Chapter 101

Robert felt the conversation was veering off track, so he cleared his throat and continued, "Tell me about you and Hugh. When did you two get married?"

"It's been about four years."

"Four years? You're only 22 now, so you got married right when you turned 18?" Robert could hardly believe it. If it were his daughter in front of him, he couldn't imagine how he'd react. He'd probably lose his mind.

Eighteen was such a wonderful age, meant to be spent in school.

It was the beginning of youth, and it just... got buried?

Robert asked, "Why did you marry Hugh? Did he pursue you, or was it your choice?"

"This marriage was arranged by my parents... In our village, marriages are decided by the parents." Olivia sighed repeatedly, her voice filled with helplessness.

Zoey didn't know how to respond. To her, this was just absurd.

But there was no way around it; they were disconnected from modern society.

Growing up in such a village, and being educated by such a culture, it was ingrained in their souls.

She couldn't save them with just a few words.

So, she couldn't judge Olivia.

Olivia added, "My parents told me Hugh liked me, said I was very gentle and would make a good wife. They were one of the better-off families in the village... I thought it didn't matter who I married, life would be the same, so I agreed."

Zoey asked, "If you had disagreed, would they have forced you?"

"Yes."

"Do you have feelings for Hugh?"

Olivia's voice was slow and uncertain, "I, I don't know. Maybe, maybe a little. We've been together for so long."

Robert silently wrote down his thoughts: "No feelings."

Zoey added, "How does he treat you?"

"He's okay, doesn't let me go hungry, and always brings money home. You saw Hugh's father is old, and Evan is... not right in the head. Hugh supports the whole family."

"I don't mean just giving you money and food."

Olivia still didn't understand, "What do you mean then?"

Robert and Zoey exchanged a look, both coming to the same conclusion: these two had no real feelings for each other, just two people living together.

Robert asked, "Where were you the night before last, on the 20th?"

Olivia didn't hesitate, "At home, cooking and cleaning."

"Did you go to bed around eleven?"

Olivia replied, "Yes, we usually go to bed around nine or ten."

"Do you remember when Hugh came home that night?"

"That night..." Olivia seemed to be thinking hard, "I think he wasn't home when I fell asleep, but he was there when I woke up."

"You didn't notice him coming home at all?"

"No... I wake up very early and work hard all day, so I sleep very deeply."

Robert nodded and made a note.

Olivia asked, confused, "Officer, why are you asking me this?"

Robert looked at the frail Olivia and decided not to beat around the bush, "You must have heard about the three girls who were killed in Willowbrook Village recently, right?"

"Such a big thing, of course I know," Olivia answered, then seemed to realize something, her tone changing, "Officer... do you mean Hugh is involved?"

Robert said, "Yeah. That's why we brought your whole family in this morning. Hugh is a key suspect in this case. We found his DNA on all three victims, so we need your full cooperation in our investigation."

Olivia, despite being from a rural area, was first shocked by the news about Hugh, then started crying.

Robert didn't understand why she was crying.

Their marriage wasn't good to begin with, so why cry?

He looked at Zoey, puzzled.

Zoey took out a pack of tissues and handed it to Olivia, "Alright, stop crying. We don't have much time to waste here."

Robert wanted Zoey to comfort her, not expecting she would do that coldly.

Olivia took the tissues, wiped her tears, and after a few minutes, finally stopped crying.

Robert tried to shift her focus, "Ms. Smith, do you know the three victims?"

"Yes, we're about the same age, and we'd greet each other when we met," Olivia replied.

"How was Hugh's relationship with them? Did he know them?"

"I don't know. He works late every day and doesn't interact much with the villagers... He probably didn't know them, so I don't understand why he would..."

"Does Hugh have any other women outside?"

Olivia said, "I don't know. He doesn't let me check his phone. Officer Brown, do you think he..."

"No, I'm just asking."

Olivia responded softly.

"I have another question," Zoey asked directly, "Do women in your village marry very young, and men marry late?"

"Both men and women marry young," Olivia said, her tearful eyes lifting slowly.

"Then why did Hugh marry you so late?"

"He was married before," Olivia said, "He got married in his twenties, divorced in his thirties, married again, and then married me when he was almost forty."

Robert exclaimed, "What!"

Hugh didn't look like much, how did he manage to marry so many times?

Zoey was shocked, "Hugh always wants his wife to be in her twenties? Does he just replace them when they get older?"

"I don't know. He was already divorced when he married me, I don't know what happened with his exes."

"Does Hugh have any children?" Zoey asked.

"Children? I haven't seen any..." Olivia looked genuinely confused.

Robert felt both anger and pity for her, "Your parents are really something, marrying you off without knowing what kind of person Hugh is? At least they should have found out why he divorced his previous wives! Isn't that what parents are supposed to do?"

Robert's words weren't meant to blame her, but he was furious at her parents.

Did Olivia realize she was treated like a commodity by her parents?

They didn't care who their daughter married, just took the money.

Maybe he spoke too harshly, because Olivia started crying again, "Officer, I really didn't know. My parents told me he would cherish a wife more because he had been married twice. I believed my parents wouldn't lie to me, so I married him."