Chapter 2

Suddenly, many construction crews entered the estate.

Rose said the swimming pool where Mother died was to be turned into a flower garden, on Grandfather's orders.

She also said all the ponds and shallow depressions on the hundred-acre estate were to be filled in, leaving not a single body of water deeper than an ankle.

I was just a six-year-old child. Hearing that Grandpa wanted to build a flower garden, I couldn't help but feel a bit happy.

Rose pinched my nose and asked with a smile:

"Your mother just passed away like that. In life, she was the lady of the Turner family, but in death, she didn't even get a funeral."

"No coffin, no grave, and no one will remember her in the future."

"Aren't you sad at all?"

I asked innocently in return:

"Why should I be sad?"

"You raised me. I don't recognize that crazy woman as my mother."

Mother was crazy.

—I had heard this more than once from the servants, including Rose.

Mother was spotted by the wealthy George Turner when she was six years old and became his child bride.

After coming of age, she married the third young master, Robert. Two years later, Robert went to France to study.

After that, Mother became mentally unstable.

During the day, she would arrange flowers, read books, and brew coffee, looking ethereally beautiful, breathtaking to behold.

But when night fell, she became a different person.

She would cry, get angry, and smash things for no reason.

I once tried to approach her, but she pointed a knife at me and yelled:

"Filthy thing, don't come near me, get away!"

No one could control the young mistress when she went crazy, except for the Turner family patriarch, George.

When Grandfather returned home late from social engagements, he would carry the out-of-control Mother into his bedroom.

Once the door closed, it would be for the whole night...

I didn't know how Grandfather "comforted" Mother, but the next morning, she would be docile beyond belief.

This cycle repeated day after day.

Until recently, when a letter arrived saying Father would soon return from abroad, Mother's mental illness suddenly improved, and she became radiant.

She waited eagerly for a full month before Father finally returned in his suit.

Mother had waited for her savior, but it couldn't change her fate.

That night after dinner, Grandfather still led Mother into his bedroom—right in front of Father, me, and all the servants.

That night, she had desperately sought help from Father.

But Father's indifference extinguished her hope of survival.

And so she hastily ended her short life.

George Turner's renovation of the garden at this time was nothing more than an attempt to bury Mother's remains on the spot.

They wanted to cover up Mother's death.

How could I let them get away with it?

While everyone was busy, I secretly instructed Leo, the son of a servant, to sneak out and report to the police.

Leo was the same age as me and could come and go freely without anyone noticing him.

I waited anxiously at home.

As it was getting dark, the police really came, and it was even a chief.

Leo was brought before Father Robert with his hands tied behind his back.

Father politely shook hands with the chief: "This child needs discipline. He filed a false police report. I'm sorry for the trouble, Chief Johnson."

Leo struggled a bit and shouted defiantly:

"I didn't file a false report! The young mistress really did die! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Tired of living!"

Robert kicked Leo, then took out a thick stack of bills from his suit's inner pocket.

Chief Johnson accepted it, smiling from ear to ear.

"No worries, Mr. Turner. If you encounter any trouble in the future, just let me know."

A young police officer suddenly interjected: "Sir, I noticed some suspicious traces around the pool. May I investigate further?"

"Have you lost your mind!" Chief Johnson knocked the officer's head hard, "Don't you know whose estate this is? How dare you investigate casually?"

Hidden behind a beaded curtain, I witnessed this entire process of collusion between officials and businessmen, and I remembered the face of that young police officer.

As they were about to get in the police car, I ran out of the house and smiled as I handed candy to Chief Johnson:

"Uncle, you're so impressive. This is chocolate my father brought back from France. Please try some."

Robert patted my head approvingly, and Chief Johnson happily accepted the candy.

The young police officer stared at me for a few seconds, then pulled me over and asked seriously:

"You're the Turner family's young miss, right? Did something really happen to your mother?"

His eyes were frighteningly bright.

I grinned at him: "Uncle, have some candy."