A/N: I am really grateful to all the readers for reading, following and putting this story among your favorites. I would also like to express my gratitude to Xaori, silverscropion, FuegosFiyerd and Shirahane Aikawa for their feedback on the last chapter. Thanks a lot for all the love and support! After a little side arc, we are again getting back to the main plot in this chapter, so I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Note: The part in Italics is flashback.

Chapter 24: Dying Father

(Kate's POV)

I woke up with a start, breathing heavily and my heart beating a little faster than the normal. And as my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, I realized I was in the bedroom. I sighed out in relief but couldn't really relax because the images from my dream were still fresh in my mind. It had been so vivid as if it was all happening in reality, and then I remembered that it all did happen in reality. They were all my past memories, twisted versions of them maybe but they all were as real as me. It was funny how I wanted to forget them but couldn't really do it, and they still haunted me after so long.

I couldn't help but wonder if this nightmare was triggered by the horrifying scene I witnessed earlier this morning. As I thought about it, images of that brutally injured lamb came flooding in my mind, sending cold shivers down my spine. I felt restless from all these tormenting memories and turned to my side to look at Leon. He was sleeping peacefully next to me; and although, I wanted to forget my nightmare but still I didn't want to disturb his sleep this time. I moved as close to him as possible in need for some comfort.

I closed my eyes, assured that I'm safe when Leon is by my side, "Had a nightmare?", I opened my eyes as he spoke these words. I looked up at him, his eyes were still close and he opened them, turning his head to look at me. I hummed in affirmation trying to smile at him, "Come here!", he said throwing an arm around me and pulling me closer. I kept my head on his shoulder and put an arm over his chest. It was definitely the best arrangement possible at the moment.

"Thank you!", I expressed my gratitude.
"No trouble", Leon said adjusting a little to be comfortable as well.
"Did I wake you up?", I asked him feeling somewhat guilty of it.
"No", he answered, "I had a nightmare too", he let out a tired sigh.
"What was it about?", I asked him in not more than a whisper, snuggling even closer and he didn't protest it.
He let out a laugh, "Dying", he answered and my heart skipped a beat hearing that word.
"Must be scary", I couldn't help but say, not very eased about the thought.

"Not really", Leon shook his head a little, "Dying is not as bad as coming back to life is", I couldn't understand what he was saying but before I could ask, he questioned me instead, "What was yours?", and looked down at me.
"My past", I answered as the images of the dream came up floating in my mind once again, "You know you were right. I am the sheep!", I admitted it. I needed to keep talking to distract myself, even if meant talking about the stuff which bothers me. Leon kept his silence, "My father, always said, 'Kate you're the sheep, the moment you step in the jungle of business world the predators would rip you apart. You won't survive here'", my voice wavered as I repeated my dead father's words to Leon and he comforted me by rubbing my arm.
"From where I see it Ms. Richardson, you have survived long enough, without letting the predators know that you're the sheep", Leon said in a very sincere and appreciative tone, "I guess I'll have to disagree with my late father-in-law."

(Leon's POV)

"But for how long?", Kate asked and I looked down at her; she had this distant look in her eyes, "It won't be long before they know and then they won't waste a minute to hunt me down. You saw what happened with Swartz, didn't you?", I could understand where she was coming from, "There are a lot of times when business deals are not made in boardrooms but during a one to one conversation. That's the reason dad wanted my husband to take over the business when he retires, because even though I have what it takes to run the business, I can't see through people's real intentions. "

"So is that the reason you were marrying a guy that your Dad chose for you?", I asked remembering that it was indeed something that always bothered me, but I never really got the chance to get to the bottom of this issue.
Kate let out a laugh, "I wish it was", she looked at me and replied. The helplessness in her eyes was heart shattering, "But it was just part of a reason that I was marrying someone I barely know."
"What do you mean?", I asked her and she smiled at me sadly, looking away in a different direction. She didn't say anything, "Kate?", I called out her name, reminding her that I was waiting for her reply.

Kate closed her eyes briefly and let out a heavy sigh, "I was never lucky with relationships", she told me and it felt like I was listening to my shadow talk, "All my boyfriends and even friends were with me because they saw me as a piggy bank. Sometimes I was lucky and they noticed I was pretty but mostly it was about the green dollar bills I had in my purse. No one really saw me for who I was, not a single person", she sounded hurt about that little detail, "After going through that again and again, I couldn't trust my judgment anymore. So I let Dad make that decision for me but…"

"But you couldn't see through to his wish and ran away from the wedding, right?", I completed the sentence in her instead.
"Yes", Kate kept her reply short, speaking in a monotone.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that Kate was scared, scared to trust anyone, "But you trust me right?", I had to ask her. I know she was even scared of me initially and I just wanted to confirm that the reason she's opening up to me, is because I gained her trust and not because she was losing her touch or I was getting good in seeing through it or some other reason.

Kate took a moment and slowly nodded, as if almost reluctant to tell me, "I do", she spoke in a very hushed tone, that it was barely audible even when her head was resting on my shoulder, "I guess that's the reason I chose I you of all the agents", she added and before I could ask anything she continued, "To be honest I didn't even go through a single profile that the President had sent me, since coincidentally the first file I picked up was yours. The moment I saw your picture I knew it had to be you. I didn't read anything about your professional background or anything, but I just wanted you to take up this case. I didn't know why but I had a feeling that I could trust you, if not completely than maybe a little."

I somehow felt relieved to know that even though she had her doubts she did trust me from the start, "So can you do me a favor then", I again questioned looking at her.
"What?", she asked back giving me a puzzled look.
"I want you to promise me that you'll be yourself, at least when you're with me", I more of requested it of her, as I looked into her captivating blue eyes. We stared in to each other's eyes for one long minute, before Kate smiled and hummed in agreement, "And… maybe it's time you tell me the whole truth", I added hoping that I had gained enough of her trust to demand this of her.
"The whole truth?", she repeated puzzled, seemingly in confusion.

(Kate's POV)

Leon gave me a slight nod, "The truth about your wedding day?", he spoke slowly and my heart beat increased listening to those words, "The day your father died", he cleared it out more, "The day you decided to go against his wish or did you not?" I wasn't able to respond and just kept looking at him in utter shock, "You didn't exactly run away from the wedding, did you?" My heart skipped a beat at his question and I felt a constricting lump in my throat.

I couldn't help but wonder, how he figured it out, and as if he read my mind he spoke, "I noticed your hesitation to visit your father's study. It was as if you were scared to see something unpleasant again. It was as if you've been there in that same kind of situation before", his gaze was kind as he continued, "The window of your father's study overlooks the trail to garage, where I had stopped my car to help those workers at your wedding day. You were always convinced that it was a murder and almost knew that there was more than one murderer, even after Shawn was caught. And the last but not the least you promised your dad that you wouldn't attempt to run away again", he took a brief pause, "It all adds up to one thing that you were present when your father was dying or were the first one to see him dead, weren't you?", his last words made my tears cloud my vision.

I hummed in response remembering those flashes from the past, "I was", I affirmed his suspicions, sobbing to his shoulder, "I am sorry!", I apologized to him, "I am really sorry. I should have told you before but I was scared", I told him crying looking him in the eyes, "I was scared that you would see me in the wrong light too. I didn't kill my father, Leon. I didn't", I shook my head vigorously, before burying it in his shoulder.
Leon kissed my head and hugged me tight, "Relax, I know", he told me in a comforting tone, "I just want you to tell me what happened, when you're ready to tell me, and it doesn't have to be now."
I wiped my tears and looked up at him; he was looking at me like he always did. He still had that warmth and kindness in his eyes and I decided to come clean with him right now, "I'll tell you now", I told him wiping another tear; he deserved to know the truth.

The memory from some 5 months ago was as fresh as it had happened just yesterday. I couldn't help but remember that warm summer day of June; the day of my failed wedding when it all happened. When my whole world experienced a great tremor and everything crumbled down into pieces; the day I lost my father. The man who had spoiled, pampered, loved, cared, sheltered and protected me all my life, left me alone on that fateful day. As I began telling Leon about that day, the memory rolled into a movie in the back of my mind.

I was in my bedroom, dressed in a beautiful snow white colored wedding gown, all ready for the ceremony. I still had to put my veil but I had left it for later. There was still time for the wedding, so I was left alone for the time being. Usually the bridesmaids stay with the bride but Vivian was the only bridesmaid I had and she didn't want to be with me, so I was on my own in the room. I felt a little anxious about this wedding, so I stepped out into the balcony to get some fresh air. I could see the guests in the garden taking their seat and could hear people talking, although not comprehend what they were saying.

It all just made me feel a little more nervous and lonely. I walked back inside the room and to the dresser. I looked at myself, I really looked very pretty but I knew I wasn't happy. I tried to practice faking a smile a few times but I just couldn't do it. I felt lonelier by the moment and started missing my dad. I wanted to talk to him, so I called him up. I called him a couple of times but the call just didn't connect to his phone. I couldn't ask anyone else to fetch him for me; after all I was all alone in my room, so I just decided to seek him myself.

I pulled open the bedroom door, and looked outside and contemplated for a moment if I should really leave the room. But I really wanted to see my dad, I was getting this inexplicable ominous feeling about this whole thing. I just decided to ask the first person I see to call my dad and with that thought in my mind I stepped out of my room. I walked across the hall to my father's bedroom, since it was nearest but he wasn't there. I picked up a picture by his bedside in which we were together. It brought a smile on my face and I put it back.

I got out of my father's room and made my way down the stairs looking for anyone I could ask for my dad but I didn't find anyone. All the servants were out in the garden probably, attending the guests. I knew my father well, and I knew that there was a huge possibility that he was in his study. So I walked past the kitchen, down the corridor and all the way to his study. I grabbed the handle, pulled it down and opened the door but to my disappointment it was empty. As I was closing the door, my eyes caught something lying on the floor.

I entered my father's study, closing the door behind me and when I rounded off to the other side of his desk, I found him lying on the floor. He wasn't moving at all, "Daddy!", I hurried to his aid.
I immediately moved to dial the emergency number when I heard him call my name, "Kate", he sounded almost breathless.
"Daddy?", I left the phone and bent down to him, "You'll be alright, I'm calling the ambulance", I told him in a urgent tone, and once again moved to call for help.
His eyes moved to look at me and he smiled but one could easily make out he was in pain, "I… thought… I wouldn't… get to… say goodbye", he spoke in broken sentences.
"You're going to be alright!", I tried to say it to him sternly but I ended up crying, somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this was the last time I was seeing my father.
"I… love you… my… princess", He told me smiling, his voice was wheezy but sincere. Tears streamed like a river down my face seeing him like this, "Smile… for… me, darling", I shook my head. How could I smile in that situation, "Please!", he requested and I mustered up a smile, "That's my g…", he ended up coughing.

"Dad!", I said concerned, rubbing his chest.
"Don't….get…..ma...",he tried very hard to speak but once again was interrupted by coughs.
"Don't talk, please", I pleaded to him, it was just making his condition worse.
The breaths of my father started falling short and I could see he was in pain, "Rrr… un… or they… will… kill… you… too", he managed to speak somehow, "In… bo….ttom… drrr….awer….", were my father's last words and with a final heave of his chest, he became motionless.
"Dad please no!", I cried shaking my head in negative, crying even more, "Please don't leave me! No! Dad!"

I called out to him distressed and shook him a couple of times but he didn't move. His eyes were wide open and lifeless, blankly staring up at the ceiling. I knew he was no more and I cried on his chest helplessly. I couldn't even mourn properly over my father's dead body, because I heard some movement outside the study and people talking. I didn't want to but I had to leave my father. It was necessary and I had no choice, if I wanted to bring justice to my father's death, I had to live. Because if his murderers found me then they would kill me too or in worst case scenario I would be accused of murdering my father.

I wiped my tears and pulled open the bottom drawer of my father's desk. I retrieved the envelope lying on the top, it had his will. The voices grew louder and I couldn't make out what they were saying but I knew that they would enter the study any moment. There was a black shawl lying on my father's chair that he usually had in his study. I grabbed it and without a delay jumped out of the open window of his study. I pulled the shawl over myself and hid in the bushes, as somebody closed the window to my father's study, and spread the curtains.

I barely saved myself but it wasn't easy to conceal myself in bright daylight, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do at that moment. But before I could figure out anything, I saw a car speeding my way and I hid myself in the bushes. The car stopped just a little further away from me and I saw that it was waiting for the caterers to clear out of its way. A moment later a man exited the vehicle to help them, and I took my chance and entered the backseat of the car, hoping that I could hide there for the time being.

(Leon's POV)

"I had no idea it was your car. I just wanted to hide and so I did. I only realized it a little later when we were stopped at the gate and one of the men there mentioned your name", Kate told me with tears in her eyes, "I lifted the cover off my head to confirm your identity and I was somewhat relieved that it was you. Otherwise I would have never escaped the mansion", she lifted her head to look at me, "All through the drive I thought about a million ways to reveal myself or to ask help from you or just tell you what happened but I couldn't bring myself to actually do anything. And then we were at the airport, I saw you talking to your colleague and wondered if I should step out now but then that airport officer asked for your car keys. Watching him walk towards the car, scared me. I hid my father's will in the back pocket of the seat covers and hid myself again, hoping and praying that he won't check inside the car."

"But he did", I said and Kate gave me a nod.
"I didn't want to cause any trouble for you", she said and tears once again trailed down her face, "I am sorry."
"It's alright", I comforted her, "I understand!"

Kate's story definitely brought many things in the light and explained why she behaved the way she did. When she was discovered in my car; she was in a state of shock, and maybe scared of conviction. She wasn't surprised to see the news of her father's death because she already knew it. She didn't mourn because she already cried over his dead body. She was convinced that her father was murdered because he died right in front of her. She was scared of people close to her because the murderers walked among them. She had to hide her true self, so she could fool everybody and keep secrets, because her true self is quite transparent like a crystal ball.

I placed a kiss on her head and grabbed her hand that was tightly gripping my shirt. I still had a few questions that would aid the investigation but they could wait, because Kate was in no condition to answer them at the moment. I comforted and calmed her down. I knew she was tired from dealing with all the drama of this processing plant and then reliving the painful memory wouldn't exactly have been rejuvenating for her either. I asked her to try and sleep, because that's all we needed right now.

A/N: Thanks once again for reading the chapter. I hope you all liked it, despite whatever typos and grammatical mistakes, which I am really sorry about. So were you able to anticipate that Kate witnessed her father's death? And also let me know what you think of this new revelation because I think it adds a lot more to the plot, and if you have anything else to say about the chapter or the story then let me know through your review. I'll see you next week, till then take care and have fun! =D