Edie tried to search in her memory. She finally reminded the woman she saw in the church last time. Though Edie didnât see her face, she was sure the woman in the video was that disfigured woman. Was that man her husband? What happened between them? Why did he push her all of a sudden?
When Edie wanted to walk to that strange woman, the manager stopped her immediately, "Donât go there alone. The woman looks like a crazy woman. She might hurt you. Iâve already called the police. We can wait for the policemen to handle this."
"Not necessary. I know her. I want to talk to her. Donât surround here. I only need one guard. She is a girl in a ladyâs room. You make them feel embarrassed and stop other women from coming into the ladyâs room. Donât you think so?"
"Okay."
Then Edie walked into the ladyâs room. She saw the deep door insides. The room was closed tightly.
Edie walked to the door and tried to make her voice as friendly as possible, "Hi. Are you okay? Do you still remember me? Weâve met last time in the church."
"I remember," the woman insides answered in a trembling voice. She sounded frightening, "I donât mean to do that. I didnât do that on purpose. I accidentally hit that, Sir. I am not on purpose...."
"That, sir, is my husband. He might frighten you. Donât be scared. We wonât call the police. You donât need to pay for anything. Can you come out now? Everything is fine."
"Is your husband here... I am scared of him..."
"No, donât worry."
"Really?" she tried to confirm the answer.
"Yes."
After hearing Edieâs answer, the woman finally opened the door carefully and cautiously. When her face was exposed in front of those staff, all staff were shocked.
Edie thought she might feel inferior and timid. But when Edie saw her eyes while facing others, she thought this strange woman was quite peaceful. It seemed that she was looking for someone among the crowd.
Who was she looking for?
Finally, the strange woman looked towards Edie. She took a relieve and at the same time, she looked quite disappointed,
"Sorry. I am sorry. I donât do it on purpose. I never expected I made such a big trouble for you. These works were all yours?"
"Yes. You can enjoy them. Is the man coming with you, your husband? I saw him from the monitor..."
Edie was worried that this strange woman might think she was monitoring her, so Edie explained.
"...Yes. He is my husband. But I donât blame him. After all, now I am disfigured. I look so ugly now," she covered her face and said in a calm voice.
Edie noticed a new wound on her face.
It seemed those wounds were caused by the whip.
This strange woman looked much thinner. She kept coughing out after saying several words. It was in winter, though, Edie saw sweat popping out of his forehead.
"Do you want me to call the police? Or send you to the hospital?"
This was domestic violence. If she called the police, she could get rid of this.
When Edie finished her words, the woman caught her hands immediately, "No. Donât call the police, I am totally fine. It is me that cause these wounds. Thank you very much. I need to go now."
Then she got rid of Edieâs hands and rushed out of the ladyâs room. Unexpectedly, Stuart arrived.
The strange woman hadnât gotten enough time to cover her face. So Stuart saw it.
Stuart threw an eye on her, and then he frowned slightly.
Was this woman that hit him just now?
The woman froze for a while, and then she immediately lowered her head to avoid his eyes.
She watched Stuart passing through her and walking to Edie.
Then, the woman raised her eyes slightly and saw Stuart surround Edieâs waist naturally.
"What are you doing here? Iâve been looking for you all around."
So sweet.
In the chaos just now, the only one he thought about was Edie. Those workers told him Edie was in the ladyâs room. So he immediately rushed here.
"I come to deal with this. She got injured...."
Before Edie finished what she wanted to say, the woman already rushed out of the room, like an injured little beast.
Stuart fixed his sharp eyes on that womanâs back, and he suddenly realized how familiar that woman looked. He thought he might see her before.
"Miss Yates, do you want us to chase after her?" the manager asked Edie.
"Not necessary. She is....she is a poor woman."
"You know her?" Stuart asked confusingly.
"When we went to church last time, I met her after you left. She saw the scar on my face. So she asked me about my husbandâs attitude to me. She told me that her husband didnât like her anymore. This is the second time I saw her. It seemed that she was rowing with her husband. Her husband pushed her . she was so scared of you. So she hid herself in the ladyâs room. She didnât dare to come out until she asked me twice whether you are here or not."
"Do I look so frightening?" Stuart got more confused.
Edie smiled and held his hands, "What do you think? You look like a demon when you donât smile."
When they walked out of the ladyâs room, that woman already rushed to the door.
Her husband was staying with her. He looked so angry with her.
Edie could tell that the woman was painful, as if she was struggling to put up with something.
Edie wanted to go to help her. But at the moment, someone stopped her.
"Miss Lara and Mr. Yates, so glad to see you here. Could you give me a signature? I really love you. I also love Miss Laraâs works. I am a fan of the photography association."
Several fans recognized Stuart and Edie immediately. The couple was so famous at this point. All of a sudden, a few girls rushed to them and got in their way.
Edie didnât know how to refuse them. But after signing, when Edie raised her eyes again, that strange woman already disappeared.
She threw an eye on Stuart. He was also fixing his eyes on the door. It seemed that he was also looking for the woman. Edie asked him out of curiosity, "Whatâs up?"
"Nothing."
He looked away quickly and answered in a peaceful voice.
But deep in his eyes was a beam of light.
He couldnât understand why that crazy weird woman looked so familiar to him. When the woman approached him, he felt quite intimate with her.
But...
He didnât remember he had ever seen this woman before.
After walking out of the center, Edie found a piece of note in her pocket.
Edie didnât know when she got this note.
When Stuart went to get their car, Edie stood at the door alone.
She opened the note. There were four words on the note.
Keep away from Julia.
Julia...Williamâs sister. She liked Stuart,
When Williamâs family declined, William left the country on a boat. No one found him so far.
Have they come back? What did they want now?