TPCF 61

CHAPTER 61………………

“Anita.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Nathan looking around for her, Anita hurriedly ran over. As soon as he saw his daughter, Nathan sighed. Rubbing his eyes, which seemed weary, he opened his mouth.

“I told you not to get involved with that guy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s lucky I happened to be in Aberdeen for a client’s business. Do you even know what kind of family the Bennets are?”

Anita couldn’t understand Nathan, who had been spouting incomprehensible words since earlier. Why on earth was he suddenly talking about Charles Bennet’s household?

“He looks like Baron Bennet.”

Edmund’s words, which she had forgotten for a moment, suddenly came to mind. She herself had never heard of him, but Edmund had spoken as if he knew Baron Bennet well.

“Are you saying his family was behind this?”

“……”

Nathan didn’t say a word. But his silence was answer enough.

“So, they were trying to frame me as the attacker…?”

“It wasn’t you.”

Anita gave a hollow laugh.

Detective Russell had been so blatant about trying to pin the blame on Rutger—no wonder, then. It looked like he had taken money from Charles’s family.

“I told you not to spend time with that boy.”

“……”

“He’ll bring you nothing but trouble, never any good.”

“Dad. Rutger didn’t do anything wrong.”

Anita pressed her forehead. Why was Rutger even being dragged into this? The one at fault was Charles Bennet.

“In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone decent come out of such a broken household.”

“Dad!”

“You’ve already ruined something that could have ended cleanly. Always lashing out with your fists—what do you plan to do with yourself?”

Anita felt that if she could just shut his mouth right now, it would be worth giving up her entire fortune.

“Anyway, it’s best not to tell your mother about this. She’s the kind of woman who, if she can’t find a fast boat, would swim across the sea herself to get to you.”

On that point, Anita had to agree. It was the most sensible thing Nathan had said all day.

“I’ll handle this matter myself. You just focus on your studies.”

“……”

From his briefcase, he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Anita. Then he kissed her forehead.

“I need to get going. I’ve already booked a train. Once this is settled, I’ll contact you again.”

“…All right.”

Nathan checked his watch and hurried away.

Left standing alone, Anita opened the envelope he had given her. Inside was a thick stack of cash. Nathan, who always preached frugality as a virtue, was never one to give her much pocket money. But this time, the amount far exceeded three months’ worth of her usual allowance.

Anita sighed and closed the envelope. Ever since she started working at a café, she had little need for that much money anyway.

As she fumbled to put the envelope away, she suddenly remembered that she had used her coat earlier to stop Rutger’s bleeding.

Just as she gave up on finding a pocket to tuck it into and turned around, her eyes met Rutger’s. He was leaning against a tree outside the police station.

“Is it over?”

He was smiling, even though it was obvious he had heard the whole conversation.

He must have heard it. Surely, he had.

Anita couldn’t find any words, so she simply watched him walk toward her. Before she could come up with a decent excuse or words of comfort, Rutger was already standing in front of her.

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

There were plenty of things to apologize for. She felt sorry that he had hurt his hand because of her, sorry that she hadn’t stopped Nathan from saying rude things, sorry that she had half-suspected he was listening in.

“What are you sorry for?”

But when Anita looked directly at Rutger’s face, standing so close to her, she couldn’t give a real answer.

Because she realized that wasn’t the kind of answer he was looking for.

“None of this is your fault.”

“……”

“Don’t dwell on it.”

He spoke as if soothing a child. Instead of replying, Anita just stared at him.

In the end, she said nothing at all. If she opened her mouth, the only words that would come out would be “I’m sorry.”

“Let’s go get your hand treated.”

After a long pause, Anita finally spoke.

“…What a hassle.”

“If you neglect it, it’ll get worse. Come on, let’s go.”