At four o'clock in the morning, a message popped up in the family group:
Richard suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the dock early in the morning. The police found that the antidepressants he carried with him were in excessive doses.
After thinking about it, I decided to go to my father.
I grew up in a complicated family environment and knew that there were some things that I shouldn't see.
If I accidentally saw them, I would have to die.
So I had to be faster, even faster...
The rain curtain outside the glass curtain wall blurred the outline of the villa area.
Just as I came downstairs, I saw Alex leaning against the corner of the fire escape.
The fine rain drifted in through the ventilation window and dampened the silver - gray streaks on his high - end suit:
"Dahlia, long time no see."
He rolled his Adam's apple and uttered my name, but his voice was like silk.
It was exactly the same tone as when he pressed Richard's head into the champagne ice bucket in the private room of the victory celebration banquet last night.
My fingers clutching the canvas bag began to turn cold: "Brother."
"Why did you avoid me at the victory celebration banquet yesterday?"
"There were too many people. I didn't have a chance to say hello."
I took a half - step back, and my back pressed against the cold metal door frame.
Suddenly, he let out a soft laugh. The sound of his leather shoes stepping on the puddles was crisp.
"Now that there are only the two of us, you can say whatever you want slowly."
As the smell of cedar and gunpowder on him approached, I suddenly remembered that rainy night ten years ago. He had the same smell when he blocked the punches of the hooligans for me.
But at this moment, he lowered his eyes and stared at the umbrella pendant on my cross - body bag. I could hear my heart pounding like a drum.
"Did you use this umbrella last night?"
Suddenly, his slender fingers snatched the black umbrella from my bag. The mottled mud stains on the umbrella surface were especially glaring under the pale light.
"No, it was just my carelessness. I didn't tidy it up after using it before..."
"It doesn't matter." He took out a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped the umbrella surface. Every movement was like cutting at my nerves.
"Where is Dahlia going? I'll give you a ride."
I took a half - step back, and my back pressed against the cold fire hydrant:
"I... I'm going to the company to talk to Dad about some work."
"What a coincidence. I'm also going to report on a project."
Alex put his hand on my shoulder, leaving me with nowhere to escape.
His body temperature came through the thin shirt, but it made me shiver all over.
The mirror in the elevator reflected our shadows. His 188 - centimeter height completely enveloped me in the shadow.
We had walked side by side through this corridor countless times before, going to the rooftop to watch the stars and stealing our father's car in the underground garage. But today, the 23 - second elevator ride was extremely long.
The door of the chairman's office at the end of the corridor was ajar, and the sound of the father scolding his secretary came out.
"The surveillance shows that he took pills by the railing at the dock at three o'clock in the morning! Taking twenty antidepressants at once. Does he think it's like drinking milk tea?"
"Now everyone outside is talking about this. You'd better solve it for me clearly!"
His tie was askew on his collarbone. When he saw Dahlia, his eyes darkened. Obviously, he didn't understand why she was here.
Alex glanced at the autopsy report on the table and unconsciously rubbed Dahlia's fingers under the table with his fingertips.
"Maybe he was under too much pressure? He was out of his mind after drinking too much and just took the pills randomly."
Suddenly, he turned his head. The reflection on his glasses covered the emotions in his eyes, but it allowed Dahlia to clearly see her own pale face.
"What do you think, Dahlia?"
After seeing the photos on the autopsy report clearly, the undigested black coffee in Dahlia's stomach instantly churned. She suddenly covered her mouth.
Alex immediately supported her waist.
"Don't be afraid."
As he leaned in, his tie brushed against the tip of her nose. His voice was so soft that only they could hear it.
"It's just the death of a financial director who always made things difficult for you. Why haven't you gotten rid of the problem of vomiting when you're scared since childhood?"