Tabitha's POV
Derek also dialed it down a bit.
He asked, "So Elena isn't the murderer? Who is Lillian? If that's the case, does it make things a bit easier between us?"
"In your dreams. There are far more problems between us," I replied coldly.
Then I continued, "Lillian was Elena's substitute. She died for Elena.
"A few days ago, I tentatively asked Dad about Lillian. She was not the simple victim we imagined."
I explained the whole thing in detail.
Derek's frown deepened as if he was recalling what had been amiss that night.
He said, "That day, I was supposed to meet Carson and the others, but Carson had something come up and couldn't make it. I didn't like the atmosphere there, so I found an excuse to leave. When I was walking out, I felt so hot and only then did I realize that I had been drugged. Afterward, I asked Alvin to investigate, but there were too many people that night and we couldn't find anything. So the incident goes unresolved. I never expected it to be related to Lillian."
"Yes, Lillian's original target was you. After you left, she had sex with someone else and got pregnant. Later, my dad found her and discovered her pregnancy. She said that she would get an abortion and start a new life with my dad. However, she kept delaying the abortion until she was three months pregnant. I think she intended the baby to be leverage in negotiations with the father. The baby was her bargaining chip.
"All along, we have regarded Lillian as a pitiful victim and overlooked what she really was. She was very ambitious and determined to climb up the ladder. I will look into it.
"I think Elena knows part of the truth," I cautioned. "I'm telling you this not to clear Elena of suspicion, but just to seek the truth."
"I know, Tabitha," Derek replied.
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. I should go."
Derek grabbed my hand and pleaded, "Tabitha, this ceremony took me a long time to prepare."
There was a hint of reluctance in his eyes, but I gave him a cold glance and said, "Derek, I have no interest in playing games with you. I'm going to change my clothes."
I held the hem of my dress with one hand, and this time I walked slowly and steadily.
Gloria was standing outside the door. Seeing my red eyes, she guessed what I had said.
I was too proud to finish this ceremony with Derek.
"Tabitha, I'm not here to persuade you. I just want to take a few pictures with you."
I was taken aback, and Gloria added with a smile, "You look stunning in the wedding dress. I'd love to have more photos to remember this moment."
"Okay." Gloria was afraid that one day I would leave this world, and she never had the chance to have a real wedding before she died.
The last time I wore a wedding dress was for a wedding photo shoot.
Besides the staff, it was just Derek and me that day. Gloria never got to be part of it.
Now she wanted to record all my beautiful moments so that she would at least have something to remember after I was gone.
I did not take off the wedding dress because of Gloria's request.
"Wait a moment," Derek said as he walked over, holding the veil and gently securing it for me.
Obadiah kept hitting the shutter button, snapping photos of Gloria and me.
Leopold chuckled and said, "Since everyone's here, let's take one together, alright?"
I couldn't refuse such a simple request and agreed to take a group photo.
Carson pulled Derek over to me, while Obadiah kept adjusting everyone's positions.
"Good, that's it. Ms. Hartley, smile. I'll count to three" instructed Obadiah.
I felt extremely awkward, but I couldn't turn them down, so I posed for several pictures.
I wouldn't call this a wedding, but we had certainly done many of the usual wedding activities.
I had fun with friends, and they didn't leave until it was getting dark.
Derek suggested, "I'll arrange for someone to send you home."
"Are you going to Elena?" I asked.
"Yes."
"I'll come with you. I have something to ask her."