Chapter 87
During Balch’s hospital days, the media had been buzzing non–stop. It was only when he was discharged that things started to cool down a bit. However, on the day Balch was discharged, there was still a circus at the hospital entrance between the security guards and the journalists
In the end, Balch managed to sneak out of the hospital through a secret passage, unnoticed by the horde of reporters.
Back at Urban Oasis, as he pulled up to his house, he saw Seraphina sitting on the doorstep.
It turned out she didn’t come to pick him up from the hospital, she was waiting for him at home
Balch couldn’t help but smirk as he got out of the car and helped Seraphina up “Why aren’t you inside?”
“I’ve already moved my stuff out Seraphina replied “I don’t live here anymore, it didn’t feel right to go in*
Hearing this, Balch let out a chuckle “Since when did you become so sensitive?
Seraphina shot him a glance and said. “When it comes to certain men, it’s better to be sensitive.”
“Everything you asked for, it’s all been arranged” Balch said
No sooner had he finished speaking than a few large moving trucks pulled up.
“What’s this for? Seraphina asked.
“Didn’t we agree to move?” Balch replied.
Seraphina couldn’t help but laugh at his response, she was obviously playing dumb. “I didn’t say we had to move today. You just got discharged, I’m supposed to be taking care of you”
Balch nodded “So, you’re in charge of the move today. You decide what stays and what goes ”
Balch had a mountain of work piled up during his hospital stay, so he left the moving to Seraphina. She took charge and only left the essentials and Balch’s personal items. the rest was handled by the moving company
In just half a day. Seraphina had pretty much sorted everything out
Only then did she knock on the door of Balch’s study
“How’s it going? Balch asked, looking up from his files.
“I’ve sorted out most of it,” Seraphina replied, crossing her arms. “Only two rooms left.”
Without a doubt, these two rooms were the ones he always kept locked. One was Janetta’s study, the other was something Seraphina had never seen before
Balch was silent for a moment before nodding and standing up. Tve thought about it.”
He walked to the door and led Seraphina to the two rooms.
The door to Janetta’s study was open, the furniture still in its original place, untouched.
“Whatever you did with the furniture downstairs, do the same here,” Balch said.
Then he led Seraphina to the door of the last room, entered the code, and opened the door.
Seraphina stood behind him, peering over his shoulder into the room.
The room was filled with stuff boxes, chairs, clothes, daily items, and Janetta’s portrait that she had seen in the living room.
Balch turned to look at Seraphina and asked, “Want to come in?”
Seraphina slowly entered the room, glanced around at the items, and then turned to Balch and asked, “Are these all your wife’s belongings?”
“Yes,” Batch replied, leaning against the door frame, “I had someone pack and store them. Tomorrow, I’ll take them to the cemetery, leave some for her.”
Seraphina looked at him, a little surprised. “You’re going to burn them?”
Balch nodded, then asked, “Are you okay with this?”
Seraphina stood there silently.
She had let him handle everything, and he had chosen to cut ties with the past so drastically. It showed that he was really ready to start a new life.
Balch walked over to her and looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”
Seraphina immediately hugged him.
Balch wrapped his arm around her waist and softly chuckled.
“You don’t have to be so thorough.” Seraphina said “What if you miss her one day? Keep something”
“No need,” Balch said after a moment of silence. “Keeping them won’t mean anything She’ll understand”
After a while, Seraphina finally nodded, “Okay. So, should I come with you tomorrow?”
“Okay”
That night, Balch moved into a hotel Considering his situation, Seraphina decided to avoid any misunderstandings and went back to her own place.
The next morning, Balch came to pick her up, and they went to Janetta’s grave together
By the time they arrived, the moving company staff were already moving Janetta’s belongings to the incinerator, box by box
Balch first took Seraphina to pay their respects to Janella
Seraphina had bought a bunch of lilies on the way, which she laid in front of Janetta’s tombstone.
The woman on the tombstone looked gentle and elegant, her smile peaceful.
“Mrs. Lawson, from today on, I’ll take good care of Batch for you I won’t say much more, I hope you can rest in peace,” Seraphina said
Balch squeezed her hand, looking at the woman on the tombstone, silent
When the two returned to the incinerator, the items waiting to be incinerated were already sel aside.
A worker fit the fire, and Balch stood by, watching for a while before finally picking up the nearest box and throwing a pile of photos into the incinerator one by one.
Seraphina understood his intentions, standing by his side and quietly asking the workers to leave
When most of the stuff had been burned. Seraphina, feeling a bit tired, said to Balch. “I need to use the restroom”
ན ཇ ཆ རྗ
Balch nodded, watched her go, then threw the last box Into the fire.
The names grew higher, and Balch remained silent, his expression serious
After a while, he looked down at the boxes around him.
All the boxes were empty Everything Janetta had left in the world had disappeared with the flames.
Balch closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled out a small box from his suit pocket.
Inside the box were a few memory chips
Balch stared at the chips for a while before finally deciding to chuck the whole box into the fire.
“Ah” A panicked shriek suddenly came from around the corner. It was Seraphina’s voice
Balch’s expression changed instantly, and he spun around, sprinting in the direction of the noise.
Turning a corner, he saw Seraphina sprawled on the ground, having fallen down the stairs.
A few employees were rushing towards her, but Balch was the first to reach her, quickly lifting her off the ground.
“Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Balch anxiously checked Seraphina’s condition, discovering that both her elbow and knee were grazed “Can you feel your hand and leg?”
Seraphina struggled to move and then murmured, “I’m fine ”
“Fine?” Balch looked somewhat upset. “You’ve scraped your hands and knees! How did you fall?”
“I just misstepped Seraphina frowned, her eyes widening in shock when she saw her wounds. “Oh no, will it leave scars? That would be so ugly!”
Balch almost laughed at her remark, but seeing her injuries made his heart ache All he could say was, “It’s okay, scars are fine.”
Seraphina glared at him. Balch simply picked her up and headed for the exit. “Lets get you to a hospital”
Passing by the incinerator, the fire was still blazing
Balch glanced at the fire, and Seraphina asked, “Did you finish burning your stuff?
“It’s done,” Balch responded. “Let’s take care of your injuries first.”
Seraphina nodded, resting quietly against him
When they left the hospital, Seraphina’s hands and legs were bandaged.
Seraphina was unhappy: “Now I can’t wear skirts or short sleeves!”
Balch chuckled, saying “If you don’t want scars, bear with it for a few days”
She grumbled all the way home. Balch tried to comfort her and then dropped her off at her place.
“Can I come over for dinner tonight?” Balch asked.
Seraphina, lying on the couch, responded sarcastically. “Forget it. You have so much work, and you’ve wasted half the day. Go do your stuff.”
“Call me if you need anything.” Balch said, patting her head. “If I can, I’ll come over. If not, III have someone else bring it.”
Seraphina pouted, and Balch gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving
Not long after Balch left, Seraphina sat up on the couch, stretched her stiff limbs, changed her clothes, and left the house
Half an hour later, Seraphina arrived at Sandra’s house in the city center
As she opened the door, she saw Terrell busy working on two computers with his wife fussing over him with ice packs.
Seeing Seraphina, Terrell’s wife almost burst into tears ‘Ms. Bennett, just look at him. He’s burnt but refuses to go to the hospital.“.
Only then did Seraphina notice that Terrell’s hands and face were burnt, and a section of his hair had been singed off. He seemed to be in a sorry state. These were injuries from his retrieval of the chips from the fire.
“Are your injuries severe? Seraphina asked.
“I’m okay Terrell responded with a hoarse voice.
“That’s good” said Seraphina, before sitting down in front of the computer. ‘So, can we retrieve the data?”
‘One chip is severely damaged, but the contents of the remaining three can be read,” Terrell said while showing Seraphina the contents
Seraphina took a look and saw it was a surveillance video.
The video was set in Janetta’s study room, and naturally, the person in the video was Janetta herself
From the date in the video, it could be inferred that it was taken in June two years ago, the same month Janetta was murdered
In the video, Janella was working diligently Her desk was piled high with documents, and she occasionally glanced at her computer or took calls
From the camera’s angle, it was clear that the camera was installed on the wall of Junetta’s study. It was the same camera that Seraphina had found traces of behind a painting in the study
“Are there videos from any other places? Seraphina asked
“The bedroom and the living room downstairs, replied Terrell
*Show me the footage from the living room!” Seraphina’s heart started to pound. “Did you see anything?”
