Chapter 205 - Why Are You Here?
Chapter 205: Why Are You Here?
I turned to the origin of the voice and saw Olivia and Emma walking toward me. Rather than a word like Olivia, Emma greeted me with a smile. My hand put my cup on the table.
"Morning," I greeted them.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," said Emma as they took the seats across from me.
"It's fine. This was my sudden idea anyway," I said with a smile.
"Do you want to grab some coffee? I will pay," I added.
"No, thank you," said Olivia. Then she turned to Emma, asking for her answer indirectly.
"I think I'll pass," said Emma.
"Fine."
"So ... Why do you want to meet me? Did something happen?" Olivia started our conversation.
"Nothing important. I just woke up too early today and have nothing to do at home. So I'm thinking of meeting you," I said with a sweet smile. Actually, I wanted to make sure Olivia was okay and give my support to her, considering her family problem.
But Olivia narrowed her eyes in disbelief.
"Are you sure? You seem so lost in thought earlier."
"I was thinking about something," I admitted.
"Tell me what is it?" Olivia asked curiously. While from Emma's expression, I guessed she already knew what I was thinking.
Since I couldn't say I was investigating her father and his affair so I decided to say something else.
"My mom." Even though it wasn't something urgent than the crack problem and Myra's crazy plan, it was also one of the things that bothered me especially after I got the letter.
"I want to know where she is now," I said with a grim face.
"Do you miss her?" guessed Olivia in worry.
"No. I just want to ask a couple of questions to her or rather --- throwing my anger after what she did to me and Celia." My disappointment sounded clear in the tone of my voice.
Hearing my words, Emma, who had been quiet, spoke.
"Ethan, about that. I've got your request."
"That fast?" I said in surprise.
"It's a simple matter. I just need to text one of my 'acquaintances' this morning and he sent the result in no time," said Emma with an innocent smile. Well, from her words, I knew she got this in an illegal way and I was sure her acquaintance was one of the top brass in the police department. To be honest, despite her background and her shy attitude, Emma was the bravest woman of all my partners or rather a little reckless in some cases. But I thought that was what made her could face her trauma and led her to take the demon hunter path despite her wealth, and accepted my real identity that fast.
"What request?" asked Olivia curiously. From her expression, she looked confused why I could ask something from Emma even though we didn't seem that close.
"Ethan asked me to investigate his mother's location from her phone number," explained Emma.
Olivia turned to me and frowned.
"Why didn't you say anything to me?" she said with a pout.
"I'm sorry. But your problem is heavier than mine. I don't want to give you another burden. Besides mine is just an old problem." After a short pause, I continued in a gloomy and disappointed tone.
"Moreover her existence doesn't affect my life anymore."
Olivia let out a sigh as she returned to her usual expression.
"She didn't only leave you but also did things you can't forgive, did she?" she guessed.
I nodded.
"Yeah." I hated to admit it, but I didn't think I could forgive my mother again.
"Did she take something from you?" Olivia made another wild guess.
"A lot. She took my dad's compensation money and ---" My gaze shifted to my bag. I wanted to tell Olivia about the vacate letter but I couldn't. At least until I could free her and Camila. I returned my gaze to her.
"--- she bought a new house with it. While I and Celia had financial difficulties for a year."
Olivia's face turned serious.
"She took it? Tell me her bank name. I'll help you."
"It's fine. The bank already gave it back to me two days ago," I said with a smile.
"Good to hear it." Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.
Emma showed me her cellphone with the screen facing me.
"This is the last location before her number was deactivated."
I took out her cellphone and looked at it. A map with familiar locations and an address was there. I quickly recognized it was next to my house, which proved my guess, that my real mother had left Aeros with her new husband for a long time. It was Mrs Clea who had been sending money to me with my mother's virtual account which was still connected to her cellphone. But since she did it without the association's approval, she couldn't send too much to me. And I guessed since the association was getting suspicious of her, she decided to reduce it before finally deciding to block my contact.
"Thank you ..." I said as my hand returned her cellphone.
"I'll send this to you," said Emma. Her finger swiped her cellphone screen and typed a few things in there.
"It's fine. I know where it is," I said. Besides, I couldn't show it to Mrs Clea nor ask her to admit it, although I wanted to give her a proper thanks.
"There's other important information you have to see," said Emma without turning her gaze over to me.
* Ding *
An email ringtone came from my bag. I took out my cellphone and read it. Apart from a map accompanied by an address, a description was also there. The information contained her acquaintance's presume if Mrs Clea might have used Voice Changer when she called me.
'That explains everything,' I thought. Previously, I was confused about how she could imitate my mother's voice every time I called her.
"Thank you for your help."
"Don't mention it," replied Emma.
"Are you going to face her? I mean, are you going to meet your mother?" asked Olivia curiously.
"I have to. After what she did to me ... I can't just let her go."
"What is your plan?" asked Emma.
"I want her to take the responsibility. She already has a better family, yet she's still taking what should be mine and Celia. All I need to do is find her location."
Olivia frowned again.
"Didn't Emma give you her location?" she said in confusion.
"That's not her location, Olivia," said Emma.
Olivia turned to her.
"If it is not her, whose is it?" she asked in the same confusion.
"An acquaintance of mine. She was the one who was helping me secretly. While my real mom had gone somewhere," I said.
Olivia returned her gaze to me.
"Why does she want to help you?"
"She is my dad's ex-lover. If my dad didn't die I might have called her mom now."
"So your dad's ex-lover has helped your family. While your mom dumped you and your sister?" clarified Olivia.
"Yeah."
After hearing my brief explanation, Olivia sighed again.
"I'm sorry to hear it. Some parents just don't deserve to be parents."
As those words left her mouth, another voice came from my side.
"Hello, Ethan."
I turned around to that familiar yet unfamiliar voice direction. A woman figure was standing by my side. Emma and Olivia looked at her in foreign since they were sure she was neither a student nor a lecturer here. While I frowned since I thought she didn't dare to show up in this college after Diamond kicked her out yesterday. Moreover Diamond didn't want to accept interviews at this college anymore. I also didn't know where she got my name from, but I guessed she got it from other students around here. Besides, that was her speciality. But different from yesterday, today she came alone.
"Hello, Miss Elenna. Why are you here?" I asked.