Mysteries of Riverwood

Chapter 26 :- Another Night

Elizabeth's nightgown exuded an alluring elegance, captivating the senses with its delicate allure. Crafted from a whisper-soft fabric, it embraced her figure with a subtle grace, accentuating her curves in a tantalizing manner. The gown's ethereal hue, a bewitching shade of moonlit silver, seemed to shimmer in the dim light, casting a spell of enchantment upon the room. Delicate lace adorned the neckline, tracing a mesmerizing pattern that hinted at the hidden treasures beneath. The gown's flowing silhouette cascaded down her body like a waterfall of silk, gracefully pooling around her feet, evoking a sense of timeless beauty. As Elizabeth settled into the chair, the gown's gentle caress against her skin revealed a hint of her sensuality, leaving an air of mystery and desire in its wake.

She settled into a chair in front of me and crossed her legs gracefully, her expression was serious yet gentle.

She began to speak, she informed me that she was adopting Alice the following day and that all the necessary paperwork had already been completed. Although I felt a wave of sadness wash over me, I knew deep down that it was for the best and nodded in agreement.

She went on to explain that she needed me to leave the orphanage the very next day after Alice's adoption, not two weeks later, and meet her at the docks in Miami. However, a question lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but ask, "So, let me get this straight. I'll be joining you and doing your dirty work, which means your enemies will be after me. What if they find out about this orphanage and try to gather information about me? Won't that put me and them in danger?"

She gave me a mischievous smile and said, "Oh honey, don't worry about it. I have already taken care of it."

A mischievous smile played on her lips as she assured me that she had already taken care of it. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she made a money sign with her hands, leaving me even more perplexed. I said, my voice filled with uncertainty. "I don't understand, what do you mean?

I was confused and asked her to explain further. She held up her hands, showing me the money sign again, and said, "I offered Mrs. Smith money to keep it a secret that I am going to adopt Alice and I also told her about you. They are going to clear all information about you so you don't have to worry. No one will ever find out about this."

As I stood up from the couch, disbelief etched on my face, I couldn't help but voice my concerns. I asked, my tone incredulous, "Are you serious? How could you do this?"

But Elizabeth simply met my gaze with a steely resolve, her eyes unwavering. "Trust me," she said softly. "I know what I'm doing."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Mrs. Smith, I had always seen as a mother figure, had fallen for money. It was hard to fathom that she had agreed so quickly to this deceitful plan.

She spoke with a calm and collected demeanor as she revealed further. "She gave me all your documents, so don't worry about it," she assured me, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "I have made your fake documents as well. You don't need to worry about anyone finding out your real identity. Trust me."

I listened intently, my mind racing with a mix of confusion and disbelief. How could Mrs. Smith, someone I had trusted and admired agreed to something like this? And what about the people at the orphanage? How could they have agreed so easily to this deceitful plan?

She noticed my confusion and smiled knowingly. "You are confused, aren't you?" she asked rhetorically.

I nodded, unable to find the words to express my bewilderment.

"Alvin, you are a smart kid," she continued. "I'll give you that. But you're still a kid. You don't understand the power that money holds. Money has power, and power is everything. I simply offered them money, and they agreed."

Her words hung in the air, leaving me stunned. I couldn't believe that money had such a profound influence on people, even those who had shown love and care towards me at the orphanage. It felt like a betrayal of the highest order.

As if reading my thoughts, she added, "I know it's hard for you to believe all of this, but it's the truth. You see, they have financial problems too. That's why they easily agreed to my proposition."

I nodded slowly, acknowledging the truth in her words. Financial struggles could push people to make desperate choices, even if it meant compromising their morals. But still, it was difficult to reconcile the image I had of the orphanage staff with their sudden willingness to participate in this deceitful scheme.

Her voice turned darker as she continued, "Even so, one woman didn't agree to it. She threatened to expose us to the police. So, I had to take drastic measures. I threatened her with my bodyguards and warned her that her family would be killed if she didn't keep quiet for now."

I asked "And who she is?"

She said "Someone named Warner I guess, she didn't agree."

I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards Mrs. Warner. I pleaded to her, my voice trembling, "Please, don't hurt her. She is like a mother to me. I beg you, don't go after her."

Her smile widened, revealing a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Oh, don't worry, honey," she said, her tone almost mocking. "I won't lay a finger on her unless she decides to expose me. But if she does, she'll face the consequences."

Her attention shifted, her gaze fixed on me. "Well, sweetie, it seems we need to give you a new identity. Choose a different name for your ID, and also decide on two names—one for your work and one as a code name."

After some contemplation, I decided to go with the nickname the one who Dwayne gave me 'Vinny' as my alternate name and 'Shadow' as my code name. I shared my choices with her, and she was on board with making it happen.

She got up from chair and extended her hand, a warm smile on her face. "Pleasure to be working with you, Alvin Walker." she said. I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed and shook her hand. However, her mischievous smile made me feel uneasy. As if sensing my discomfort, she handed me an envelope containing $10,000 and insisted that I would need it for my upcoming trip. After a brief internal debate, I decided to accept the money, realizing it could prove useful.

She gave me a wink, a glimmer of anticipation danced in her eyes she said, "Don't let me down, sweetie. I have high hopes from you."

I started to leave the room, but something made me pause. I turned back to face her, and she gave me a playful wink. "Did you forget something to tell me?" she asked, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

I nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I am trusting you on this one," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "So please, be a good mother to Alice."

Her mischievous expression faded, replaced by a look of seriousness and gentleness. She understood the weight of my words. I continued, my voice steady and heartfelt. "Mom is not just a word Or a name. It's someone who you Trust and who gives you Hope. With her love, Even on a bad day, you have Reasons to smile, I hope you understand that if you don't please try to understand that."

Her lips curled into a warm smile as I rambled on, pouring my heart out. "So, like, I really hope you'll be a good mom to her, you know? Take care of her and love her... no matter what. Alice always wanted parents, so please, be there for her whenever she needs it. Sure, she can be a bit childish and immature at times, but honestly, she's the nicest person I've ever met. I totally trust you to look after her so please don't take advantage of my trust."

Her smile grew even sweeter, and she playfully nudged me, giving me the hint to scram. "Alright, buddy, time to go! Shoo, shoo." She gently pushed me out of her room and closed the door behind her.

Hmm that was weird. I let out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and sadness, and started making my way back to my own room. Unlocking the door, I stepped inside and closed it behind me. Exhausted from the day's events, I walked over to the bed and sank down onto it, allowing myself to finally relax.