391 Eliminating The Dangers (1/2)

The coffee cup rested upon the table; within that cup of swirling golden glaze sat the swirling hues of the coffee, blended perfectly. Right beside the coffee cup, upon a minimalistic white plate was a muffin that screamed 'rich chocolate'. The top of the muffin bore a network of cracks, made as it rose in the oven and fell a small way on cooling.

The elegant woman extended her hand to pick up the coffee cup but before she could bring it to her lips, her eyes wandered off to the person who came to stand before her. Raising a single brow at him, she put the cup down as she stated, ”Ao! Xiao Zi, you're late!”

Xin Zimen didn't pay attention to her simple directness, he directly took a seat opposite her. Raising his hand, he called for the server and asked for tea. When he was done, he looked back at his sister-in-law, Zhao Huan.

”So, why are you looking for me?” she wondered with her eyes on him. ”There must be a reason why you called me early in the morning.”

Xin Zimen contemplated for a moment. ”Your intuition was right.”

Zhao Huan's brows lifted slightly as she tried to comprehend his words. ”My intuition is always right. But the question is, what exactly are you referring to?”

”Carina Novell and my elder brother indeed had a child,” answered Xin Zimen with a heavy heart. He also slipped the DNA report towards her. ”The DNA matched perfectly.”

The corner of her lips curled up in a knowing smile. ”Why is the report crumpled?” Xin Zimen wasn't willing to tell her that he crumpled it in frustration but she could tell it herself. ”How childish of you!” She tutted in disappointment.

”And Carina Novell is no more.” Her smile fell as she heard those direct words from him. ”Shouldn't you be happy to hear that? Why do you look so sad?”

”Why would I be happy about it?” she retorted.

Xin Zimen shrugged his shoulders carelessly. ”Perhaps because she can't take your place anymore.”

”She couldn't take my place anyway,” answered Zhao Huan calmly as she took a bite of the muffin. ”Where is her...?”

”Her daughter is in the same city,” he continued even before she could finish asking. Seeing how she was lost in her thoughts, he speculated, ”Do you think he knows about his daughter?”

Zhao Huan shook her head, ”I'm not certain about that actually.” She took a pause before adding, ”How did Carina die? And where did she die?”

Xin Zimen frowned at her question but he still answered, ”She died here.” Zhao Huan couldn't help looking at him. ”But we don't know how she died. We're still working on that.”

”Can't you just ask her daughter? She must know,” she suggested.

”We can't,” answered Xin Zimen and explained Xiu's condition to her.

Xin Zimen hadn't thought about this particular point at all. He was so overwhelmed to know about Xiu's relationship with Carina Novell that he completely overlooked the details. But now that he thought about it, why did she change her name? Why did she not go back to her Novell family? What exactly was happening with her?