C314 My Mother Was Adopted

I walked closer to the computer and looked at it thoughtfully. “It has been a while since I upgraded it. After everything that happened, I think I need something much better.” Alicia nodded. “How much will the upgrade cost?” I turned toward her. “Wife, don't worry about it. I’ll manage.” She immediately shook her head. “You always say that.” “Because I can manage.” “No,” she replied firmly. “You need the best quality you can get. If you're going to use that computer for tracking Harris family, then don't buy cheap parts just because you're trying to save money.”

I laughed. “I wasn't planning to buy cheap parts.” “Good.” She thought for a moment before adding, “Actually, we really need to start sharing our accounts.” I immediately shook my head. “No. Impossible.” Alicia stared at me. “Why?” “Because living with you and your family is already enough.” She laughed. “What does that have to do with our accounts?” I smiled. “I have a permanent job that pays me well. I can save my own money and spend it when I need to. You don't need to worry about my expenses.”

Alicia remained quiet for a moment. She looked at me carefully, as if trying to decide whether I was being stubborn or simply trying to maintain my independence. Finally, she smiled. “Well, if that's what you want, then fine.” I nodded. “But…” I knew immediately that there was going to be a ‘but.’ Alicia reached into her bag and pulled out a company card. She held it toward me. “Take this.” I looked at the card but didn't take it. “What is that?” “A company card.” “Wife…” “For emergencies,” she interrupted. I sighed. “I just told you I don't need...” “I know,” she said with a smile. “You want to use your own money.” “Exactly.”

She placed the card on the table. “Fine. Use your own money for whatever you want. But keep this with you anyway.” I looked at her suspiciously. “Why?” “Because I can see when it is used.” I stared at her. “You're giving me a card and telling me you can monitor it?” Alicia laughed. “Yes.” “That's not reassuring.” “It isn't supposed to be.” I shook my head. “Wife, you're impossible.” She smiled. “Just take it. If something happens and you need something urgently, you won't have to worry about money.”

I finally picked up the card. “Fine.” “Good.” She pointed toward the computer. “Now go and figure out exactly what you need for the upgrade.” I smiled. “I will.” “And don't spend all night researching computer parts.” “I won't.” Alicia narrowed her eyes. “You're lying." I laughed. “Maybe a little.” She shook her head. “You're disturbing me here. Go.” I looked toward the study. “You're kicking your husband out of our study?” “This is my study tonight.” I laughed. “Fine.” She opened the door and gestured toward the bedroom. “Good night.” “Good night, wife.”

I started walking away, but before I could get far, Alicia added, “And don't forget to sleep.” I turned around. “You sound like my mother.” She laughed. “Then listen to me like you would listen to your mother.” I smiled before finally walking away. A few seconds later, I heard the study door close. Then came the sound of the lock. I stopped and looked back at the door. “She actually locked me out.” I shook my head helplessly before returning to the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the piece of paper I had been working on earlier. Tomorrow was going to be important. I wanted everything to go according to plan.

While I continued working on the opening ceremony, Alicia remained inside the study. She returned to her mother's diary and carefully turned another page. Her eyes moved slowly across the handwriting. For several minutes, she read in silence. Page after page contained information about her mother's life, the families she had known, the businesses she had invested in and the people who had helped her. Alicia's gaze moved from one paragraph to another. Then suddenly... She stopped. Her eyes widened. “What?” She leaned closer to the page.

Her fingers slowly moved across the words as she read them again. “After my mother's whole family died tragically, the Gupta family adopted her at the age of ten…” Alicia froze. She read the sentence again. And again. “Gupta?” She sat back in the chair. “I've never heard of any family called Gupta.” She looked down at the diary. “My mother's family was the Crawley family.” She slowly turned another page, hoping she had misunderstood something. But the information was still there. “The Gupta family…” Alicia frowned. “How can this be possible?”

She stared at the diary for several moments. “First, I discover the Crawley family. Now the Gupta family.” She slowly shook her head. “Both of them are completely unknown to me.” The discovery left her more confused than before. She had thought finding the diary would finally give her answers about her mother. Instead, every answer seemed to create another question. Alicia looked back toward the first pages of the diary. Then she remembered something. “The number.” She had almost forgotten about it.

The mysterious number written on the first page. Her mother had instructed her to call it if she ever found herself in trouble. But now Alicia wasn't simply in trouble. She had discovered something about her mother's past that she had never known. She wanted answers. Immediately. Alicia closed the diary and stood up. She opened the study door and walked toward the bedroom to get her phone. When she stepped outside, she noticed me sitting on the bed. I was deep in thought, writing something on a piece of paper.

Alicia walked closer. “Husband?” I looked up. “Yes?” “What are you writing?” The moment I saw her looking at the paper, I quickly folded it and hid it. “Nothing.” Alicia laughed. “Nothing?” “Tomorrow's plans.” She tilted her head. “What plans?” I smiled. “It's a secret.” She stared at me. “You're seriously keeping secrets from your wife?” “Only this one.” “I won't do anything. I just want to see.” I shook my head. “No.” “Why?” “Because then it won't be a secret anymore.” Alicia laughed. “You're becoming very stubborn.” “I learned from you.”

She smiled. “Fine.” She reached for her phone. “I only came here to get this anyway.” I pointed toward the study. “Then go back and continue reading.” She nodded. “Good night, husband.” “I will be waiting for you.” She turned around and walked back into the study. I watched her close the door again. Then I returned my attention to the paper. I continued drafting the plan for tomorrow's opening. Every detail mattered. I wanted the first day of the training facility to make an impression on everyone who attended.

Meanwhile, inside the study, Alicia sat down again. She picked up her phone and stared at the mysterious number written in her mother's diary. For a moment, she hesitated. She didn't know who would answer. She didn't know whether the person on the other end would even remember her mother. Most importantly, she didn't know what kind of secret she was about to uncover. Still, she knew she couldn't keep wondering.

Alicia carefully entered the number into her phone. Then she pressed the call button. The phone began ringing. Once. Twice. Three times. There was no answer. Alicia waited. The ringing continued. She almost ended the call. Then, finally. Someone answered. “Hello?”