Chapter 257
1152words
Who could be that mysterious person? Mr. K? Kylian? Another person I didn’t know ofMystery -?
I tapped my fingers on my thighs and kept my eyes on Cathy, intently observing her and searching her eyes for any trace of lies as I sorted out my thoughts.
However, aside from the nervousness she was overflowing with, which I seemingly caused due to her intimidation, I didn’t see any flicker of deception in her eyes.
She must have noticed that I was trying to figure her out, so she started fishing in her bag and pulled out her phone to remove my doubts.
“Well, I… I only got an email," Cathy started to speak while her eyes were on her phone, scrolling through her screen.
After a while, her fingers halted, and she handed me the phone, pointing at the screen. "The sender said they were a fan of yours, actually. Whoever it was, they said that they sympathized with what happened to me, so they offered me an internship at Wakeland Times.”
Shrugging her shoulder, she continued, “I never met the sender, and the email was in pseudonyms without an actual sign on the email itself. It’s suspicious and a bit risky, I know, but it was the only chance I had."
As I listened to her explanation, I scanned through the email and read the letter sent to her.
Indeed, it was an anonymous email dated three years ago. I scrolled through it and opened the attached formal letter, but there wasn’t any name signed on it, as she said.
Everything matched her story, so I nodded my head and gave the phone back to her. After all, I didn’t have any reason to further doubt her, and there’s no evidence Sapphire found against her.
She accepted her phone back, but sadness flickered in her eyes, and her hand tightened on her phone.
Looking down at her lap, she softly narrated, “The Wakeland Times doesn’t pay the interns that much, but it’s better than washing dishes. And I knew that…”
Shyly, she looked back at me with hope in her eyes. “I knew that you would eventually come to Wakeland, Princess. So… I figured it was my best chance to help."
Her shoulders then slumped in dismay as the hope I saw in her earlier expression started to dim slightly. "But because I’m just an intern, I’m not allowed to write and publish anything. They keep me busy with random office work while I have to watch them twist the truth, turning every piece of news into tools to attack you."
After speaking, she kept her head down and fidgeted with her fingers. She looked both lost and helpless, with determination slowly fading in her eyes and being replaced by frustration.
Then, a bitter laugh left her lips. “I thought too highly of myself and expected too much. I came here to help you, Princess… But I couldn’t do anything but watch on the sidelines as they slander you.”
I just watched her for a moment, and silence enveloped the two of us, calming our minds and hearts.
After considering my words, I curiously asked, “Why did you come to me?”
Hearing my question, she sat up straight and looked at me with determination as if she had found her light and confidence.
Looking straight into my eyes, she said, “One day, I’ll be a real reporter, and maybe then I can be useful to you. I don’t know how yet and when exactly, but… I just thought… maybe… somehow… and someway…I could help.”
I stared into her eyes and found the undying urgency and passion in her eyes.
Her words touched my heart. They sounded and felt so genuine, which made me believe more and more that she wasn’t deceiving me—and I hope she wasn't.
Aside from my family and the people in the kingdom, no one had ever looked at me with so much confidence and admiration. If she was deceiving me… I wouldn’t lie. It would sting a bit.
Furthermore, given how badly public opinion has turned on me because of the Wakeland Times, I believe that having someone of my own inside would be a great advantage in stirring the waves.
And since all things checked out… so much so that I couldn’t find any loopholes, I sighed and eventually decided.
I think I could trust her.
Firming my voice, I sat up properly and leaned closer to her as I spoke, “I need your help, Cathy. But if you choose to work with me, I’ll expect absolute loyalty. When things settle here, I won’t forget your support.”
Her lips parted as she gasped for breath, and her eyes almost gudge out of her eyes before she froze in her place.
I gave her a few seconds until she finally heaved a breath and blinked a couple more times to compose herself before she excitedly and determinedly raised her right arm and vowed, “I swear to you and the Moon Goddess, I’ll be loyal to you, Princess. No matter what, I’ll be at your side!”
A smile formed on my lips, and I nodded in satisfaction with her answer.
“What is it? Do you have anything to add?” I asked, tilting my head and raising my brows at her with curiosity as she opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, looking hesitant.
“Ahmmm…” she looked at me hesitantly.
“I have something… but I’m not sure if I should tell you…” Her voice was soft and cautious, making me even more curious as to what she wanted to say.
I leaned back in my seat, waiting for her next words.
“It’s about the Dark Moon Pack. I think you should know… but I am worried that it might hurt you again…”
Hearing that pack’s name again brought more discomfort in my already stinging heart. For years, I’ve come to terms with myself that I won’t pay attention to anything about that pack anymore, but hearing the hesitation and reason behind Cathy’s words made me so curious that the thirst to know what it was about was so hard to suppress.
After a while of thought, I gave in. I need to quench this curiosity!
“Who are you trying to convince with that lame reason? Yourself?” Trish sarcastically asked.
“Oh, shut up!”
She sneered and rebuked, “Stop lying! Whether you admit it or not, we both know that you still care for that bastard of an ex-husband of ours! Sort it out and control your heart. Face your heart honestly.”
I pushed back against Trish's suggestion and momentarily blocked her as I brought my attention back to Cathy.
With a hand gesture, I kept my voice composed as I said, "No, anything related to the Dark Moon Pack won’t affect me anymore, much less hurt me.
Nodding my head, I encouraged, “Please, Cathy, go on.”
