CWMBR 64

Chapter 64

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Bridget lowered her gaze. She felt nothing but injustice, yet the more she listened to Ain’s words, the more she understood part of his attitude. And the fact that she understood him made her feel pathetic and hollow.

"I didn't hear it from Mr. Emerson. We weren't close enough to have that kind of conversation. I don't like him.

I'm not the type to get physically close to someone I don't like either."

Bridget spoke calmly, then a bitter smile touched her lips.

"But... I don't understand why, but since there's a photo, I suppose you had reason to be so certain. I thought you were just misunderstanding me, blinded by your first love, making unreasonable accusations and tormenting me.”

"It wasn't an unreasonable suspicion."

If the photo wasn't fake, there was no telling what the outcome of this investigation would be. Bridget, who had been smiling bitterly, let out a sigh.

"Well, you wouldn't just start something without any chance of success."

"The body found in this river."

Ain gestured toward the river and spoke.

"He's the photographer who took that picture."

At those words, Bridget's gaze followed Ain’s toward the river.

"That's quite astonishing. How on earth did he manage to take such a photo...?"

"I was going to ask, but he was found dead."

Bridget, who had been gazing at the seemingly calm and peaceful river scenery, turned to look at Ain. He had been watching her for some time now.

"There are two photos. Yours and mine."

If it was a photo of Bridget, it must be the one Ain had mentioned earlier. The one of her embracing a naked Finn Emerson. Then, Ain's photo must be...

Noticing the question in Bridget’s eyes, Ain slowly parted his lips.

"A photo of Donna Green on top of me."

Bridget gasped involuntarily.

“Donna said she was the one who slept with me that night. That she was pushed in front of me, unable to resist your coercion. After that, she couldn’t overcome the shame and kept her mouth shut.”

Ain's face, as he rapidly spat out the words in a dry voice, was consumed by disgust. His furrowed brow, like someone who had seen something repulsive, expressed a level of revulsion even Bridget had never seen before.

For Bridget, it felt a bit bewildering. She had received his blatant looks of contempt before, and he had even pushed her hand away in front of everyone. Yet, even gathering all those moments together, they seemed incomparable to the twisted expression on his face now. Momentarily unsure how to react, Bridget stared at him blankly before slowly parting her lips.

"She's a truly excellent actress. If only she'd use that talent solely on stage."

That night, Donna slept with Ain? Bridget could swear such a thing never happened. As someone who was there, she could say it with absolute certainty.

"What about the night you remember?"

"That night."

Bridget slowly blinked her eyelids at Ain's question.

"It was quite spectacular."

The scene from that day came back to her mind.

"There were too many people, it was dizzying, and noisy."

Her senses quickly rewound to that night.

The grand theater wasn't built to be a banquet hall. Forcing it into a party venue inevitably made it feel chaotic. Yet, strangely enough, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Yes, strangely enough.

Ronan was busy clinking glasses with all sorts of guests, while Donna stood surrounded by her followers, her chin held high in haughty defiance.

Bridget, attending as the owner of the Grand Theater, drifted around like a solitary island. The smell of alcohol wafting from all sides reminded her of the tavern scene not long ago, making her stomach churn and her head spin. Finally, unable to bear it, she slipped outside, breathing in the cold air to settle her queasy stomach.

She must have crouched there longer than she realized. Only when her hands and cheeks grew numb from the cold did Bridget finally rise. The Grand Theater was still noisy upon her return, though many seats were now empty. Quite a few guests seemed to have moved to the temporary guest room Ronan had set up.

Bridget would have preferred to go to sleep herself, but she couldn't bring herself to leave the main hall, now a complete mess, and sleep first. She decided to hold out in her study until this party was completely over. So, on her way up to the study, she spotted a scarf lying in the hallway.

"That's..."

Bridget recognized it as Donna's at a glance.

Hesitating briefly, Bridget walked cautiously down the hallway. Picking up the scarf, she glanced up and stared at the closed door ahead. It was the duty room Ronan had converted into a guest room, located at the very end of the hallway, making it quite a secluded spot. If Donna had intended to use any space within the Grand Theater for any purpose, that duty room would have been perfect.

The scarf? She would just meet Donna tomorrow and give it back, she thought.

Bridget tried to immediately dismiss any interest in that room. She would have, had she not heard something like a sharp scream coming from inside.

Did she just hear that wrong? What was that?

Confused, Bridget paused, then snapped back to her senses at the sound of something crashing inside. Deciding she needed to get help immediately, she ran toward the stairs. But before she could go down and call for anyone, the door to the end room burst open and someone came flying out.

It was Donna, rushing out in a panic. Her hair disheveled, Donna spotted Bridget standing near the stairs and dashed straight over. Her grim expression was fierce, as if she'd just had a major fight with someone.

"Miss! I need your help!"

Donna stopped in front of Bridget, her voice hushed as she urgently grabbed Bridget's arm. Her face, twisted in a grimace, looked both angry and terrified.

"Donna, are you all right...?"

"Go to that room right now!"

Donna cut off Bridget's words, pointing to the room she had rushed out of. Bridget, who had been looking at Donna with concern, narrowed her eyes and asked back.

"What did you say?"

"Patrick's drunk out of his mind and causing a scene right now! Hurry up and go stop him!"

Bridget's eyes widened at the words.

"Huh? Mr. Sherman?"

Why was his name suddenly brought up here? Seeing Bridget struggling to grasp the situation, Donna tugged at her arm impatiently.

"Yes!"

"Wait, hold on."

Bridget tried to shake Donna's grip, but the hold was so tight she was helplessly dragged along. Donna, her voice hushed as if afraid someone might see, kept urging Bridget on.

"You're the owner of this theater! There are so many important people in this building right now. What if that guy ruins the party?!"

Thus, pushed by Donna, Bridget reached the front of the duty room in an instant. No sound came from inside.

Ain was in here? After a moment's hesitation, Bridget cautiously opened the duty room door.

The room was larger than she'd expected and had been altered so much she couldn't recall its original state. Stepping into the dimly lit room, Bridget swallowed hard and scanned the interior. The moment she stepped inside, she felt the broken shards of something she'd stepped on. As if reacting to the crunching sound, a fierce voice came from deep within the duty room.

"I told you to get out."

The slightly hoarse voice was unmistakably Ain’s. Bridget, who had been tense, bracing for some stranger to jump out, reflexively exhaled in relief. At least it was a relief that Donna hadn't lied.

Judging by the direction of the voice, Ain seemed to be on the large fold-out sofa placed by the window. It was big enough to lie down and sleep on when unfolded, so he was likely resting. Waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, Bridget cautiously scanned her surroundings. While something had been broken, it was hardly enough to describe it as a 'riot'. She'd expected screaming or violent rampaging, but judging by the situation, he just seemed extremely on edge.

Just then, she saw a huge shadow rise from the sofa. Bridget stopped to avoid startling him and spoke calmly.

"I'm sorry if you were resting, Mr. Sherman. I heard you were drunk and came to check on the situation—ow!"

Before she could finish her sentence, she was grabbed by the arm and pulled violently.

Thud!

She was shoved against the wall in an instant. Before she could even regain her bearings after hitting her back against the wall, the large shadow blocked her path.

"You.