed in a straight black suit, his face as cold as ever, his ghastly scars unable to conceal his handsomeness, was currently walking towards the center of the banquet hall.
The one accompanying her was actually Lexie. She changed into a black evening dress, holding Alan’s arm, elegant and calm. The two appeared in a very harmonious manner.
This scene landed in Edith’s eyes and stung to her heart.
She clenched her fingers so hard that her nails pinched in her palm.
How could Lexie attend the banquet with Alan in such a calm and collected manner, was this a clear attempt to show off in front of everyone and humiliation to her?