Chapter 403

Evelyn’s expression froze at Treyton’s words.

A while later, she lowered her head unwillingly and mumbled, “Okay.”

“Good girl! That’s the generosity befitting of the Harris family’s heiress,” Treyton praised and stroked her hair.

The moment was short-lived. He turned away quickly and declared, “Change back into your clothes.

You probably have to come by another day when your face is better.”

In the meantime, Gwendolyn left the commercial district.

She opened her purse once she was inside her car and took out a small note.

It had been stuffed into her hand by Treyton earlier.

The note simply read: Give me some time.

Gwendolyn frowned in incomprehension as her gaze traveled over Treyton’s familiar scrawl.

Why does he need more time? Did he find out about something and is looking into it?

Her phone suddenly rang with an incoming call from Cedrick, interjecting her thoughts.

When the line connected, Cedrick grumbled, “Why didn’t you wake me up before you left?”

Gwendolyn replied cajolingly, “I’m already done with my errands, so I’ll be back ASAP. I couldn’t bear to wake you up since you were sleeping so soundly.”

Cedrick’s harrumph was muffled by the blankets. He asked, “What did you go out to do? Are you hurt?”

Her chest swelled with satisfaction as she boasted, “Well, I slapped a pretentious b*tch several times, so I’m feeling great!”

“You hit someone?” Cedrick’s tone turned anxious as he added, “Does your hand hurt? I’ll massage it for you when you’re home.”

Gwendolyn chuckled, moved and amused by his concern. “I’m not that fragile. In fact, I’m still on cloud nine!”

They chatted for almost fifteen minutes before ending the call, and Gwendolyn steered the car toward Harrick Villa.

Cedrick had washed up when she arrived, though he was still dressed in his billowing silk sleeping robe.

He was standing right behind the front door and gently pulled her into a hug when she walked in, inhaling her comforting scent.

He tucked his head into the crook between Gwendolyn’s neck and shoulder, acting cute and affectionate.

At the same time, he whined, “I was so upset when I woke up this morning and realized your side of the bed was already cold and empty.”

Gwendolyn stroked his hair and quietly comforted him.

Just then, Nico returned from the garden. The front door of Harrick Villa was ajar, granting him a full view of Cedrick’s uncharacteristically coquettish behavior.

The scene was so rare and sweet that Nico could not help but smile.

Still, there was no time to dwell on their loving display. Nico had visited on official business.

Despite his reluctance, he coughed loudly to announce his arrival, bringing the lovers’ reunion to an abrupt end.

Cedrick and Gwendolyn immediately jumped apart upon recognizing Nico’s voice.

Nico approached them and submitted his report. “The investigation results are out. Something is indeed off about Alban.”

Gwendolyn and Cedrick’s expressions darkened almost simultaneously.

Cedrick reached for Nico’s report before helping Gwendolyn to a nearby couch. Then, they pored over the report together.

Alban had a mother who was over eighty years old, and the woman had been secretly brought overseas recently.

He had performed Gwendolyn and Marcus’ paternity test the exact day after his mother’s departure.

The next day, he also performed Gwendolyn and Pierre’s paternity test at Nico’s request.

That same day, he boarded a private jet abroad, and his whereabouts have remained a mystery since then.

Oddly enough, the ownership of his assets had been transferred abroad as well. It seemed he planned to remain overseas indefinitely.

Gwendolyn’s gaze appeared exceptionally frosty after reading through the report. “Both paternity tests were personally done by Alban, but Nico couldn’t have watched him twenty-four-seven. Tampering with a few data points is child’s play for someone as smart as Alban.”

Cedrick nodded in agreement, commenting, “Seeing as his mother was sent overseas, someone must’ve threatened him. We can’t trust this set of results.”

“Why don’t we do another paternity test? I can get it done at a hospital outside of town to make sure no one can tamper with the results,” suggested Nico.

After some thought, Gwendolyn nodded resolutely.

Cedrick jumped into action and instructed, “To be safe, have Pierre sent to the secret interrogation room. It’ll make things easier when we decide on a new date for the paternity test.”

“Sure.”

Nico turned and left for the garden. He took out his phone and called Mr. Dalberg, the prison warden at Salinsburgh’s prison.

Once he left the room, Cedrick hugged Gwendolyn and comforted her, “We should finally see a conclusion after this paternity test. You won’t have to spend sleepless nights worrying about this any longer.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Conflicting emotions swelled in Gwendolyn’s chest as she recalled Treyton’s note and the unsavory incident at Mi Couture.

Evelyn mentioned she had two patrons. They must be extremely influential figures in Chanaea, and there’s a high possibility that at least one of them is a member of the Harris family. I can exclude Treyton as a suspect based on his behavior today. But whoever the patron is, this person is still family.

The conclusion dispirited Gwendolyn.

Amid her downcast thoughts, Nico rushed into the room, looking incredibly anxious.

“Something happened at the prison! Mr. Dalberg said Pierre suddenly foamed at the mouth at midnight two days ago and experienced a seizure. They sent him to the infirmary, but he could not be resuscitated.”

Cedrick’s relief was short-lived. His expression darkened, and he asked, “How could this happen? Did someone poison him?”

Nico sighed and shook his head, explaining, “No. The doctor examined Pierre and realized he had a history of seizures. He had been in seizure remission for years after entering prison. No one knows why he suddenly relapsed, and because it happened at midnight, the prison guards did not notice it sooner. He died of suffocation.”

The living room plunged into silence.

Gwendolyn was the first to break the silence. “We can still do a paternity test even if he’s dead. Is his body still intact?”

Nico’s expression worsened, and he eventually shook his head ruefully. “He died two days ago, and because of his history of seizures, the prison wrote it off as a natural death. They cremated his body, so probably only his ashes are left.”

Her heart sank in despair.

Alas, ashes could not be used for paternity tests.

Their investigation was as good as over.

All their progress was wasted, and they were back to where they started.

Gwendolyn was distraught, and her expression filled Cedrick with guilt.

He apologized tearfully to her, “I’m sorry, Gwenny. I should’ve planned more carefully and sent someone to monitor Pierre closely at the prison.”

She smiled at him and replied tenderly, “This isn’t your fault. Even if you sent someone to guard him, it doesn’t change the fact that his seizure happened in the middle of the night. We wouldn’t have been able to change anything.”

Still, Cedrick kept his head lowered in contrition.

Gwendolyn hurriedly wrapped her arms around him and uttered soothingly, “It’s really okay! We can think of other ways to continue our investigation. There must be another way!”

Only one day remained till the Harris family’s homecoming feast for Evelyn.

Pierre’s death undoubtedly struck a huge blow to Cedrick’s progress.

It poured heavily that night.

Rain pattered on the windows while the tree leaves swayed at the mercy of the howling winds.

Gwendolyn could not fall asleep and perched near the window, staring at the rain.

Cedrick sighed inwardly while observing her disheartened air.

He was about to pull her into a comforting hug when he heard the sounds of urgent knocking on the villa’s front door.

Who’s knocking on our door in the middle of the night? Is it Nico? Did something happen again?

Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged a glance and headed downstairs to meet their visitor.

The front door opened to a well-built man drenched from head to toe. Water droplets trickled from his fringe, which was plastered to his forehead. His shirt stuck to his torso, drawing attention to his sculpted abs.

The man panted heavily, his chest heaving with effort. He had probably climbed the gates and entered through the garden.

When Gwendolyn got a good look at the visitor’s face, illuminated by the stark white porch lights, she froze in shock.

“Kieran?”

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