Finding the truth

"Stop the car" Raphael shouted. Smith looked at the road, ensuring there was a space to park in before stopping the car. The last car stopped too and the driver of the first car was contacted to stop driving.

"So you knew of it all along and you didn't tell me" Raphael barked in frustration.

"Sorry sir. I found out recently though I have been suspecting her, I didn't have any proof" Evan explained.

"Do you know how I found out about her death? Have any idea about it?" Raphael asked. He won't rush into conclusion at this critical moment. Things has fallen apart and only wisdom can sort it out without war or argument.

"No sir. I don't know" Evan replied. He was very scared, what will happen to him now? Will he be arrested? Did Raphael knew of it but he decided to keep quiet?

"I overheard your conversations with her. I always listen to both of you anytime you are discussing about something so don't pretend you are innocent" Raphael blurted out.

Evan was very surprised, this is the worst part of the problem. He has to be very careful now if not he would be in trouble. So his boss knew everything, then what has he been hiding? He should have spill it out a long time ago.

Truly he was aware of the truth but he had found out at the late hour, he knew Lucy killed Isla and that was few months after she married Raphael but he kept quiet all along. Maybe it's because he wants her to live her dreams without interference or because he still loves her then. But whichever one it was, he regrets it now.

"I'm sorry sir, I couldn't tell you anything. I had no proof of how it happened" Evan apologized and bow his head.

"I told you not to say that again, better listen to me" Raphael chided.

"Yes sir" Evan replied.

"So tell me what happened, I already know everything but if you tell me the truth, I might be considerate in judgement" Raphael said.

"Yes sir" Evan replied, shaking his head.

"I'm listening" Raphael said, without looking at him. He was staring at a building outside through the car window. He was hurt deep down in his heart. He couldn't believe the people around him were responsible for his mysteries. It's painful though.

From the beginning, he thought Lucy married him out of pity. Pity for losing his wife and facing a tight dilemma of taking care of his son. For the first few months in their marriage, he was very caring. He tried his best not to hurt her feelings because he was grateful for her sacrifice.

She was helping him to care for his son so he always believed that giving her the right treatment will help soothe her soul and that he did but it didn't last long because he found out the truth.

How could she married him for money? She used his son as an excuse and entered his life without permission. Anytime he remembered how he found out the truth, he became furious.

It was one sunny afternoon, he was very furious that day. One of his employees lost a very important document containing some transactions of the business. In other to fill in for it, he told Evan to get a photocopy of the document which was in his bedroom at home.

After Evan left, another incident happened and that almost made him lose his mind so he left the office. He was a very busy man whom was never seen at home daytime. Since Isla died, he became like that. He was never home, always in the office, working his life out. Maybe her death made him so.

But today was different, he became home sick immediately he step out of the office. He also wanted to see his son, they aren't that close. They are like strangers living together, the boy is just ten months old and he heard from Lucy that he can sit, crawl, stand and even move his legs for a short period.

Today he will see everything for himself, he want to see the boy properly also. He only sees his son at night when he is sleeping and he won't even wait to see him before going to work in the morning. Their relationship is that bad and complicated.

When he got home and entered the living room, he saw his child crying on the floor with no one there. He looked around the living room hoping to see someone but none. Immediately the boy saw him, he crept towards him, still crying. His heart was moved, he felt bad. Is this how she abandoned the child everyday?

He carried him on his shoulder and pat his back gently to calm him. The boy soon stopped crying, maybe he couldn't see anyone that's why he started crying in the first place. He walked upstairs with the child hoping to find someone. Is the nurse not home? What of his maids? He employed a nurse for his son and he had five maids working for him but looking at the house, one could tell it was empty.

He started hearing noises when he got to the adjoined passage close to the main passage. He walked in slowly hoping they won't hear his footsteps. He stopped at the doorstep of the room where the noise was coming from. The door was slightly opened so he could see inside and he was shocked to see them.

Evan and Lucy were busy discussing that they didn't notice someone was standing outside. Their attention was just on what they were discussing.

"Evan listen to me, stop feeling guilty else Raphael will find out" Lucy tried to pacify him.

"How could you say that? Do you even know what you are saying? You want me to be quiet about something so dangerous, are you that heartless?" Evan retaliated.

"If you can't be quiet for yourself, at least be quiet for me. For me, Evan. This is the life I always wanted and now that I got it, you want to spoil it for me. Are you that wicked?" she blurted out.

"How could you hurt me so bad? I did that because I love you. How wish I knew your plan then? How wish I was......

"How wish you were what? What if you had known? Would you have ruined it for me? Despite loving me, would you have ruined it?" she interjected.

"You are heartless. You killed your best friend and you are not feeling remorseful about it" he blurted out without thinking. She quickly closed his mouth with her hand hoping no one heard.

"Please don't say that in this house. What if someone heard it? Do you want everyone to find out the truth I'm trying to hide" she rebuked him. He removed her hand from his mouth and tighten his grip, inflicting pain on her hand. She wailed in agony and try to free herself from him.

"So you set me up just to kill Isla, you made me get the instrument ready for you to use. I was so stupid to listen to you. I obeyed you like a fool thinking you want to come back to me, I followed your instructions without complaints and did exactly what you said. I am very stupid to think you changed" he said.

"Let go of me, Evan. You have to leave now before the maids returned. I don't want any problem today, just go away" she commented.

"I won't go anywhere. We still have a lot to discuss" he barked. She struggled harder as the pain on her hand increased.

"Evan go to the office before Raphael looks for you. What will you tell him if he questioned your whereabout?" she inquired.

"The truth, what else should I tell him?" he asked.

"What truth? Tell me" she yelled.

"You killed Isla so you can marry Raphael. You killed her in the hospital. You poisoned her with Acrotine" he yelled.

"Really? Will you tell him that?" she asked.

"Tsk. Fine, go ahead and tell him. Don't forget you are not innocent? You are involved in this. We are in it together" she smirked.

"You are worst than the demon" he caterwauled.

"Tsk. You can't deny it, you know that. Better cooperate with me and keep quiet" she smirked.

"Never" he yelled and tighten his grip more, inflicting more pain. He won't let her go easily, she has done more than enough.

"Stop acting like you are innocent and let go of my hand. It's painful" she cried out.

"Why should I?" he asked as he freed her hand slightly.

"You were the one who got the Acrotine for me. You got the wolfsbane flower and I extracted the poison from it. We are both responsible for it. We killed Isla together" she badgered. Raphael was still standing outside looking at them. He was very shocked, he couldn't believe the people so closed to him were his enemies. He has to be very careful now.

"Go ahead and tell him that" he yelled.

"I don't care. I will gladly take my punishment" he added.

"You are not serious, are you?" she asked, looking confused.

"I am dead serious" he caterwauled.

Suddenly, Austin make a weary sound which attracted their attention but before they turned, Raphael left with him. They were surprised as they ran out of the room, whoever was at the door heard everything they discussed. They searched the entire passage and later found Austin alone in the main passage.

They were surprised as they watched the little fellow play happily. No one was with him.

"How did he get up here?" Evan asked, looking at Lucy. He was still confused as he turned to the little boy.

"He can crawl and he had attempted to climb the stairs more than twice" she answered and carried the child.

"I will check everywhere, I am suspecting someone is here" he said, looking around the passage.

"Hurry up and leave then. Better don't come back here" she chastised and left. He smirked as he watch her backside.

"Punish me sir" Evan said, interrupting his thoughts. He turned to look at him and sigh deeply.

"You want to take her punishment? Are you ready for that?" Raphael asked.

"Yes sir" Evan replied.

"Why? I thought you don't love her anymore. You said it yourself" Raphael said.

"I'm sorry sir. I want to pay for my sin, I gave her the poison she used and I kept quiet about everything. I should have told you the truth immediately I found out but I kept quiet. I deserve to be punished for that. I'm sorry sir. Asking for forgiveness won't solve anything, so punish me, that will change my attitude" he confirmed.

"Tsk. I trusted you. She trusted you with her life and you couldn't even protect it" Raphael smirked.

"You gave Lucy the poison without asking questions, you were so blind that you forgot your worth as a man. You obeyed a woman without questioning her despite knowing her motives" Raphael yelled.

"You tricked me. That day, I was going to the hospital but you called me and lied about a conference in her enterprise. I believed you and went, only to find out, it was lies" He okU not the secretary? How can a patient tell you about conferences? She was in the hospital for days, how can she be handling office duties when she's not fit?" Raphael queried.

"Sorry sir. I was very foolish, I wasn't in my right senses" Evan apologized.

"Tsk. It's obvious" Raphael smirked.

"I'm sorry sir" he pleaded.

"I will think about your punishment. You won't go unpunished. For now, let me focus on that woman. Start the car" Raphael commanded.

Immediately Smith twist the car key and the car started. He dare not disobey especially as his boss is furious. The phone rang and Evan answered the call, it was Doctor Henry. They spoke for a short time but it disconnected. He turned to Raphael and gave him the phone.

"The video was found. We have been discussing so I didn't notice the notification. He sent it already" Evan said, after giving him the phone.

"I will check it" Raphael said as he unlocked the screen and swipe through the phone, looking for the video.

He opened a folder and there it was, the only video there was the evidence for what that woman has done. She will pay for everything, he won't spare her this time. He watched the video in silence and tears trickled down his cheeks. She fought for her life and it was in vain.

How wish he was there to fight for her? He wasn't there when she needed him most. He felt guilty for abandoning her at her dying moment. He tighten his fist in anger and sworn never to forgive Lucy.