CWMBR 131

Chapter 131

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Sanne kept her promise.

It was thanks to Declan, who came to see her with a flushed face, that she learned this fact. He couldn't hide his joy as he delivered the good news: despite the incident occurring years ago, cooperation among the relevant agencies was proceeding very smoothly, meaning a proper investigation into the Pennington couple's accident would also be conducted.

"If your cooperation with the royal investigators is properly taken into account this time, you should be able to preserve the Grand Theater without issue."

This was reassuring news for Bridget, who had been secretly worried since the Glynford Grand Theater itself had been used as a crime scene.

"Ronan Pennington has been summoned by the Royal Investigators. However, regarding the illegal drugs, it's highly likely he wasn't the primary perpetrator, so he'll likely be treated more favorably than the others. Of course, even if he isn't detained, there's little need for concern."

Declan continued his explanation with a hearty laugh.

"He's being hounded by debt collectors, and it seems he's gotten involved with some truly vicious people. Somehow, those bastards already know about it and are already circling around Ronan Pennington's hideout. Since he's become a subject of the investigators' inquiry, he can't just run off on his own, so he's stuck under the watchful eyes of the debt collectors."

"I knew Uncle borrowed money from Ain, but I didn't know he had debts elsewhere too."

Bridget, who had only known about the debt to Ain, murmured in surprise. Declan, who had briefly averted his gaze and cleared his throat at her words, soon spoke in a cheerful voice.

"Oh! Those bastards are also lurking around Donna Green. Thanks to that, some people are starting to suspect the relationship between Ronan and Donna. I suspect someone will catch on to their relationship soon."

The exposé articles about Donna had died down lately. But if you asked whether Donna's situation had improved, the answer was no. In fact, while things had quieted down for the public, within industry circles, she seemed to have become an even hotter potato. Word was that actors who had been driven away by Donna's tyranny were returning and starting to spill the beans. In the past, people might have dismissed those pleas as lies, but not now. It seemed unlikely any agent would call Donna to the stage. Perhaps not even in other cities.

Bridget, who occasionally checked on outside developments through Kathleen even while secluded, sighed as she recalled the brief update she'd heard while retrieving clothes recently sent for alterations.

Frankly, seeing Donna's predicament didn't exactly fill her with relief. And why should it? As the owner of the Glynford Grand Theater, she herself couldn't entirely escape responsibility. Donna had been the theater's main actress, so naturally, everyone's feelings toward the Theater wouldn't be favorable. And of course, trust in its owner, Bridget, would be nonexistent.

Would the actors ever return to the Glynford Grand Theater?

Bridget's expression darkened. Misinterpreting her mood, Declan offered consolation with the news.

"The followers loitering around the theater have been dealt with too. After the last attack, the Wise family conducted a major cleanup in the area while searching for the culprit. With the rumors about Donna Green being unfavorable, it's now become embarrassing to admit they were her fans."

Hearing this, Bridget fiddled with her skirt hem and asked casually.

"Did they find the culprit?"

"Yes, they caught them. You needn't worry about that."

Given the Wise family's involvement, it was expected the culprit would be caught swiftly. After a moment's hesitation, Bridget lowered her gaze and asked cautiously.

"I heard Ain was stabbed. Do you know how serious the injury was?"

Declan, who hadn't expected Bridget to ask such a thing, widened his eyes. Seeing his reaction, Bridget averted her gaze and explained apologetically.

"Well, it happened at the Grand Theater. I'm just concerned."

In truth, Bridget had also casually asked Magnus, who had come for her regular health checkup. Things like how dangerous it was to have a knife lodged in the abdomen. Magnus, completely unaware that Ain had suffered such an injury, explained it very kindly and in great detail. To Bridget, it sounded utterly horrific and chilling.

Asking Magnus that question had ultimately been a bad choice. Because of it, Bridget found it even harder to shake thoughts of Ain’s injury. How should she put it? It wasn't so much pure worry as a nagging concern.

Not seeing it meant she couldn't gauge the severity, which only made it worse. The imagined wound was nothing but gruesome and serious. If she'd known it would be like this, she should never have asked Magnus.

"Hmm... Do you want an honest answer?"

"Yes."

Declan furrowed his brow thoughtfully, then spoke.

"It was bad."

Rubbing his forehead as he chose his words, Declan explained slowly.

"He said he was stabbed during a confrontation in the writing room. The space was too narrow to dodge, apparently. When I arrived after being notified, the knife was still lodged in his abdomen. Pulling it out would have risked fatal blood loss."

"So he was already injured when we spoke that day?"

"He'd received emergency treatment. Proper care came after you left. Thankfully, he's recovering steadily. It's fortunate he's generally in good health."

Declan added with a smile, seemingly trying to lighten the heavy mood. But Bridget still looked deeply troubled.

"Do you know why he went to the Grand Theater that day?"

"Well... actually, Ain has been wandering around Glynford on his own a lot lately."

Declan shrugged his shoulders as if unsure, then spoke as he searched his memory.

"Starting with the train station, one day he walked around the commercial district all day, another day he wandered around farms with nothing but weeds... Anyway, it seems he walks around here and there to clear his head. He probably ended up at the Grand Theater while wandering like that."

Declan tilted his head, then mentioned several specific place names. The locations he described were so random it was hard to find any common thread between them, and even as he spoke, Declan seemed inwardly puzzled.

But to Bridget, listening to the places he named, they all sounded strangely familiar. It wasn't just because she grew up in Glynford.

Bridget clenched her molars and exhaled a quiet sigh.

"I heard something strange from Mrs. Callaway."

She swallowed dryly and blinked slowly.

"She said Ain is causing trouble at the center, and that it's probably because of me."

Just hearing that, Declan seemed to grasp the full meaning of what Bridget was about to say.

"Ah, that."

Declan let out a low gasp and fell silent, his expression subtle.

"Hmm."

It would have been easier if Declan had simply asked her what she meant. At least he had confirmed that Ain was indeed doing something. Declan, who had been pursing his lips, couldn't bear Bridget's quiet gaze any longer and reluctantly parted his lips.

"Yes, he’s doing that sort of thing."

"What exactly is he doing that caused Mrs. Callaway to misunderstand?"

"Misunderstand….”

Declan, who had been about to say something, shut his mouth. Scratching his forehead, he gave an awkward smile and quietly averted his gaze.

"You know how he is a bit moody and, um, sensitive? So, that's it. Just suddenly something didn't sit right with him………”

"And what does he do when something displeases him?"

Declan, who had been trying to give a vague answer and move on, swallowed hard.

"He shut down Altbin Psychiatric Hospital. That earned him some resentment from the hospital's investors."

Hearing the familiar name, Bridget narrowed her eyes.

“And I hear you reported key officials at Glynford Police Headquarters, triggering a massive internal investigation that paralyzed their operations. Of course, those bastards were all corrupt—though how many powerful figures aren’t? Anyway, they all lost their positions. He also crossed a few nobles in the capital who were covering for them. Though I wonder whose loss that really is.”

Bridget recalled Ain, who had looked troubled when mentioning 'things are a bit noisy inside the Glynford Police Department'.

"And the mayor of Glynford is set to change. No official announcement has been made yet, but once they decide how to handle the situation, it should happen quickly."

Sanne had told her when relaying news about Ronan. The person Ronan had been quietly indebted to all this time was none other than the Mayor of Glynford. But the mayor's circumstances had recently taken a turn for the worse, meaning Ronan could no longer count on his support.

"………………Is that Ain's doing too?"

"That chap's been quite interested lately in creating a just society…"

"No way."

Bridget cut Declan off with a sarcastic tone before she even realized it.

"He's the kind of person who doesn't do anything that doesn't benefit him. Justice? That arrogant, selfish personality of his?"

Declan hesitated at Bridget's confident retort. After a moment's pause, he wiped the smile from his face and answered in a voice laced with a sigh.

"You're right, ma'am. Ain is simply chasing profit. Unlike before, that profit isn't money, but peace of mind. Isn't he trying to endure his guilt by doing something like this? You know what that guilt is about, even without me saying."

Declan was Bridget's divorce lawyer, cheering her on and determined to make it happen. But he was also a long-time friend of Ain's. So surely it was okay to drop a subtle hint like this. Even if they divorced, there was no need to end things on the worst possible terms.

"Mrs. Callaway hasn't exactly misunderstood. Ultimately, everything Ain has been doing lately has also been for your sake."