His Perfect Wife Strikes Back

91 Have A Talk With Daley

After I calm down, I think I should have a talk with Daley. Maybe I was too excited. I had to let him know that I didn't mean to withhold information about the flash drive from him, and I had to let him know that I didn't like the way he was making decisions for me, and I didn't like the way he was telling me what to do, especially in front of my father.

Before I opened the door, I mentally rehearsed the words I had already thought of to apologize. I'm sure he will understand me after listening to my explanation. We'll think of a better way.

But it was all in my head, and when I actually opened the door, Daley wasn't outside at all. He left without telling me. I didn't believe him, so I went to the bathroom and the closet to check it out. He really left. I felt empty inside, but that emptiness was quickly replaced by anger. I didn't see his message on my cell phone. He didn't even tell me where he was going.

I didn't want to be alone in the room, so I walked out into the garden downstairs. The garden is also designed in a retro style, with rare redwood trees and unknown blue flowers that I have never seen before. The butterflies dancing in the garden are the most colorful ones I have ever seen.

Not far away came the sound of birds. I looked ahead and saw two white peacocks strolling in an empty meadow. A blue-feathered macaw flew past and soon landed on a branch. An old woman was sitting in a wheelchair under a tree, her hand holding birdseed to lure the macaw.

The macaw took one look at the food in her hand. It swooped down with its wings and pecked at some of the food with its beak. Then it flew back to its original position, its beak slowly chewing the food in its mouth.

The old woman smiled with satisfaction. She looked in my direction and waved me over. So I went up to her and she said to me.

"Good morning, Eva," Vickie said. "Would you like to have breakfast with me? My chef makes a delicious Italian pie that you can try."

I saw a plate of pie and a pot of coffee on the round table in front of Vickie. None of the food seems to have been touched.

"Good morning, Vickie," I said. "I appreciate the offer, but I just want a cold lemonade right now."

I need ice to cool my body and mind. Although I avoided direct sunlight in the shade of the trees, I could not shield myself from the rising temperature.

"Go get a cold lemonade," Vickie said to the footman behind her. The footman did so at once.

"Come, sit down. You don't look well, my child. What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I lied. "Everything's fine."

"The only things that upset women are men and children." Vickie took a sip of coffee from the table. "I'm guessing you don't have children, so which of my grandchildren is bothering you?"

I suddenly looked up at Vickie, who was looking at me with those knowing eyes. Did she know something?

"Don't worry, Mark told me about you and Frade," she says, wrinkling her face as she laughs. "I also know something about you and Arthur on Pudding Island."

"You seem to know everything," I whispered.

"I'm just old, but I'm not blind or deaf," she said, "Being the only woman in the Logan family, I had to get more secrets out of people. Mark is my sister's grandson. He serves the Logan family. So he wouldn't hide anything he knew from me."

I didn't know what to say. The old woman had eyes sharper than an eagle's. She not only has the ability to spy on other people's secrets, but also has the ability to read people's minds. Never lie in front of her, because nobody knows what the consequences will be.

No wonder even Frade and Daley have to be respectful and vigilant in front of their grandmother. Because they were afraid of her, or rather of her power.

"When I thought Frade would never wake up, I got Arthur back. When Frade woke up, I was both happy and worried." She lowered her eyes. "I was afraid they were going to fight like they used to."

Is she worried that Frade and Daley are gonna fall out again over a woman, like they fought over Mia? So she thinks I'm a trouble? The footman handed me a cold lemonade and I took a sip. It was cold. My nervousness was relieved by the cold soda.

"I met a woman who looked just like you," Vickie said. "Frade brought that woman to me once, and he told me he wanted to marry her. But I don't remember her name now."

"Mia," I told her.

"Yeah, that sounds like the name," Vickie said, as if she remembered something. "But I don't like that woman. She acts so innocent, but there's too much in her eyes. I'm not sure about her."

This is the third person to tell me about Mia. Vickie and Daley see Mia the same way. Mia now has two negative ratings.

"I knew she was going to cause trouble for our family, but I didn't think it would be this much trouble," Vickie said ruefully. "If I had gotten rid of that woman in time, maybe the brothers wouldn't have fallen out."

I nervously gripped the cold glass in my hand. Then Vickie looked at me. "I'm sure you're not going to end up like that woman, Mia, are you?"

"Frade woke up with amnesia, and he doesn't remember me," I explained. "When I was with Frade, he just thought I was Mia's stand-in."

"What about Arthur? Do you really love him?"

Vickie's sudden question overwhelmed me. I couldn't lie to her because she would see through my lies. So I gave her an uncertain answer.

"I don't think we've reached the point where we love each other," I said, referring to real love.

"If I were you, I'd choose Frade."

What Vickie said shocked me. Why would she think that?

"Arthur has too many secrets in his heart. His mother is mentally ill, and maybe he is," Vickie said coldly. "He might even do something extreme."

"Like what?" I asked cautiously.

"Like hurting the people he loves the most," said Vickie, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Who did he hurt?" I asked.

Vickie, however, did not answer the question directly, and immediately changed the subject. Vickie reached back and the footman immediately handed her a golden handbag. Vickie found a black credit card and threw it on the table in front of me.

"Go have some fun. Arthur has gone to Las Vegas for a business meeting. He won't be back today."

She closed her eyes and put her head back as if she were sleeping. Then the footman, standing behind her, pushed her wheelchair away.

Who did Daley Hurt? Is he gonna hurt me?

A drop of sweat dripped from my forehead to my chest. I thought I should leave the garden. The air here is too muggy. Then my phone rang, and I pressed the answer button, and Liv's voice came from the other end.

"Oh, my God! It's so good to hear your voice. Eva, I have something important to tell you."

"I'm listening," I said as I squeezed my phone.