Chapter 31 The car accident is related to Emma

Upon Alina's return, she was taken aback to discover that Caleb hadn't taken any steps to initiate their divorce. She had expected him to prioritize their relationship, considering his engagement to Emma. If it hadn't been for Grandpa Max's intervention, Alina would have been able to handle the situation herself. The Ingford press had already started extensively covering Caleb's intention to make a spectacle for Emma, which inevitably distorted public discussions.

Eventually, Alina received a phone call from Mrs. Collins, summoning her to the Collins Castle. Outside, Jonah, the butler, awaited her arrival. "You're here, madam. Mrs. Collins is inside," he informed. Alina nodded, and the maid escorted her directly to Vanessa's beloved garden, nestled amidst lush greenery, providing a refreshing respite from the summer heat.

Sitting across from Alina, Vanessa exuded an elegant aura, embodying every movement with the grace of a noblewoman. She gracefully handed Alina a cup of tea, but her tone lacked warmth as she handed her a wet towel and curtly instructed, "Wipe it off."

Alina suddenly realized that she had been perspiring all the way. Mrs. Collins had always had an obsession with cleanliness, casually grabbing a towel and wiping it haphazardly. Her bold actions caused Mrs. Collins, sitting across from Alina, to fix her gaze upon her before remarking, "The Hughes family is aristocratic, and your grandmother was quite strict with your mother."

"I dislike being overly disciplined," Alina understood the implications behind Mrs. Collins' words. If elegance meant making her life uncomfortable, she preferred not having it at all.

Vanessa, accustomed to holding a position of authority within the family, had grown accustomed to a life of strict discipline. She could effortlessly handle any situation. However, Alina's words elicited little response from her. She glanced at Alina while picking up her cup, and with a slight furrow of her brow, she said, "Your car accident three years ago doesn't seem like an accident, does it?"

As Alina looked at Vanessa, she realized that Caleb had managed to keep the Collins family in the dark about the incident. So far, apart from his deceased grandfather, no one in the Collins family was aware of it. "Before Max passed away, he always mentioned how Caleb had wronged you," Vanessa spoke softly when she saw Alina remained silent, her tone growing more serious.

"We don't owe each other anything," Alina defined their marriage, summarizing it in those words. It was a statement that struck a chord with Vanessa across the room, causing her to momentarily freeze.

"You do have self-awareness," Vanessa acknowledged, indicating that she had also considered that perspective. Alina's expression darkened, as that particular matter was a taboo in her life.

Vanessa wasn't a malicious person. Despite her temperamental nature, she refrained from speaking ill of Alina. Observing Alina's displeased countenance, she avoided delving into memories that would dampen the atmosphere. Instead, Vanessa inquired, "Where is the child?"

Being the child's grandmother, she felt compelled to ask, despite her dissatisfaction with Alina. "Gone," Alina stated plainly, affirming a fact.

Vanessa regarded her with a grave gaze and questioned, "Why?". In her heart, she seemed to have pieced something together, causing her demeanor to grow colder. "Was the car accident related to Emma?"