Thirteen years ago, on November 22nd, Alexander turned eight years old. The Moran family held a grand birthday party for him. Almost all the famous and influential figures of Valemont City attended. It was the talk of the town back then.
There were more than 100 guests, along with over 100 servants and security guards. Nearly 600 people were involved in the event. The reason the Moran family organized such a huge birthday party for an eight-year-old was that Alexander had used Lucy’s account to invest in the stock market and earned over two million dollars that year. This shocked the business world. Everyone believed he had a bright future and took the opportunity to get acquainted with him.
That night, the Moran family residence was extrely lively. Alexander was surrounded by many people. He was unaware of the dramas and conflicts among the adults.
"What I didn’t expect was..." He continued, "At that ti, I only knew a few of them. I later confird that at least 13 of Nicolas’s lovers were at the party. So of them were even pregnant or brought their illegitimate children to the party. Almost all of Nicolas’s lovers were there as well," Alexander said with a mocking expression.
"Maggie was by my side initially, but too many people ca to congratulate . She was separated from by the crowd. I was occupied for the entire evening. Occasionally, I saw Maggie surrounded by a lot of won, including Nicolas’s lovers. They whispered things into her ear. She did not look too well.
"I hate that I was young back then—so tired of socializing that I didn’t notice she was in a bad state.
"The accident happened when the lights went out. I blew out the candles and made a wish. Maggie and Nicolas were standing to my left and right before the lights went out. Anabel and a few other girls were there too. They were standing close to ."
Alexander interlocked his fingers and leaned back slightly, hiding his face in the darkness where the light could not reach. He continued, "After the lights went out, people’s phones kept making loud noises. There was also pushing, causing chaos. Because the hall was dark, I couldn’t determine who was making noise or pushing us.
"It took nearly 10 minutes to make my wish because of the distractions. Then, when the lights ca back on, Maggie and Nicolas weren’t with . I looked around, but I didn’t see them.
"I found it strange at the ti. However, many people were cheering on to cut the cake, so I didn’t have ti to think about it. Just as I took my first bite, a maid’s terrified scream suddenly ca from the backyard."
Avery suddenly thought of sothing at the ntion of cake. She had eaten with Alexander many tis, and he often prepared cake for her, but he never ate it. She thought, Is this the reason why Alexander doesn’t eat cake?
Alexander paused for a few seconds before saying in a low voice, "That scream terrified . The cake in my hand fell. Then, a security guard rushed over and said that sothing had happened to Maggie."
Although Alexander had to take multiple pauses while telling his story, his voice remained steady. Avery thought he must have taken a long ti to be able to face his trauma so calmly.
Alexander continued, "Everybody rushed to the backyard. I was sandwiched in the middle of the crowd—like a small fish caught in a reef, pushed forward by the current.
"I tried to look for Maggie, but I couldn’t find her. By the ti I saw her, she was lying on the ground. Her eyes were wide open, staring at the dark sky.
"There was a lot of blood at the back of her head. It looked as if her head was resting in a pool of her own blood. It looked black, just like that night."
Alexander grabbed the wine glass in front of him and downed it in one gulp. Then, he spoke quickly and calmly, like an emotionless machine.
"I fainted. I didn’t lose consciousness completely. I could still open my eyes and hear the sounds around . However, I couldn’t see or hear anything clearly. I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t.
"All I rember is that people were administering first aid for Maggie, and she was taken to the hospital. I cried and demanded to see her. After that, I must have fallen asleep or fainted, because I don’t rember anything else.
"When I woke up, it was morning. They told that Maggie was dead. They also said that throughout the resuscitation process, she never woke up. She didn’t leave a single word behind."
Avery listened quietly. She couldn’t explain what she was feeling—just a heavy burden pressing on her chest. She even regretted... sothing.
However, Alexander soon tempered his emotions and regained his usual indifference. He said, "I couldn’t do anything at that ti. Lucy was studying in Acloria. Due to a serious cold, she couldn’t return to attend my birthday party.
"When she found out about Maggie’s death, she rushed back to the country. She took care of while arranging Maggie’s funeral. The police investigated and concluded that Maggie died in an accident."
Avery narrowed her eyes. A cold glint flashed across them. Even if Maggie had actually died in an accident, there was more to her death than t the eye.
Alexander got to the point. He said, "Maggie fell from the roof of the main building. The roof was equipped with solar panels, air conditioning units, and so on. Very few people went up there. There were no surveillance caras installed.
"The passage to the roof did have surveillance caras. The footage showed Maggie going up alone when the lights went out in the hall on the first floor. Aside from her, no one else was seen heading to the roof.
"The backyard surveillance captured Maggie approaching the edge of the roof, retreating step by step. When her body leaned against the railing, she looked shocked—agitated by sothing. Then she fell backward and landed on the ground.
"The police investigation report stated that Maggie drank a lot that night and was unsteady. She seed to be in a bad mood. She might have gone to the roof alone to relax while everyone was in the hall, but she accidentally fell."
Avery quickly combed through the details. This explanation made sense, but it was also highly suspicious.
Maggie had been beside her son when the lights went out—just as he was about to blow out his candles. If she wanted to go sowhere alone, she wouldn’t have chosen that mont.
She suddenly left the scene and went to the roof. Why? Soone or sothing must have drawn her there.
Besides, getting out of the crowd wouldn’t have been easy. Avery suspected that the phone noises and pushing were deliberately orchestrated to allow Maggie to leave unnoticed.
Everything Avery could think of, Alexander had already considered.
But he didn’t clarify those suspicions. Instead, he poured her a drink and said, "You must have noticed the suspicious points in this case, but there are no witnesses or evidence to prove that Maggie was murdered.
"The Moran family didn’t agree to an autopsy. Lucy and I found it hard to accept too.
"The police could only confirm there were no signs of poisoning. Aside from the injuries from her fall, she had no external wounds. Maggie was tipsy but not completely intoxicated."
Avery asked, "Did Maggie usually drink a lot?"
Alexander shook his head. "She took good care of herself. She rarely drank, but because Nicolas was a blatant playboy, she sotis drank to drown her sorrows. She never let herself get drunk.
"Lucy and I watched all the surveillance footage. Many people toasted her that night, especially Nicolas’s lovers. Each one of them toasted her—and whispered sothing to her afterward."
Avery mulled over this information and asked a crucial question. "What about Nicolas? Where was he when Maggie fell? What was he doing?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)