It was the time when Elizabeth gave testimony against her mother. After spending almost six months around the court in connection with the case, Hailey decided to take the extreme step. The news of her mother's death has passed down to Elizabeth and her father by the officials. Hailey Carter's suicide was a huge shock to Elizabeth and her father, William Carter. Hailey's belongings were sent to Elizabeth's house, two days after her burial. Elizabeth's father found an envelope while going through the box which contained Hailey's dress and her jewellery. Inside it was a letter addressed to Elizabeth. After reading the letter, William broke down and regretted judging his wife. He immediately went to Elizabeth and gave her the letter. Elizabeth, who had no idea about the letter, started to read .
// Dear Elizabeth,
If you are reading this letter then I must've died by now. I am sure, you must be disgusted to talk to me or to even see me. No matter what the world might talk about me, I do not care, all I care about is only you. I know that even if I tell the truth, nobody would believe as there are no proofs where I can show that I am innocent. But I want you to know that your mother didn't do anything knowingly.
Margaret and I were colleagues at the hospital. Apart from being colleagues, we were really good friends. Margaret was a calm and silent woman. She mostly kept to her works and was very kind to her patients. It was around that time she started spending more time with a guy. Whenever I tried to ask her about him, she diverted the topic. One day I found that she resigned from the hospital. Years later I found her again at a park. I didn't ask her anything as I was delighted to see her. But I didn't know that my friend had become a drug addict. I tried to bring her back to her normal life but I failed.
That day, as usual I phoned Margaret before visiting her place. She didn't attend my calls even though her phone was ringing. I started to panic, it was why I took you with me because I had no idea about her condition and thought that you might be helpful to me in case she fell sick. After looking at her state, I didn't want you to know about Margaret's condition, which is why I told you to go into the kitchen.There was no need for me to ask what had happened to her because I knew that she has been a drug addict since nine years and the drugs started to affect her slowly as the time passed. As soon as you left, she begged me to give her the injection which she had kept a little away from her bed. She had already decided to die by injecting the drug into her body on her own. It was later I came to know that the injection was cyanide. She wasn't able to move by the time we reached because of the high dosage of the drug in her body which caused her immense pain. She said, if I don't kill her, that person would surely torture her. I didn't know who that person was. Whenever I asked her about that person, she never answered properly and would ignore me. I tried to change her mind and said that I would take her to the hospital but she begged me not to do so as she was extremely scared. I found a gun which was beside the injection. I understood that someone must've visited her before we came and it must be that person who drugged her. It was her last wish to die in my hands, the drug in her body was eating her away slowly. She was unable to take that painful drug and wanted me to free her from the pain. But I don't know what happened, after a few seconds I realised that she injected the poison into her body while the injection was still in my hand. I was blank, I didn't understand what had happened. I still don't know why she did that and if I was the one who killed her with my own hands or if she killed herself. I am sure that there is someone out there behind her death who pushed their crime onto me.
There are many other things I want to tell you but I don't think I can write everything in detail. I want to talk to you and see you one last time, but I don't think I will be able to see you again, Elza. The thought of not seeing you again makes my heart ache. I regret the things I have done to your father. Even though your father and I are about to file a divorce, I cannot deny the fact that I still love him. Funny isn't it? Wish I could tell him how much I love him, but things never happen according to our wish. And you, my child, make sure you stay strong and be happy. I don't have enough time. All I want you to do is, believe in me. I never ever wanted to harm her and I am sorry that you will have to face many things because of me. I hope you keep this letter as a secret. It is upto you to believe whatever I said but all I want to say is I didn't lie. Showing this letter will only endanger yours and your father's lives. Elza, I love you more than you will ever know.
With love,
Elizabeth, who read the letter, broke down into tears. She blamed herself for giving a statement which was not true. The very next day, Elizabeth and her father went to take back the testimony and asked the police to have a thorough investigation but they were told that the case has already been closed. A few days later, William met Anthony Whales to request him to reopen the case. Anthony, quickly responded to William's plea and agreed to help him but Anthony told them that the higher officials didn't allow him to reopen the case, no matter how many times he tried. One day, William received a call from one of Anthony's colleagues said that Anthony was attacked and was admitted to the hospital due to which even Anthony gave up on the case. William, who was helpless in proving his wife's innocence, went into depression and blamed himself. His company was on the verge of bankruptcy and his health got worse. After a few days he was found dead in his room which broke Elizabeth's heart. Elizabeth didn't have anyone to share her thoughts. People blamed her for the things her mother never did. Elizabeth thought it was her punishment for giving a false statement against her mother not knowing the truth. The fact that the people whom she loved, left her alone at once made her heart cringe in pain.
Elizabeth woke up from her sleep early in the morning and looked around the room. She sighed heavily when the things that took place the previous night flashed on her mind. She went down to the kitchen after freshening up. "Good morning!" she heard Ryan who was preparing his breakfast, greet her.
"Good morning, Ryan," she said with a smile.
Ryan didn't know what else to talk to her. He kept looking at her from time to time to check if her swollen eyes were better now.
"What are you curious about?" chuckled Elizabeth.
Ryan immediately shook his head and continued to prepare his food. "I am fine," she smiled.
"Glad to know," Ryan exchanged a smile with her.
"Elizabeth..." he said.
"Please don't feel bad if Aaron is not caring about you or ignoring you. He needs time to forget his first love," he blurted out.
"You__You didn't know that he had a first love?" asked Ryan when he saw Elizabeth looking at him quizzically. But little did he know that his cousin-in- law was Aaron's first love. Ryan cursed himself for slipping his tongue in front of her.
"I know," she replied with a nod after pausing for a few seconds while making coffee. Ryan who heard her reply sighed in relief that she was aware of Aaron's past.
"He was heartbroken at that time," replied Ryan in a low voice.
"Heart broken?" Elizabeth snorted. "Do you know what made him hate her?" she asked him.
"To be honest, he doesn't hate her. He still has the things she gifted him when they were in a relationship," said Ryan. Elizabeth didn't want to believe Ryan's words because she thought if Aaron truly loved her, he would've met her at least once.
"I am sorry if my words hurt you. I didn't mean to..."
"That's alright. I am fine," smiled Elizabeth.
"I guess you are late to school, Ryan," said Liam who entered into the kitchen. "Oh yeah! Right, I should leave. I'll see you guys in the evening," he said and left the kitchen after preparing his breakfast.
"Is the file helpful?" asked Elizabeth.
"It only says that she was a drug addict," he replied.
"What about her family?" asked Elizabeth.
"I will try to find out about her family but I don't know how I can approach them," he replied.
"Take it," Elizabeth passed him a cup of coffee.
"Thank you!" he replied.
Like any other day, Elizabeth went to her office but to her surprise, she found the atmosphere in her office a little different today. She caught the sight of her co-workers, running from one corner to another in a hurry. Few men were checking files and she overheard the conversation of four members who were talking about the schedule. She chuckled internally and headed to her cabin.
"What's with the chaos in the office?" Elizabeth asked her colleague before going into the cabin.
"Good morning ma'am," greeted a woman who works under Elizabeth." We were informed that your husband. I mean, Mr. Winchester will be visiting our company in an hour," replied the woman. Elizabeth pressed her lips when she heard the name, Winchester. "What are you planing to do now, Aaron?" Elizabeth thought.