Bright sent Rose and Doris to school and then went to his office. He was dressed in a high-fashion suit.
He was upright, but seemed not in a good mood today. Everywhere he passed by was silent.
The morning meeting ended after an hour. Bright went back to work in the office.
Then, Bill knocked on his office door in the afternoon and walked to his desk.
Bright kept paying attention to the document in his hand. Bill didn't bother him, waiting quietly for him to
finish reading the document and then signing on the last page.
Bright closed the file and put it aside, and then slowly spoke, "Say it."
"Ms. Hallie worked for a dance troupe in Country Z after she graduated." Bill was very efficient this
time, "Her first husband was also a member of it. They divorced after five years of marriage. Since her
husband was a senior member, she had no choice but to quit her job.
At that time, she had a miserable life. She couldn't enter the formal state-level troupe. To support
herself, she had to apply for a private dance studio and school, and finally chose Blooming Dance
Studio...."
"Did she know Marley when she married my father?" Bright wanted to know the point.
"Mr. Bright, that's the point." Bill continued, "Since the dance teacher of Mr. Marley's friend's school was
pregnant, they needed to hire a dance teacher. That teacher recommended Ms. Hallie. So, Ms. Hallie
became a supply teacher. When Mr. Marley went to find his friend, he met Ms. Hallie who was taking
classes. This was the first time they met. Mr. Marley was attracted by the young and beautiful Ms.
Hallie at that time.
Then Mr. Marley often went to his friend's school to see her in class, until one day Ms. Hallie did not
take over a class again. He found out where Ms. Hallie worked, and enrolled in dance classes to learn
Latin dance. Then he got in touch with Ms. Hallie more.
Once it rained, Mr. Marley gave Ms. Hallie a ride back. They probably got closer from that time. Ms.
Hallie's ex-husband came to pester her. Mr. Marley helped her, which moved Ms. Hallie. Ms. Hallie also
told him about her divorce and having children, but Mr. Marley didn't care.
Soon after, they were supposed to be confirmed in a relationship, but did not make it public. After they
fell in love, Ms. Hallie met Mr. Francis, your father, at a business dinner. She got close to your father
and broke up with Mr. Marley.
Mr. Marley naturally disagreed. They had a cold war for some time. During this time, Ms. Hallie's ex-
husband died, and her daughter was sent to her. Her daughter was ill and needed money for treatment.
She took the initiative to borrow money from your father, leaving a thousand a month for herself and
paying the rest back Mr. Francis... Soon, they got together.
And you know what happened next. Mr. Francis brought Ms. Hallie home. Mr. Marley was not home
that time. He learned that she was going to be his stepmother later. Then, Mr. Marley had been living
outside and not went back to the Lee family.
I think Mr. Marley was hurt because Ms. Hallie and his father got together. So, he could not accept it
and... But this is only my guess. The police checked and said Mr. Marley jumped off the building
himself."
Bill had been in a cold sweat after he said the secret past of the year.
He now knew some secrets of the Lee family, would he be silenced?
Bright kept calm after listening to it. Bill didn't know if he had listened carefully, and how much he had
listened to.
"No wonder Marley didn't go to father's wedding that year, and later had a fight with Hallie inexplicably. I
didn't understand why he acted like this at first. So there was such a thing in it." Bright sympathized
with Marley.
Marley was so excellent and brilliant. There were so many women who wanted to marry him. He could
have many choices. Why did he fall in love with Hallie?
But love was something people could not resist. Everything was fate.
"Mr. Marley was so outstanding. Why would he fall in love with a divorced woman like Ms. Hallie?" Bill
couldn't help but ask one more question.
Bright had mixed feelings and was very patient with his question, "Our mother died early, and our father
was busy working. We had no mother's and father's love. We were taken care of by the housekeepers
and nannies. We accepted the courses my father arranged and grew up as he predetermined.
It is said that men, who is lack of mother's love from childhood, is easy to fall in love with a woman
older than themselves in adulthood, to make up for the mother's love. So, it is not accidental for Marley
to make such a choice. It just so happens that the person who appears to give him what he wants. So,
he was moved.
You know Ms. Hallie is dignified and elegant. She always keeps gentle. She married into the Lee family
for so many years. I am indifferent to her, but she is not angry or resentful, playing the role of a good
stepmother. Even if she's not tired, I'm tired of watching it."
"Mr. Bright, Mr. Marley and you all lost mother. But why didn't you fall in love with a woman older than
you? Mrs. Lee is a few years younger than you." Bill really dared to ask this question.
Bright glanced at Bill, who hurriedly shut up.
"I like the young ones." Bright tapped on the table with his long fingers, but could not hide the hint of
smugness on the corners of his eyes.
Bill also smiled, and then remained calm, "These investigations cannot prove that Ms. Hallie is the
murderer. What should we do next?"
"Even if she didn't do it herself, she indirectly caused Marley to lie for so many years. She's living it up.
My dad wouldn't have expected that the person who did this to his best and most valued son would be
his closest people." That was why it was hardest for him to talk.
"You're afraid Mr. Francis won't be able to stand it after knowing the truth?" Bill guessed Bright's worry.
"Here is a sticky business." Bright rubbed the corner of his forehead with his long fingers.
One was his father and the other was his brother. His two closest relatives were all allured by Hallie's
beauty, not realizing how selfish she was.
"But she hurt my family. I will never let her go, if she's not completely innocent."
It was his decision. Even if it would bring the family a mess, he wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
After work, Bright called Rose to say he would be home late. He had asked a driver to pick them up.
Then, Bright went to the hospital to visit Marley.
Bright had never visited Marley in the evening. But today, he itched to see him.
He sat at the bedside and looked at Marley's gaunt face and extra pale skin. Seeing that Marley was so
lifeless, and thinking about how spirited Marley was in the past years....
Bright felt sad and hurt.
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