The air in the room grew thick with a stunned silence. Suri and Mr. Dn stared at Evadne, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.


    "Ms. Ashbourne," Mr. Dn stammered, "you... you knew all along that he was Mr. Hubery Ashbourne?"


    "Yes." Evadne''s lips tightened. "When Aaron used the cigarette butt he left behind to run a DNA test... we found out then."


    "So, you and Aaron both knew, and you kept it from me?" Suri''s shoulders trembled, her eyes welling with unshed tears.


    Evadne''s heart ached. "Suri, I''m so sorry. me me. It was my idea, not Aaron''s."


    Suri stared at her, and the tears finally fell. "Do you have any idea what I''ve been through all these years? Emeric, Debby, Myra, Aviana... they all told me to move on. I forced myself to try, to ept that Hubery was gone, that his body might never be found... but I never truly let go. Not for a single moment. So many nights, I''ve dreamt of him, standing before me, soaking wet, telling me over and over, ''Mom... it''s so cold in the water...""


    Mr. Dn sighed sorrowfully. Evadne felt as if her own heart were being torn apart, her slender frame trembling.


    Suri''s tears flowed freely, her red-rimmed eyes reflecting a world of pain. "Evadne, you knew, and you said nothing. Don''t you think that was arrogant? Unfair? Cruel?"


    It was the first time that Suri, who had always treated Evadne like her own daughter, had ever spoken to her so harshly. The woman who loved her more than her own children was so consumed by pain that she couldn''t contain her emotions.


    "I''m sorry..." Evadne whispered again, her voice choked.


    "Suri, I understand how you feel," Mr. I Dn interjected, unable to bear


    seeing Evadne so distressed. "Bute you''ve known Ms. Ashbourne her whole life. You know she''s not


    reckless or selfish. I''m sure she had her reasons for keeping this from you."


    Evadne''s voice was hoarse with urgency. "Suri, Hubery... he''s in danger."


    Suri flinched.


    "He lost his memory in the crash. Someone is controlling him, using him. And the person behind it could have him killed in an instant. I was afraid that if his identity was revealed of if he lost the trust of his controller, he would be in immediate peril. That''s why I kept it from you and Dad. I was afraid your love for him would lead you to act rashly."


    Suri''s heart pounded in her chest. "Who? Who is using him?"


    Evadne shook her head. "Suri, I''m sorry. For your safety and Dad''s, I can''t tell you. Not yet."


    "But... on the road today, some men were trying to kill him. Who were they?"