Trying to Convince Himself


    +20 Free Coins


    So after just a moment’s hesitation, the private investigator said, “It was your dear sister, Ms. Erin Jackman.”


    “That’s impossible!” Liam didn’t even stop to think before shutting it down. “Erin has the kindest heart. She could never do something like that.”


    That was what he said out loud, but deep inside, the suspicion he’d been forcing down started bubbling back up. His eyes locked on the file sitting on the table, but his hand stayed frozen, too afraid to actually pick it up.


    The private investigator was just a man paid to do a job. He’d already found the truth; whether his client wanted to look at it or not was none of his business. So he sat there quietly, not pushing.


    Liam didn’t know how long he sat there, staring. Eventually, his fingers trembled as he finally reached for the file.


    The second he opened it, all the color drained from his face. His hands shook without him even realizing.


    “Th-this can’t be real. How could this happen…”


    He had just convinced himself to trust Erinpletely, to never doubt her again. He never thought reality would hit him this hard, this fast.


    Instinctively, he wanted to deny it and tell himself maybe the investigator had made a mistake.


    But the man across from him swore, “This is the same conclusion every single one of the agencies you hired came to. If you don’t believe me, Mr. Liam, you can have anyone you want double-check it.”


    As a private investigator, he’d heard plenty about how much the Jackmans spoiled that long-lost, biological daughter they’d found halfway through her life. So it didn’t surprise him at all that Liam didn’t want to believe it.


    But he wouldn’t have brought this to Liam if he wasn’t sure.


    Liam knew that, too-after all, he’d been the one to hire several different investigators at the same time just to be certain.


    And the truth in that information was what made it so hard to breathe right now.


    The Erin I know-the one who’s gentle and innocent-how could she…


    He didn’t even notice when the investigator left. He didn’t know how he ended up walking out.


    When he came back to himself, he was standing in front of Tracy’s rented apartment.


    He hesitated outside for a long time before finally pushing himself to go in.


    When Ronald opened the door and saw him, his frown expressed how much he didn’t wee the guest.


    “What are you doing here?” Ronald’s voice was low, as if he didn’t want to disturb whoever was inside.


    Ever since Franklin’s death, Tracy had been surviving on sheer willpower alone.


    11:36 am PP


    Chapter 224 Trying to Convince Himself


    +20 Free Coins


    The day thewyer came, she cried so hard that she seemed to cry out thatst bit of strength and copsed into illness right after.


    Ronald had only just gotten her to the point where she was slowly recovering. Thest thing he wanted was someone from the Jackmans showing up now.


    To him, this small apartment was their first real home together. Every piece of furniture, every decoration, had been chosen with care. That was why he’d never wanted to move.


    But with people from the Jackmans showing up at their door again and again, it was starting to feel unbearable. Maybe it really was time to move.


    Liam could feel the wall of cold energying from Ronald. Normally, he would’ve snapped right back.


    But now, standing in front of the man Tracy trusted most, he felt something strange-almost guilty.


    It was as if he was looking at someone who had taken the ce that used to belong to him-a ce he had thrown away with his own hands.


    He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I … came to see my sister-I mean, Tracy.”


    Ronald’s whole body blocked the doorway. “If you have something to say, say it to me. I’ll decide whether or not to pass it along.”


    Liam frowned. He clearly didn’t want to talk to Ronald.


    But when he nced past the small gap in the door, he caught sight of Tracy sitting on the couch.


    She was standing close and must have heard him, but she didn’t even spare him a nce.


    He knew then that she didn’t want to see him.


    That realization made his chest tighten. His voice came out louder without him meaning to. “Tracy, can you just … talk to me? Like before?”


    Before, Tracy had been the person he trusted and relied on most in the Jackmans.


    Whenever something was bothering him, he woulde to her and listen to herfort him or let her help him figure it out.


    He missed that. He missed her.


    Maybe she felt the emotion in his words, because Tracy, who was initially sitting on the couch without moving, finally stood and walked toward the door.


    She had Ronald step aside, but she still didn’t invite Liam in.


    Her eyes locked on his like she was trying to read his entire soul. “Did you find something about Erin?”


    She knew Liam too well. Every time he ran into something he didn’t want to face, he’d get all upset and


    lost, thene find her for advice orfort.


    Not long ago, he’d mentioned investigating those photos. And now he was here, looking like this-it wasn’t hard to figure out what had happened.


    11:36 am P PPD


    Chapter 224 Trying to Convince Himself


    +20 Free Coins


    Hearing her see straight through him made Liam feel… he didn’t even know if it was relief or shame.


    “I … ”


    He wanted to deny it. But when he met Tracy’s eyes, the words wouldn’te.


    In the end, he looked away. “No. Erin is the kindest person in the world. She’d never do something like


    that.”


    He wasn’t sure if he was answering her or trying to convince himself.


    1:36 am P PPD.