Volume 3: The End of the Lies and the Rebirth of the Iris
The air in the cabin in the woods was cold and damp, carrying the fishy smell of soil and trees. The firewood in the fireplace crackled, struggling to dispel the chill. Irene lay weakly on the bed, and a faint trace of blood seeped through the bandage on her shoulder, reminding her of the dangerous situation she had just been in. Sean stood beside the fireplace with his back to her, looking extremely lonely and desolate. He held a poker in his hand and aimlessly stirred the fire, as if trying to find answers in it.
"Sean, I need some things," Irene's voice broke the silence, tinged with a trace of weariness.
Upon hearing this, Sean suddenly turned around, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. "What? What do you need? Food? Drink? Or... or painkillers?"
"I need all those, but more importantly, I need to know exactly how the core industries of the Rockefeller family operate. Shipping... its mode of operation, the means by which your father and uncle control it. We can't miss any details," Irene composed herself and continued. "Also, about Olivia... the details of your relationship with her, your conversations. Did she mention anything about Carl? Any small clue could be the key for us to bring him down."
Sean's face turned even paler. As if his soul had been sucked away, he slowly walked to the bedside and slumped down on the edge of the bed. "Regarding shipping... I don't know much. It's always been my uncle in charge, and my father only has a nominal position... I... I've always been on the periphery of the core. As for Olivia..." He closed his eyes in pain. "She really liked Carl's paintings and often went to his gallery... She once said that Carl was a very charming man with a... a unique aura."
Irene's heart sank. She should have expected that Carl wouldn't miss any opportunity to get close to the Rockefeller family. "What else? Is there anything more specific? For example, did they meet alone? Did Olivia bring back anything special?"
Sean shook his head, his eyes empty. "I... I don't know. I trusted her too much, and I trusted Carl too. I... I never suspected them." He beat his leg in frustration, as if trying to wake himself up from a nightmare.
Irene sighed, knowing that it was pointless to blame him now. "Calm down, Sean. The most important thing now is to find evidence. Do you have any way to access the Rockefeller family's accounts? Or to read Olivia's personal letters?"
Sean looked up, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes. "Maybe... maybe I can give it a try. I placed someone in the family's finance department. Although his position isn't high, he might be able to help me find some clues. As for Olivia's letters... she had a private safe where she kept some important things. Maybe there will be clues in there."
"Great! We'll split up. You're responsible for looking through the family's accounts, and I'll figure out how to open Olivia's safe," Irene said as she forced herself to sit up, her gaze firm. "But before that, we need a plan. Carl definitely won't let us go. He will surely send people to hunt us down."
Sean nodded, his expression solemn. "You're right. We must be careful. This cabin is secluded, but it's not completely safe. We must leave here as soon as possible."
In the following time, the two of them began to plan intensively. Irene analyzed the information they had at present, speculated about Carl's next move, and formulated countermeasures. Sean contacted his informant within the family, asking him to secretly investigate the Rockefeller family's accounts and try his best to delay Carl's actions.
Time passed minute by minute, and the cabin was filled with a tense atmosphere. The firewood burned out, the flames in the fireplace gradually died down, and the air became even colder. Sean brought some coarse bread and water from the kitchen, and the two of them ate in silence without saying a word.
Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke the tranquility. Sean's face changed, and he immediately stood up alertly, walked to the window, and carefully peeked outside.
Irene's heart also started to race. She knew that Carl's men had arrived.
"Who is it?" Sean asked in a low voice.
"It's... it's Martha," Sean's voice trembled. "Olivia's personal maid."
Irene's mind raced. Martha was the person Olivia trusted the most. She knew a lot of secrets, but she was also loyal to the Rockefeller family. Why was she here? Was she sent by Carl?
"Let her in," Irene took a deep breath and said calmly. "But you have to be ready. If things go wrong, take action immediately."
Sean nodded and slowly opened the door.
Martha stood outside the door, pale-faced and disheveled, as if she had been greatly frightened. "Young Master Sean! Miss Irene! Please, save me!" As soon as she saw Sean, she rushed forward and burst into tears.
"Martha, what happened?" Sean supported Martha and asked anxiously.
"Carl... Carl he... he killed Olivia!" Martha cried. "I... I saw it! He... he poisoned Olivia, and then... then he framed Miss Irene!"
Sean's body shook violently, and he looked at Martha in disbelief. "What did you say? Carl killed Olivia?"
"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes!" Martha sobbed. "He... he would stop at nothing to get the Rockefeller family's fortune! He... he even threatened me to keep his secret! I... I was so scared that I escaped and came to tell you the truth!"
Irene walked over and looked at Martha with a complicated expression. She didn't expect the truth to be like this. Carl was the real murderer of Olivia, and she had just been a pawn being used.
"Martha, is everything you said true? Are you willing to take responsibility for your words?" Irene asked.
Martha nodded vigorously, her eyes firm. "It's true! I'm willing to take responsibility for everything I said! I'm willing to testify against Carl's crimes!"
Irene took a deep breath, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart. She hated Carl for his insidiousness, cunning, and cruelty. But she also hated herself for her stupidity, impulsiveness, and for being blinded by hatred.
"Sean, now we have evidence! We can accuse Carl of his crimes and make him pay the price he deserves!" Irene said.
Sean's eyes were filled with anger and hatred. He clenched his fists tightly, and his voice trembled as he said, "Carl, I will make you pay! I will make you pay for your crimes with blood!"
However, just then, a sharp gunshot sounded outside the window. The glass shattered, and bullets whistled in, hitting the wall and making a dull sound.
"Be careful!" Irene exclaimed and quickly pushed Sean and Martha to the ground.
Bullets rained down, and the cabin was immediately in a mess. Sean and Irene fought back desperately, but the enemy's firepower was too strong, and they couldn't resist it at all.
"We must break through!" Irene shouted loudly. "Martha, do you know any place where we can escape?"
Martha shook her head in horror. "N... no... There's only one way out of here..."
Just then, the door of the cabin was suddenly slammed open, and a group of men in black rushed in, holding guns and exuding a murderous aura.
"Irene, Sean, you can't escape!" Carl's voice came from the crowd, tinged with a hint of pride and mockery.
Irene's heart sank to the bottom. She knew that she and Sean were in a desperate situation.
However, at this life-and-death moment, Sean suddenly made a surprising move. He suddenly stood up, stood in front of Irene, and used his body to block the bullets aimed at her.
Blood spattered, staining Sean's clothes red. He groaned in pain, and his body slowly fell to the ground.
"Sean!" Irene exclaimed and quickly hugged him, tears streaming down her face.
"Irene... promise me... you must... must expose Carl's true face..." Sean said with difficulty, his voice getting weaker and weaker.
"I promise you! I promise you!" Irene cried, holding Sean's hand tightly.
Sean smiled slightly, his eyes filled with love and relief. "Irene... I... I love you..." With that, he closed his eyes and stopped breathing.
Irene held Sean's body, overwhelmed with grief. She knew that Sean had saved her with his life and also given her the courage to keep fighting.
She looked up, her eyes filled with hatred and determination. "Carl! I will make you pay! I will make you pay for your crimes!"
In the interweaving of blood and fire, Irene's path of revenge had just begun. Sean's death not only took away a glimmer of hope in her heart but also ignited the reborn love in her heart - the longing for justice, the pursuit of the truth, and the promise to the deceased. She was no longer fighting for herself but for Sean, for Olivia, and for all those who had been deceived and hurt by Carl. The iris, in the blood, was reborn from the ashes.