After the shock of discovering Douglas was his father through the diary, Alex's stomach growled.
"Didn't even plan food, how dumb," he whispered.
Heading downstairs, the mansion looked neat but lacked essentials – no food, electricity, or water. The worn-out state signaled the work that lay ahead.
Frustrated, Alex let out a growl, then headed to the mansion's entrance, making his way to where his car was parked. He took a few sips of water from his bottle to calm himself down.
"Should I call Dunice?" Alex wondered aloud.
"Maybe hearing her voice would help."
In the next moment, he decided against it, reasoning, "She must be tired and needs rest."
He stepped into his car and spent the night there...
Madison let out a faint moan, her hands fumbling across the bed in a half-asleep haze, searching for any sign of Jeffrey. Not finding him, she sat up, quickly pulling the blanket around herself for comfort.
Standing up while wrapping the blanket around her body she called out
"Jeffery! Jeff!!"
Not receiving any response she looked around. She saw there was no sign of his belongings but she found a note lying on the table beside her bed
Picking it up it read, "Madison, our night together was a fleeting connection. I can't offer more. I hope you understand. - Jeffery."
Reading the note, Madison felt a deep ache.
"Was it just a one-night thing for him?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with sadness. The absence of reassurance left her shattered, realizing he never intended to stay.
"I thought there was more," she murmured, her heart heavy with disappointment.
Picking up her phone she wanted to dial his number holding her phone, Madison realized she couldn't call him they never exchanged numbers.
She had written her home address down on a piece of paper from their time at the restaurant. Hoping to ask for it when he comes over but life does not always go as planned.
Madison, eager to share the day's events, called Dunice.
"Hey, baby," Dunice greeted cheerfully.
"Hi love," Madison replied. "Can we meet up today? I've got a lot to say – there's some serious tea!"
Dunice, puzzled, asked herself about the purpose of these meet-ups.
Jeff had just called, skipping work but expressing a desire to see her.
"I just hope all is well," Dunice thought internally.
And the person she desperately wanted to meet wasn't responding to messages or calls. Anger engulfed her as she pondered over it, all she wanted now was to punch Alex.
Did he have to ditch her after that little peck? If Damien finds out, he'll unleash hell on him, she chuckled at the thought.
****
Alex had woken up around 7 am and went to eat at a nearby restaurant. It was not a nearby restaurant in the real sense but it was the nearest he could find because the mansion was located in a very secluded place.
The restaurant was not the regular modern restaurant he was used to it gave off an old vintage vibe. It was very comforting and peaceful.
In a cozy corner, Alex sat as a friendly woman in her fifties came over, smiling gently.
"Hello, dear. What would you like to eat?"
The friendly woman returned with a steaming bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup, its comforting aroma filling the air. Alongside it, she placed a plate of classic meatloaf and creamy mashed potatoes. To complement the meal, she offered a refreshing glass of iced peach tea or a zesty ginger lemonade.
As the woman set down the meal Alex's fatigued expression transformed into a grateful smile.
"This looks amazing, thank you," he said,
appreciating both the thoughtful selection and the warm hospitality.
After serving Alex, the woman took a moment to observe him, a subtle furrow forming on her brow. A sense of familiarity stirred within her thoughts.
"Why does he look so familiar?" she pondered silently.
As she glanced at Alex, a flicker of recognition played on the woman's face. She couldn't quite pinpoint where she might have seen him before, but a sense of déjà vu lingered. Curiosity sparked, and she continued attending to her duties, occasionally stealing glances in Alex's direction.
Alex thoroughly enjoyed the delicious meal, finding it better than anything he'd had in years. Every bite brought comfort, and he quickly finished the plate. The cool sip of the peach tea or ginger lemonade added a refreshing touch. A deep sigh of contentment escaped him, and he felt much better.
After a few minutes, Alex took out the journal and flipped through the pages. He had stopped reading the journal yesterday out of shock.
As Alex flipped through the journal, he stumbled upon photos capturing moments of his mother and Douglas going on dates, and sharing kisses. Douglas appeared genuinely happy in those snapshots.
A sudden realization hit him.
"Where the hell was my dad during all this... oh, not my biological dad," he sighed, correcting himself and pondering the complexity of his family history.
So if Mum and Douglas were actually in love why would he kill the woman he loved Alex thought to himself.
"I would never do that to Dunice," he whispered.
The woman in her mid-fifties halted in her steps, her eyes fixed on Alex holding the blue journal. Recognition dawned, and she remembered it was Faustina's.
In that instant, she pieced together who Alex was. Feeling a mix of surprise and realization, she swiftly excused herself from the restaurant, hurrying towards the restroom to gather her thoughts in private.
Trembling, the woman muttered to her reflection, "Karma is real. It's coming back to haunt me." Her words hung in the air, heavy with regret, as she confronted the consequences of her past choices while staring at herself in the mirror of the restroom.
"I'll just become a freaking detective since I've lost my job- No I didn't lose the job I quit" Alex corrected himself as he scoffed sarcastically, recognizing the absurdity of his newfound investigative venture.
Yet, deep down, a genuine curiosity stirred as he aimed to uncover the truths behind his mother's death, her connection with Douglas, and the role of Lopez in their tangled story.