LOVE'S QUAGMIRE [18+]

Chapter 43: Past- III

Daphne's POV~

A gasp escaped my mouth, disbelief, and horror washing over me at Miss Thornfield's words.

"H-He killed? Both of them?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in my shock.

"That was just the beginning," she said, her tone sending chills down my spine.

"Adrian was happy that his son had done this. He introduced him to many heinous things." 

"H-Heinous?" I pressed, as she spoke.

 "Indulging him in sexual pleasure, making him consume alcoholic beverages, and encouraging him to smoke and do other things he was too young for," she spoke, causing my eyes to widen. I couldn't believe what she was saying; how could Adrian do such terrible things to a kid who is his son?

"As Zephyr indulged in such behavior, there was a noticeable change in his attitude and behavior. He was no longer the quieter, more subdued Zephyr; instead, he became an easily irritable, shouting, and screaming child, much like his father, or even worse. However, there was one peculiar aspect to his behavior: he tended to exhibit extreme distress or anxiety over seemingly minor issues, such as cleaning, tidiness, and order. You might have noticed this behavior as well,"  she explained as I quickly nodded my head in agreement.

"There was an incident in his classroom where he assaulted his teacher with a blackboard duster. He claimed the blackboard wasn't cleaned properly, but the teacher disagreed, and Zephyr acted out in anger." 

I remembered Zephyr's extreme reactions when things weren't perfect, even noticing a speck of dust. The memory of him making me wash his entire wardrobe flashed through my mind, sending shivers down my spine.

"Evelyn noticed these behaviors in him first—getting irrationally angry, talking to himself, experiencing distress, and exhibiting other strange behaviors like aggressive thoughts, counting, frequent baths, and excessive hand washing,"  she said, leaving me puzzled.

She flipped through some pages of the file and pulled out several sheets, then handed them over to me.

"Harmony Haven Psychiatric Institute," I whispered to myself, looking at the papers with confusion. I glanced at Miss Thornfield, who nodded.

...

Evelyn was finishing up the last few dishes when Victoria entered the kitchen, giving a slight nod of greeting. 

"How many times do I have to remind you not to do that?" Evelyn smiled warmly, drying her hands and chuckling softly as Victoria joined in.

"Until you start listening to me. Why are you washing? I could have done that," Victoria said, noticing a fresh red mark on Evelyn's arm hidden under her sleeves. Evelyn met her gaze momentarily before discreetly covering it with her other hand.

 "Victoria, Adrian has been clear about this, and I don't want you to get in trouble," she explained gently, leaving her momentarily silent as she thought about him. 

Adrian who is always occupied, had assigned someone to secretly monitor the household, reporting on Evelyn and the staff's activities. No one knew who this person was—or if they even existed—but the uncertainty made everyone cautious, sticking strictly to their duties and responsibilities.

"Are you heading somewhere?" Victoria attempted to change the subject, casting an appraising glance over Evelyn. Her hair was neatly styled, and she was wearing her favorite pink blouse that she usually wore when going out.