Chapter 1728: Chapter 1942

It wasn’t until he was close enough that he realized his mistake.

The visitor wasn’t Nala, but Violeta.

She seemed too concerned about Graham to find rest.

Nathan quietly slipped back into the shadows, his presence nearly invisible in the dim light of the garden.

Meanwhile, Violeta lingered outside the ancestral temple, her silhouette a quiet testament to her concern.

She remained there, unmoving, for what felt like an eternity before finally, with a heavy heart, she turned and departed.

It wasn’t long after Violeta’s departure that Lucinda returned, her steps silent yet purposeful.

“How are things here? Did anyone show up?” she inquired softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nathan responded with a shake of his head, “Only Violeta stopped by for a bit.

There wasn’t anyone else.

What about Gilbert? What did he have to say?”

Lucinda’s reply came swiftly.

“He mentioned that Violeta checked on Graham a couple of times this afternoon.

Nala was nowhere to be seen,” she shared, her tone laced with frustration.

Attempting to offer some solace, Nathan suggested, “Perhaps you’re reading too much into it, Lucinda.

Nala and Valerie could simply be lookalikes.

And their ages don’t really align, do they?”

But Lucinda’s conviction didn’t waver.

“Appearances can be altered through surgeries, and ages and identities can be fabricated.

I trust only what I uncover myself,” she stated firmly, her resolve clear.

Observing Lucinda’s slight shiver, Nathan instinctively wrapped his arms around her, offering his suit jacket for warmth.

“Nala hasn’t made her move yet.

What’s your next step?” he inquired, concern evident in his voice.

“We’ll wait and see for now.

She’s bound to slip up sooner or later.

If she doesn’t take the bait, then I’ll have no choice but to press Graham further.

I can’t believe Valerie would ignore his plight indefinitely.

Despite her cold exterior, she’s always seen Graham as her brother,” she explained.

Reflecting on the past, Lucinda remembered the moment Valerie confessed to everything,

shouldering the blame to protect Graham.

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They truly were siblings, bound not just by blood but by shared secrets and sacrifices.

A sneer crossed Lucinda’s Lips, a mix of scorn and anger flickering in her eyes.

Without another glance at the ancestral temple, Lucinda turned away.

Nathan followed closely, the two of them making their way back to the car parked on the hillside, then driving off into the night towards the Paynes’ house.

Throughout the drive, Lucinda remained engrossed in her phone.

Her focus never wavered, a testament to her unyielding determination to unravel the truth, no matter how deep she had to dig.

Nathan took his time, choosing his words with care before finally speaking up.

“It’s been quite some time since everything happened.

Aside from breaking things off with him, you haven’t really punished Graham.

And I get it, he deserves it.

But what about Violeta? It doesn’t seem fair to her.

”

He continued, his voice carrying a hint of concern, “Violeta was in the dark about everything, yet she’s caught in the middle because Graham is her husband.

She was here earlier, and I heard her crying.

It’s clear she’s hurting.

She’s up in the middle of the night, worried sick about Graham.

”

Nathan paused, letting his words sink in.

“She’s innocent in all this.

While Graham is in the ancestral temple, kneeling and reciting the scripture as punishment, it’s also tormenting Violeta.

”

At Nathan’s words, Lucinda lifted her head, her actions momentarily halted.