Chapter 267
After they finished their supper, Naomi went upstairs to continue working.
Initially, she hadn’t want to work overtime. She’d been planning to spend time with a certain someone. However, one trip to Chloe’s house had robbed her of those feelings.
Brendan grinded on her momentarily for a bit. However, he saw that he couldn’t get her in the mood. Later, when a work call dialed in, he went to his study and began
working.
Once he finished his tasks and returned to the bedroom, Naomi had fallen asleep in
bed.
Brendan sat by her on the bed. He was clear that there was still distance between him and Naomi. It was why she didn’t tell him about it, even though she was clearly
unhappy.
As he sat looking at her, Jason called him.
Brendan took the phone to the neighboring study. After Jason reported on what happened with Chloe, he said, “Right, Mr. Ludwig. Ms. Yates told me that she and Mrs. Ludwig talked about the fire that happened three years ago. She also mentioned that she saved you and Sophia.”
As Brendan listened to Jason speak, his expression darkened. He hummed in
acknowledgment and hung up.
With one hand in his pocket and another in his phone, he stared out of the window for a while. He thought of the horrific fire and what Sophia had told him that day.
After standing in front of the window for a long time, he turned around and returned
to his table.
As he sat in front of the laptop, something made him open the encrypted document
to reveal the evidence it contained.
In the surveillance footage, Naomi had tampered with the scene and caused the fire.
When he had obtained this evidence, Brendan hadn’t been able to belleve it.
However, after multiple rounds of investigations and confirmations, he couldn’t continue denying the fact that Naomi had started the fire.
Brendan turned off the video and let his head fall back onto his chair.
He’d agreed to this marriage as a form of revenge. He would give her what she wanted, but he would never let it truly belong to her.
Memories washed over her. Brendan’s mood was sour. After all, Sophia had died in
that fire.
If the Martins found out, if the truth was unveiled….
Brendan didn’t dare to imagine it.
He raised his right hand to massage his temples. He knew that they’d never go back to how they used to be.
The next morning, Naomi wasn’t beside Brendan anymore when he woke up.
As he walked down the stairs, Jennifer said, “Mr. Ludwig, Mrs. Ludwig left an hour and a half ago. She said you were sleeping soundly and didn’t want to wake you.”
Brendan hummed in acknowledgment. He went to the office after finishing breakfast.
At the same time, Naomi headed straight over to the area that Ivan lived in right after clocking in at the law firm.
She asked his neighbors about what had happened. When they heard her asking about what happened at Room 302, they were keen to slam their doors. They said they didn’t know anything about it, of course, not if there had been domestic abuse.
Naomi knew that there was a problem in their responses. She hadn’t even asked about domestic abuse before they brought it up by their own volition.
Thus, they must have heard something or even some calls for help.
However, if they were unwilling to say anything, she couldn’t ask too much of them.
When Naomi knocked on the door opposite Ivan’s, an old lady opened the door. She had seen Naomi come to their neighborhood multiple times, and she knew the latter was investigating a case.
She said resignedly, “Miss, I just want to live my life. I’m not going to comment on other’s affairs. You should find another way.”
After she finished speaking, she slammed the door.
Naomi stood by the door. She had figured out that Ivan must have threatened everyone not to poke their noses in his business, which was why no one dared to stand up and speak the truth.
Naomi walked downstairs with both hands stuffed into her suit pockets. She looked at Ivan’s balcony from outside. A scene painted itself in her brain.
She saw Ivan abusing Jessica by kicking and punching her, even bashing a chair on her.
Jessica ran from the living room to the balcony. Her back was pressed to the grills behind her, and Ivan’s hands were around her neck.
He threatened, “Run, then. Why don’t you continue running?”