Chapter 293


    ra’s aunt pointed an using finger at ra. "I always said you and your mother were nothing


    but bad omens, bringing just bad luck. You just had to take Reed to see the doctor, and now look


    what happened! The man''s gone, and we were all counting on him to make ends meet."


    "I bet she had something to do with Reed''s death. She probably wants to hog that family heirloom


    all to herself."


    "With all the grandchildren we have, there''s no way that treasure should go to just her. She''s always


    been a financial drain. We ought to auction it off and split the cash."


    "Yeah, sell it and split the proceeds."


    In a sh, Reed''s funeral had turned into a scene of greed and division.


    ra kept her head bowed, silent amidst the chaos, her mind filled with images of Grandpa Reed in


    his suit. She was wracked with guilt. If only she hadn''t taken Reed away that day, maybe he''d still


    be alive. The cacophony of insults and reproaches seemed to encase ra in a cocoon of misery.


    Just then, Ian stepped forward, pulling a document from his pocket and presenting it to the


    morous crowd. "Grandpa Reed knew you lot would pull a stunt like this, so he donated the


    heirloom to the National Museum six months ago. This is the proof."


    ra’s aunt snatched the certificate, her eyes scanning the photo of the heirloom. There was


    Reed''s signature and the museum''s seal. Tears, which had been stubbornly absent until then,


    suddenly cascaded down her cheeks.


    "The old man yed us for fools! He''d donated it already and never breathed a word. He wanted us


    all fawning over him to the very end. And now, all our efforts have been for nothing."


    The revtion left everyone seething with anger. They had agreed to share the funeral expenses,


    but in the end, Casey and ra shouldered the costs. Even at the burial, several of Reed''s


    grandchildren were conspicuously absent.


    ra stood by Reed''s grave, herposure like a statue as if she had cried all her tears in the


    days before.


    Ian, standing beside her, put aforting arm around her shoulders. "ra, let''s head back home.


    We cane visit Grandpa Reed again in a few days," he said softly.


    ra looked up, her eyes red and swollen. "Has Leonora been found?"


    Ian''s expression darkened. "Yes, she''s been found. My father has her locked up at home."


    "Take me to her."


    They drove straight to the Hayes family estate.


    Seeing ra''s pallid face, Rose took her hand with a gentle concern. "ra, don''t be too hard on


    yourself. Look after your health."


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    ra''s voice was hoarse. "Grandma Rose, I''m alright. I need to see Leonora."


    Rose felt a pang of sorrow. She knew that Ian''s marriage prospects would be in jeopardy unless


    Leonora was dealt with properly. She immediately instructed the butler, "Bring that woman to me."


    Leonora was escorted to the living room. Seeing ra, she rushed over, grabbed her arm, and


    watched her with a face full of feigned innocence. "ra, I swear I didn''t say anything. I was just


    talking to Reed about the dowry arrangements. He must''ve gotten too excited seeing the generous


    dowry the Hayes family offered you, and his blood pressure spiked. I really didn''t do anything. You


    have to believe me."


    ra shook off Leonora''s grip, her gaze icy as she stared at her. "Reed was never a vain man. If he


    were, he wouldn''t have donated a family treasure worth three hundred million to the National


    Museum. Aside from my father, Reed was the one who cherished me the most in this world. You


    must''ve told him something about me, something he couldn''t ept, and that''s what caused his


    stroke. I want to know what you said to him!"