Investigation
1156 Words
Chapter 7-
*Kael's Pov*
I stood in my office long after Aurelia went upstairs.
The mansion had gone quiet again but my mind hadn't.
It was way worse than before now.
Because the more she spoke, the more impossible it became to convince myself she was a stranger.
The way she looked at me earlier, the way she reacted to certain things without thinking.
Even the irritation in her voice felt familiar, everything just felt familiar.
I loosened my tie slowly and walked toward the large glass windows overlooking the estate grounds.
Rain clouds still lingered over the city, darkening the sky.
I heard a knock on the door.
Behind me, Marcus remained silent near the door waiting patiently.
He knew me well enough to know I was thinking.
Finally, I spoke.
“Reopen the accident investigation.”
Marcus straightened lightly.
“Yes, sir.”
“I want every detail from three years ago pulled again.”
“The police files?”
“All of them!”
I turned towards him slowly.
“The accidents reports, funeral records, hospital transfers, morgue staff.” My voice hardened. “Everything!”
Marcus nodded once.
“I'll start immediately.”
My jaw tightened.
Three years ago, I had accepted everything too easily.
The police said the body was Aurelia's.
The doctors confirmed it, the funeral happened, she was buried.
And I buried her without questioning anything.
A bitter feeling settled in my chest.
How had I never checked?
How had I never noticed something was wrong?
Marcus hesitated before speaking again.
“Sir…there is something else.”
“What?”
“The cemetery.”
My gaze sharpened instantly.
“What about it?”
“The workers who opened the grave this morning…” Marcus paused carefully. “They're frightened.”
I scoffed coldly.
“Because the coffin was empty.”
“Yes.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Marcus added quietly.
“One of them claimed the coffin looked untouched.”
I frowned slightly.
“What?”
“There were no signs it had ever been forced open.”
A chill ran down my spine.
No forced lock, no broken seal, nothing.
Which meant one thing.
Either Aurelia had never been buried there or someone replaced the body before the funeral.
My expression darkened instantly.
“Who handled the burial arrangements?”
Marcus answered immediately.
“Mrs.Vivienne.”
“My mother?”
“Yes sir.” Marcus said. “Gideon Shaw also did.”
Of course he had.
The family lawyer handled almost everything back then.
At the time I had been to destroyed to care or concentrate.
Now I cared and I would make sure I got to the bottom of this.
“Okay.” I said.
He turned to leave.
“Hold on.” I muttered. “Did you give Aurelia the room I asked you to?”
He stared at me for a moment.
“Yes, I did.” He said.
“Good.” I muttered. “You may leave now.”
I had texted Marcus to give Aurelia a specific room while they went upstairs.
And for some reason I wondered why I did that when I hadn't even confirmed if she was Aurelia.
But I did it anyways cause she was Aurelia even though it hadn't been proven yet.
My heart believed she was the one.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
Before either of us responded, the office door opened.
Vivienne stepped inside elegantly.
But her eyes immediately searched the room checking if Aurelia was here.
“She isn't here.” I said flatly.
Her expression changed.
“I came to speak to you.”
“Go on.” I said quietly knowing fully well what she wanted to talk about.
She sighed softly.
“Kael.”
“What?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You're making reckless decisions.”
I leaned back against the chair.
“By keeping her here?”
“Yes.”
“She looks exactly like Aurelia.”
“That means nothing.”
“Really?”
She crossed her arms carefully.
“There are many people in the world who resemble each other.”
“Not like this.” I replied.
There was a brief silence.
“You're disturbed by her.” I said finally.
Her gaze sharpened.
“Any sane person would be disturbed.”
I held her gaze.
“No.” I said. “I'm not disturbed.”
Something cold flickered in her eyes.
Then she smiled lightly.
“You're exhausted.” she said calmly. “You've spent years grieving Aurelia. Seeing someone who resembles her was bound to affect you emotionally.”
“You think I'm imagining things?”
“I think grief makes people irrational.”
My jaw tightened slightly.
“And the empty grave?”
That made her pause.
“Someone clearly tampered with it.”
“Who?”
She walked slowly further into the office.
“How would I know?” she said. “I and Gideon handled the funeral arrangements.”
I sighed.
“We watched Aurelia getting buried.” She said going through a file. “We saw it ourselves, didn't we?”
“Yes.” I said simply. “But that doesn't mean…”
“Kael…dont do this.” she sighed softly.
“Mom…”
“What if that girl is just an imposter? She said her voice getting loud. “What if she just came here to pretend and steal from you because she knows she looks exactly like your wife.”
“That could be possible…” I said softly. “But you could see how she was so determined to leave earlier right?”
“She could be pretending.” She answered immediately.
“That doesn't matter.” I sighed. “She is Aurelia, I can feel it.” I said. “And if she's pretending then…that's fine.”
“Kael.” She yelled. “Have you lost your mind?”
I was also wondering the same cause I didn't know what was wrong with me anymore.
I just wanted Aurelia to stay whether she was pretending or not.
Vivienne moved closer.
“You need to let this go.”
I stared at her.
“If she was Aurelia she wouldn't have stayed away from you for three years.”
I sighed softly.
Cause that might have been true but I didn't care neither did I want to think about this any longer.
“Mom…it's fine.” I stood up slowly. “I'll take care of it” I said leading her to the door.
“I'm very tired now, so please I'll talk to you later.” I said taking her outside.
“Kael…” she yelled softly. “Listen to me dont…”
I shut the door.
I sighed softly and stayed where I was for a moment still thinking about what my mother had just said.
“I hope she's Aurelia.” I muttered.
- Writer
