Chapter 252


    The words hit Ian like a bolt from the blue, slicing through the calm of his day. His body stiffened,


    rooted to the spot in shock. After what felt like an eternity, his voice finally broke the silence. "What


    do you mean?"


    "Victoria saw a woman with a ck mole on her forehead, the same as your mother''s maid. Ian,


    could it be possible for ra to be..."


    Ian didn''t let Casey finish. "No, ra is May and Paolo''s daughter, not Leonora''s. I''ll look into this


    matter myself, and please, Paolo should not mention anything to ra for now."


    Hearing this, the tension that had been gripping Casey''s heart finally eased. He let out a sigh, "I


    hope this has nothing to do with your mother because if it does, you and ra..."


    He couldn''t bear to think about it. If it turned out that Leonora was involved in the child''s


    disappearance, could May''s death be connected to her as well? If so, then wouldn''t ra and Ian


    be bound by a vendetta? How could they ever be together?


    After hanging up Casey''s call, Ian copsed onto the couch.


    The nanny, Wendy, was just a middle-aged woman from the countryside. She couldn''t have


    orchestrated such a wless series of crimes. Despite his reluctance to admit it, all signs pointed to


    his mother.


    His mother and May were best friends. Why would she harm her child? Was May''s death also part


    of her scheme?


    Ian was chilled to the bone with these thoughts, and his fists clenched involuntarily.


    Just as things with ra were starting to improve, this clue had to surface. He was desperate for


    the truth. Immediately, he grabbed his phone and called Dawson.


    "Pick up Wendy from the family estate. I need to question her."


    Dawson hesitated, then replied, "Mr. Hayes, Wendy was in a car ident yesterday while out


    grocery shopping. She didn''t make it."


    Ian''s deep-set eyes turned icy. It was too much of a coincidence. The moment he was about to


    investigate, she had an ident.


    In a cold voice, he instructed, "Find out the cause of the ident. Leave no stone unturned."


    "Right away, sir."


    "How''s the kidnapping caseing along?"


    "The guy who worked with Victoria is named Monte, a thug from the underworld who had a fling with


    Victoria. They even have a son. He imed someone offered ten million for ra''s life, promising to


    set him and his son up abroad. Victoria sacrificed herself to save her son, but the person pulling the


    strings remains a shadow."


    Ian felt as if a boulder was crushing his chest, making it hard to breathe.


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    May''s ident, Wendy''s death, Casey''s kidnapping—were these all connected to his mother?


    But Victoria''s reason for kidnapping Casey seemed to be a death pact. Could his own mother be


    plotting against him, too?


    A chill ran through Ian at the thought. His eyes were bloodshot with strain.


    At that moment, ra walked in. What she saw was Ian, pale as a ghost, his lips trembling


    uncontrobly. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around him, gently stroking his head.


    "What''s wrong? Is it the wound? Is it hurting again?"


    Hearing ra''s voice and feeling her warmth, Ian''s heart swelled. He pulled her close, whispering


    desperately, "ra, please don''t leave me, okay?"


    ra, puzzled and still groggy from sleep, watched him. "Ian, did something happen?"


    "It''s nothing. I just had a nightmarest night. I dreamt you left me, ra. Can you promise me that


    no matter what happens, you won''t leave me? Please?"


    He looked up at her, his usually cool gaze now filled with an unprecedented panic.