Subtitle: "What We Talk About When We Talk About Secrets"

It's four o'clock in the evening.

It was stormy.

The deafening sound of rain turned into a sad thick barrier, turning people who had been worried and sleepless all night into deaf people who were not deaf.

After the knock on the door was repeated for the third time, and when the meandering water at the door was about to inevitably wet his trousers, Boss Dart seemed satisfied that he had completed the polite procedure, and stretched out his hand to push the door open.

You can clearly see the lights that have not been extinguished from outside the house, which indeed proves that Boss Dart's judgment is correct.

Because when the door opened, Mrs. Lilia, wearing a white apron, was sitting in front of the sofa in the living room, silently facing the lights as bright as day.

Boss Dart coughed lightly.

"Lilia, have you been awake all night? I knocked on the door three times just now. Maybe it was because of the heavy rain. When you didn't answer, I came in by myself."

Mrs. Lilia did not show any surprise at the uninvited guest. She turned her head and said doubtfully: "I also said please come in three times. Didn't you hear?"

Boss Dart's old face twitched, but he regained his composure in an instant and said: "...The clown is actually me?"

Lady Lilia, who was sitting upright, asked curiously: "What do you mean?"

The boss pulled up a wooden chair next to the dining table and sat down, put the umbrella at the door to drain the water, and explained: "I heard Marcus say it a few days ago - I didn't understand it before, but just now I suddenly figured it out.

Already."

Hearing the familiar name, Mrs. Lilia covered her mouth and smiled: "What an interesting young man... You seem to have changed a lot since he came here, Dart."

"Have I been changed? Maybe..."

When Boss Dart heard this, his expression immediately dropped, and he complained: "Wait a minute... Do you mean that I am influenced by this kind of young man who talks nonsense, gossips, and is idle in the town? I really don't know.

Is it flattery or sarcasm..."

Lady Lilia smiled happily: "Is this important? Margaret once asserted that the only person who can change you is the Creator - I didn't expect that the Creator is right next to me."

Boss Dart was stunned for a moment when he heard this name from Madam Lilia. His expression changed again and again, and finally turned into a short sigh.

Mrs. Lilia said softly: "Forgive me for mentioning your sadness, Dart. For a patient like me who is hovering at the critical point of life and death, Margaret's departure can turn into a reunion tomorrow at any time. Until then

At that time, we may be able to chat about people and things over the years as intimately as we did in the past."

Boss Dart shook his head.

"Lilia, I am certain that Margaret has regarded you as her best friend throughout her life, and this has never changed."

A smile appeared on Madam Lilia's lips: "Then I won't give up Rhodes to her. This has never changed."

At this point, Boss Dart also laughed: "This thing itself is a joke - she seems to have been competing with you since she was a child. I really don't know why Margaret always has to compete with you, I

I still remember the look on her face when she suddenly found out about your marriage to Rhodes, and then announced to me through gritted teeth that she must move to this island before you do."

Mrs. Lilia smiled at her friend's childishness, went to the kitchen, poured a cup of hot tea, and placed it in front of Boss Dart.

"Dart, although we are old friends, in the past few years since you came to Ore Town, you have only stepped into my chicken farm a handful of times."

Boss Dart's square face showed no guilt.

"I prefer to guard my own one-third of an acre of land and never agree with these time-wasting politenesses."

Mrs. Lilia picked up the tea cup and took a sip: "But you don't have so much grudge against Marcus. Your attitude towards him always makes me feel like you are towards Rhodes."

"When you say that, it sounds like Marcus has something to do with me..."

The pink-haired woman raised her eyes and looked at Boss Dart with a burning gaze, "Then just pretend it didn't happen. Let me guess, for example, I made an exception this time and came here...is it also for Marcus?"

Boss Dart was silent for a moment and wiped his sleeves that were accidentally wet with tea.

"Lilia, I think your intention in asking Gray to hand over something to him was probably the same as mine... After all, when Harris arrested Marcus, you personally wanted to bail him out. Since we have the same purpose

, I think it’s necessary to communicate.”

After saying this, the boss paused cleverly for a moment, and then probed without leaving any trace: "What about you? Is it because of Rhodes this time?"

Lady Lilia nodded.

"After Marcus came back last time, he must have met Rhodes. Not only did he bring back the news about Rhodes, but he also brought Rhodes's personal ring. These cannot be faked. But later I received an email

There is no address in the letter, but it also has Rhode's handwriting inside..."

Boss Dart immediately became alert, "No. There has never been an anonymous letter exchanged in this town in the past three months. How did you receive the letter you mentioned?"

Mrs. Lilia said: "When I was sorting out the letters last week, I suddenly found an unopened letter. I clearly remembered that these letters were locked in the drawer five years ago, but the date inside was signed last week.

.”

Boss Dart asked: "...What did Rod say in the letter?"

"He said that his journey was long and dangerous, and he told me not to go out on a rainy night. If Marcus has something important to do, don't try to stop him..."

Lady Lilia was silent for a while, "I believe what Rhodes said, but I'm worried about Marcus, so I have to do what I can. And I thought... you would stop him."

Boss Dart smiled bitterly: "Perhaps this is the fickleness of fate. Two people who did not want him to get involved in this matter inadvertently contributed to Marcus's intervention..."

Mrs. Lilia suddenly noticed something from her words, covered her mouth and said in surprise: "Date, could it be that you also..."

Boss Dart stopped her from continuing to speak: "Lilia, everyone has a secret and a reason to keep it secret. Besides, Gray is also going together tonight..."

"But Gray is different from us and different from Marcus..."

Lady Lilia whispered.

Boss Dart shook his head and said: "I thought so too at first, but as I gradually got in touch with and got to know this young man, I had a hunch that Marcus would be the most special existence. We thought it was not necessary, but in fact

It has its own necessity, but we don’t see it clearly enough…”

Then the two of them listened quietly to the sound of rain for a long time, saying nothing more, until Boss Dart spoke and entered the polite mode again.

"Lilia, let me solemnly declare that I came here tonight not for that brat, but for my baby daughter. It would be great if Lin can sleep. I think she cried as soon as she heard the thunder..."

Mrs. Lilia smiled and did not expose Boss Dart, nor did she refill the tea cup.

She stood up with some difficulty and watched Boss Dart pick up his umbrella and slowly open the door.

The damp cold wind poured into the room instantly. Boss Dart tightened his clothes and suddenly turned around and said: "Zach was already asleep when I came here - if you can persuade him, maybe he can get out of the shadow of the past earlier."

.After all, he has always cared about you..."

Mrs. Lilia smiled and shook her head: "Dart, you are wrong. Maybe even Zach himself didn't realize that what he really cared about for so many years was actually the people he failed to save in the shipwreck. And I, but

It was just an accident where he expressed his apology. The only one who can really get him out of the nightmare is himself..."

"You all... walked out one by one, but you just don't know when you will come back..." Boss Dart murmured.

"What?" asked Lady Lilia.

Boss Dart said noncommittally: "Nothing. By the way, if possible, I would like to hear you talk about the shipwreck the next time I come to visit."

"Oh? Don't you always think that keeping secrets is a necessity?"

Lady Lilia said with a smile.

Boss Dart, who broke into the night rain, did not look back and replied solemnly: "But I occasionally believe that the best way to keep a secret is to put it out in the sun and forget that it is a secret.
Chapter completed!