Chapter 12

Ezekiel did not say a word by the time they made it back to his mansion. His mind was working as fast as it could, connecting the dots as best as he could. He had always known that Irene knew more but was unwilling to say it to them. Why? It was a question he hoped she could answer. 

Obviously, it did not help either when Irene insisted on going back to the hotel she and Genevieve were staying in. Ezekiel tried to think of ways to stop them but he faltered. Maybe now wasn't the best time to prod deeper into the matters when they had started getting complicated. He wasn't sure if he wanted answers anyway. 

"Shouldn't we read the fourth letter?" Archer asked just as they were leaving. Irene stiffened for a moment but it was too quick for anyone but Ezekiel to notice. 

"I think we should find the person behind the note first," She said coolly, "He or she might be able to give us the answers we need. After that, we can move on to the letters."

Ezekiel confirmed then that Irene had other motives. Why didn't she want them to know what was written in the letters?

When they were gone, Ezekiel went straight to his grandmother who was in the library. He was not going to take vague answers anymore, she had some serious explaining to do. 

He saw her looking at an old photograph with what seemed like remorse and regret in her eyes. His grandmother did not seem to sense him sneaking behind her and standing, trying to see the image. Two women in their thirties stood posing for the picture, smiles bright and eyes twinkling. Ezekiel could see one of them was his grandmother, he had seen her old pictures before but he had never seen that photograph ever before. He had an inkling who it was, judging by the way his grandmother was clutching the photo tightly. 

"She was your best friend, wasn't she?" Mei Jiang jumped slightly by the suddenness of his voice, "Rosalina Carson?"

She sighed. She looked at the photo once again before placing it inside a book. Turning to face him, Ezekiel saw deep sorrow flickering in his grandmother's eyes and he realised that there was a long story behind it. His grandmother never showed emotions. 

"It was about time you figured it out," She said, walking slowly towards a chair and sitting down on it, "Who helped you?"

"Mr Mehta's daughter," He replied. "I wanted  you  to be the one telling me, though."

His grandmother chuckled. "Arjun had always been there for both Rose and me, it's no surprise he told something about it to Alisha. She's a headstrong woman, by the way, I wonder what you thought of her?"

"This isn't time for your matchmaking, grandmother," Ezekiel said sharply, he knew she was trying to change the subject. "What is your relationship with her?"

"Rose and I were very close once upon a time. She had this intimidating personality because of which everyone used to steer clear from her path," She chuckled, her tone reminiscent. "I tried sending her on blind dates but those failed miserably because the men never contacted her again."

Ezekiel sat down on the chair opposite to her, leaning forward with interest. 

"I suppose that helped her build Silver Inc. on her own and bring it to a level no one could have imagined in those days. She was young and ambitious and I thought she'd stay single forever until she met Eros Valdez by accident. Never would've thought that the guy who managed to piss her off every minute would be the guy she'd fall in love with. I wish you could've met them, Ezekiel. They were some really good people."

She finished and looked at him, the vulnerability in her eyes shocking Ezekiel to the core. 

"Where are they now?" 

She shook her head, a sad smile on her face. "An accident. She died trying to save him from a fire accident twenty-five years ago."

Ezekiel was confused. Twenty-five years ago? Then how were Genevieve and Irene alive? It then struck him that in one of the letters Rosalina had written, she had said that she was supposed to be dead. But why?

"Ezekiel?" His grandmother broke him out of his chain of thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," He bit his tongue. Was it time for his grandmother to know that Rosalina had two surviving granddaughters?

"Her daughter had given birth that day, apparently. But after Benjamin's death and Karl becoming the CEO, no clues about the children were found. I can only presume they're dead too."

"They sure have a complicated history," Ezekiel muttered, causing his grandmother to nod in agreement. 

"Alisha also mentioned something about us being involved in this apparent accident," He continued, "what was it?"

Mei Jiang did not even flinch at his accusatory tone. Instead, she answered, "Ezekiel. The matter at hand is about finding the crown which can be done without you trying to prod information out of me. If you can give me enough evidence to show that I can trust you with such a heavy past that I still carry as a burden, I'll tell you everything. If you can't, then I should take this to my grave."

She leaned forward and gently squeezed his shoulders. "No matter how capable you are, Ezekiel, understand that you'll drown if you go too deep. Curiosity killed the cat, don't ever forget. Rose believed very strongly in it."

"Yes grandmother," Ezekiel said quietly. 

_________

The next morning, Irene and Genevieve had come over to discuss the fourth letter. Ezekiel narrated what his grandmother had told him in the library and by the time he was finished, the sisters were dead silent. 

"Is that what it was?" Genevieve mumbled, "Grandfather had not died of a heart attack?"

Ezekiel noted how Irene showed literally no reaction. She sat there stiffly, listening to everything as if she already knew the facts. 

"Archer, Genevieve," He said, his eyes never leaving Irene, "could you give us a moment, please?"

They nodded and went out of the room wordlessly, gently closing the door behind them. 

"You knew this, didn't you?"

Irene looked up from her lap at Ezekiel, her gaze unwavering. She cocked her head slightly to the side. 

"That doesn't matter," She replied, "I couldn't bear to tell Genevieve what had happened."

"But that isn't all," He pressed, leaning forward slightly. "You know more than what you show."

She got up, straightening her clothes. "We're done here."

"No, we are not," He got up too and walked closer to her, "I heard your conversation with Alisha Mehta. I can tell that you've got more to say."

"What I know concerns my family, not yours," She did not move even when Ezekiel almost closed the distance between them, "I don't see how any of it is your business - "

"It is, goddamnit!" He exclaimed, eyes furious. Irene looked shocked because he never lost his cool that easily. But he didn't care anymore. "My family is getting hurt because of some stupid secrets that you have been keeping. I won't allow that anymore."

His voice had risen by the end of his sentence, his chest heaving up and down because of the anger that boiled inside him. Irene did not flinch at his cold tone but gave him an icy glare. 

"You think I have it easy?" She spat, "You should have listened to your grandmother, Mr Jiang because she's right. Don't meddle in things that shouldn't concern you. I'll handle the matters the way I always do."

"The way you always do?" He scoffed in irritation, "by keeping secrets from the one you love and care about?"

"If that is how I can protect them, I will continue doing that. You do not get to tell me what to do."

He ran a hand through his hair in annoyance. Just why was she being so stubborn? 

Not being able to take it anymore, he pushed her against the nearby wall, trapping her against it. She struggled against his hold but his intimidating glare held her in place. 

"I don't think you should test my patience, Ms Pierce," He said threateningly, "If you don't tell me what is going on, I'll have to use a different tactic."

"Try me," She sneered, "You won't get anything out of me."

"What is going on here?" Mei Jiang's voice boomed as the door slammed open but the two of them did not bother turning around. 

"Oh I will," Ezekiel smirked, stepping back from her. 

"Grandmother," He said, a challenge written all over on his face as he looked at Irene straight in the eyes, "meet Rosalina Carson's granddaughters."