Chapter 115 - Snooping around

Lina moved fast and quietly, her body agile like a cat's. She still couldn't believe her own instincts and skills, but she had learned to trust her body since waking up from the coma. 

Subconsciously, she had already analysed her surroundings and drawn a mental plan of action. There were several paths that led to separate corridors in the main hall. The real question was, where she would be able to find a hint of the information she was looking for.

Nothing would be left out in the open in this house. These people were way too careful and extremely adept. Everything was impersonal, and cold.

No family photos hanging around, no personal belongings lying around in the common spaces - no hint of who this family was. They were extremely secretive indeed. 

But looking around, she noticed that one of the corridors was wider, and decorated better than the other sparse corridors. That had to mean that it led to the quarters of one of the main members of the family. 

If it was Lila's father or perhaps a brother, there could be information there. 

Lina grit her teeth in annoyance. She didn't even know who this girl was related to? Did she have a father or mother living here, or did she have any siblings at all?

'I can't believe the mess this amnesia has caused!' she yelled at herself mentally. 'How stupid did I have to be to get myself almost assassinated twice. How many people did I piss off?!' 

If these Lims were the people she pissed off, then they must have tried to kill her. 

Lina was almost sure that Victor Tachibana knew something about one of the attempts on her life. Could the Lims be other party? 

She took a deep breath, pushed the thoughts away and soldiered on. 

The corridor opened up into a small living room that was cosily decorated. It had soft rugs, old family portraits, antiques that seemed to be more like family heirlooms than museum artifacts. The chairs look like they'd been sat in, and there was an empty tea tray on a small table. 

Bingo! This looks like the entrance to the quarters of the head of the family, Lina thought. 

She made her way to big portrait above a still warm fireplace. The man in the portrait was young and very dashing. He had a face reminiscent to someone Lina had met recently, but she couldn't quite put her finger on. 

But the woman in the portrait...she was the true beauty. She was exquisite. She was definitely related to Lila, perhaps her mother? 

The portrait was dated almost 30 years ago. The inscription read~

*Master Lim and his new bride, her Royal Highness Princess Jiang Ying Yue.* 

'This must be the master of the house, and his princess bride...they do indeed have direct ties to royalty.' Lina thought to herself. 

This meant she was in the right place. 

There had to be some information about Magnolia Holdings here.

She looked around once again and spotted a door to a room. 

Lina bit her lip. This was a huge risk. She didn't know if there was someone inside, and the maid was probably already looking for her. She had to move fast. 

It was now or never. She wouldn't have a chance like this again. 

She quietly walked towards the room and put her ear to the door. There wasn't a sound inside. 

She turned the knob very slowly and tried to get a glimpse through the crack, to check if there was anyone inside. 

The lights were still turned on, but there was definitely nobody inside. 

She tiptoed in and closed the door behind her. 

As she took in her surroundings, she noticed a big mahogany desk. There was a little notebook on it. Perhaps that contained information she needed. 

She picked it up and put it in her pocket. There was no time to read it right now. 

But as she turned to leave, she bumped into the desk, causing a file to fall to the ground. A little part of the paper inside was sticking out. The words on it immediately caught Lina's eye. 

*Magnolia Holdings* - it was a letterhead with the ill.u.s.tration of a pink Magnolia, the logo. 

She quickly opened the file and peeked in. It was a real estate listing of a property in Country A. The property was in the name of L. Lim. 

She wondered who L. Lim was. 

Was it the man in the portrait? He must be Lila's father, the head of the main branch. Or was it another member of their family? It could even stand for Lila Lim. 

At least she knew now, the Magnolia Holdings was indeed owned by the main branch of the Lim clan. 

She quickly took a photo on her phone of the page and put the file back exactly how she found it. She couldn't afford being found out at this stage. She was getting closer and closer to the truth. 

However, she heard a rustling noise behind her outside the door of the chamber. Lina's heart suddenly turned calm, and her eyes became cold. 

It felt like her subconscious had taken over the controls again. She scanned her surroundings and analysed all possible escape routes in less than three seconds. 

There were none. 

The next minute, an elderly man entered the room whistling to himself. The man was an older version of the portrait in the cosy living room outside. 

He paused at the entrance of his chambers for a second. Something seemed off.

But the room looked untouched to the n.a.k.e.d eye.

He shrugged and began shuffling around, brushing his suit down and straightening his tie. 

"Forgot this!" he said to himself, as he picked up a small pink magnolia brooch. He pinned it to his b.r.e.a.s.t and then left the room, closing the doot behind him. 

Only then did an agile woman peel herself off quietly from behind the door. 

Lina had stayed there quiet as a kitten, not daring to take a breath. She had analysed the dim lighting of the room and chosen the shadown behind the door to hide behind. 

As she sighed deeply, she could hardly believe the close call she had. 

This had to be the old master Lim's room. 

He must be Lila's father. He must be the president of Magnolia Holdings.