CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO: DOUBLE TRAGEDY
When Marina woke up that morning, there were traces of blood on the pure white sheet. Before she could become heartbroken for loosing her virginity to a man she didn't even know, because she didn't remember his face either. She lost her sanity afterwards. Now before she could lament over that, she realized that she has lost the precious necklace, the only gift from her more. She had carried the necklace from a young age. It was special to her because that's the only thing from her mother. She was told that even when she was found, she had the necklace. All her life, Marina had treasured the necklace. Loosing her was like loosing her whole world.
The necklace gone, plus her virginity lost, that was double tragedy. Marina lost her mind, trying everything to take her life. Just when she was about to jump out through the window, Erin walked in and stopped her. Marina wept. She had been locked in one room downstairs.
When Naysa arrived, Erin explained everything to her. She was going upstairs to lock Marina's room but now that Naysa was here, she had to show her where Marina was. When they entered the room, it was empty. Naysa now panicked. The window was broken. Going out, she found Marina walking in the middle of the road. She quickly ran to her.
"Marina am here. It's me Naysa." Naysa tried holding her back. Marina struggled to be let free.
"Let me go. What else is left for me in this world? Loosing my virginity to someone I don't even know. I don't even remember how he looks like, I don't know what happened. I just don't... I lost the only thing that mom left me with, my only property. Let me die." Marina broke down while talking. Luckily, Stenson arrived in time.
"Take her in." Naysa said. Though she tried resisting, Stenson carefully led her into the car while Naysa went back into the hotel.
"I want to know the man who booked that room." Naysa said to the receptionist who checked the records.
"One Hollis who is a citizen of country Y madam." The receptionist answered.
"Country Y?" Naysa was suprised. "What time did he leave?"
"The same night. He didn't stay long." The receptionist replied.
Naysa went over to the Manager's office and asked her to give Marina sometimes off work. Due to her love for Marina, she readily accepted.
After driving Marina to Emerald Castle, Naysa and Stenson appeared at the airport to ask for more information about Hollis.
"So far till now, no oabe has left for country Y. Besides, there is no one registered by that name here." That's the report they got.
"Could it be possible that someone sneaked into the nation with a different identity?" Naysa asked Stenson on their way back.
"That might be the possibility. Or probably, whoever it was entered the nation with his real identity but booked the room with a different identity." Stenson explained.
"How are we going to help Marina? " Naysa asked.
"That's kind off difficult. Besides, many people enter and leave the nation on daily basis. The mysterious Hollis might have left the nation already. Apart from that, we don't have prove that it was really Hollis who might have done that right? No witnesses, no clue, just nothing." Stenson said.
Naysa felt broken. She couldn't find a better way to help Marina who was running crazy because of what happened. She also cursed herself for being careless and leaving her alone. She also wanted to meet Livia who was the one who invited them to a drink.
On getting to the castle, Jemmy was already back, and after knowing Naysa had disappeared and was at the Griffins.
"Naysa Haven... Tell me, what do you miss here? Why would you spend a night at the Griffins?" Without greetings, Jemmy started. He was naturally a jealous man who wanted what belonged to him to be his whole.
"All this wasn't planned ok? It was all a mistake." Naysa tried to explain.
Will you explain more? Which kind of mistake? I know Ridden Griffin had had interest in you since your first year in university. Tell me how you ended up trusting him that much and..." Jemmy said but stopped when he looked at Naysa's face.
Naysa was low since Marina was the one suffering more than herself, but she thought all this was because of her carelessness for leaving her behind. Besides, she was here supposed to give an explanation as to why she slept at the Griffins, a place she didn't even know how she got herself there. Anyway, she has been holding back for a long time. When Jemmy started asking her questions, she finally broke down and wept.
Jemmy looked at the tears silently finding there way down her pale face and regretted asking the questions. Besides, he had just arrived and didn't know about Marina.
"Marina is suffering, she's lost her whole world in one night, just because I was careless to leave her behind. I don't even know what happened, what I know is, I got my own sister in trouble." Naysa cried bitterly.
Jemmy would have asked about Marina but now he was concerned about Naysa's feeling right now. He pulled her closer into a hug.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you." He smoothened her hair with his own hands. "Can you stop crying? You're hurting me."
His voice was very soft. Naysa listened to his words as her own tears soaked his shirt.
Meanwhile...
Old man Andrew has been buried this morning and Livia attended the funeral. Only Roderick and Diana were left behind feeling miserable, especially when they remembered they had to pay a debt to the Haven's.
Livia had intended to stay but Charles called her that one person who claimed to be her friend was here to see her. She rushed back to the Weyner company to meet the 'friend.'
In her office, a lady with a face full of make up sat patiently waiting.
"Mmh? How may I help you?" Livia rushed in, and when she didn't recognize the friend, she asked in a business tone.
"Hi... Am Cindy Scott." Cindy stood up and the two shook hands.
"Miss Scott. How may I help you?" Livia sat down slowly.
"Actually,the Scotts are among the first class families in Country LA. Well, yesterday I saw you at the party with Marina and Naysa Haven. Are you two friends?" Cindy asked.
"Yeah... They were both my roommates back in the university. Anything wrong?" Livia asked, studying Cindy.
"Nothing really." Cindy laughed. "Actually, am here to ask if the Weyners would like to work with the Scotts. This is a chance many companies have been fighting for. Besides, the Scotts aren't in cooperation with any company in K nation. That means, if you accept, you'll be the first company to gain profit from the Scotts here in K nation. On top of that, I want us to be friends." Cindy said, smiling sweetly.
That was really a tempting deal. After confirming with Charles, the deal was signed, thus the beginning of friendship between Livia Weyner and Cindy Scott.
Charles was also happy, at least his sister wasn't that useless. She managed to sign a contract with a famous family abroad.