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    “You knewst night, yet you had so many chances today and still didn’t think to tell me?” Briar gritted her teeth, shooting daggers at Ashton.


    Under the gloating stares of Ruben and Larry, Ashton practically groveled for forgiveness, stopping just short of kneeling.


    “Honey, I won’t do it again. The next time I hear anything about the Lopez family, I promise I’ll tell you right away, okay?”


    Briar snorted, “And you think there will be a next time!”


    “There won’t be a next time. I promise, never again.” Ashton quickly seized the chance to de–escte. “Don’t be angry.”


    Only then did Briar let the angry look on her face soften, motioning for Ashton to continue.


    Ashton let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Ruben and Larry to continue their analysis of the Lopez family.


    “For years, the Lopez family has acted like a minor yer in Shoneport. They not only evaded your family’s investigation but also convinced all the other powerful families that they were no threat. That alone is something no ordinary family could aplish.”


    Ruben nodded. “That’s right. The Grant family has been chasing down leads on Ben for years. The fact that we were so easily misdirected shows just how resourceful and powerful the Lopez family is. They have the cunning to y games with anyone.”


    Briar’s voice was chilling. “Or maybe we relied too heavily on the evidence they left on my mother. I’m starting to think their goal wasn’t just to use my mother as ab rat for their experimental drugs.”


    A thought shed through Briar’s mind, so quickly that she couldn’t grasp it.


    But she was certain of one thing. Her mother’s death appeared to be a case of terrible luck–meeting a scoundrel, being chosen as ab rat for an experimental drug, and ultimately dying from an overdose.


    Perhaps her mother’s death from a drug overdose was just a cover–up for a crueler, more unspeakable truth.


    And that truthy with Freddie… no, ity with Brody, whom Freddie had hidden for so many years.


    Ashton wrapped his arm around Briar’s shoulder. “I’ve considered that possibility, but back when our mom died, thest people by her side were Grandpa and Edgar.”


    Briar said, “Edgar might not be trustworthy, but Grandpa wouldn’t have stood by and done nothing if someone tampered with Mom’s body after she died, would he?”


    This was why, for all these years, they had never pursued this cruel suspicion as a solid lead.


    Zeke was shrewd and calcting. If Edgar had dared to pull any tricks back then, he wouldn’t have escaped


    his notice.


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    “If they couldn’t tamper with my sister’s body in front of your Grandpa, could it be possible that, before her body was cremated…” Larry’s voice was eerie, and his unfinished sentence sent a chill down the spines of the


    other three.


    The color drained from Briar’s face. “Larry, are you saying someone conspired with the crematory to switch. Mom’s body?”


    “If that’s true…” Ashton’s gaze turned cold as he offered a chilling hypothesis. “Honey, perhaps your mom’s body has been preserved in… the Lopez family’sboratory.”


    Ruben’s clenched fists trembled with rage. “Bastard!”


    Although they had no evidence to confirm Ashton’s suspicion, the thought was terrifying. The four people present could vividly imagine Rosalia’s body, frozen in a dark, sunless, undergroundboratory.


    “Ashton, where is that old bastard being held? I’ll kill him with my own hands!” Larry shouted, leaping from his chair as veins throbbed on his temples.


    The sister they had cherished like a jewel in their palms hadn’t suffered enough from Edgar’s vile schemes- now, even in death, she was reduced to nothing more than someone else’s experiment.


    The mere thought made Larry’s heart ache.


    Ruben said nothing, but the dark, ruthless expression on his face showed that he, too, was struggling to contain his fury.


    Ashton knew better than anyone how fiercely protective the Grant family was of their own.


    If their suspicions were true, it wouldn’t just be his wife who would lose her mind, but her two uncles as well.


    Ashton rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes with a headache. “This is all just spection. Let’s not scare ourselves before we have evidence. My men are interrogating Freddie, so let’s wait for the results.”


    Seeing her uncles on the verge of losing their tempers, Briar worried they might get sick from anger. Suppressing her own hatred, she chimed in, “That’s right. We don’t have all the facts yet. Let’s not scare ourselves.”


    Ruben and Larry reluctantly suppressed their anger but warned Ashton and Briar, “Fine. But when the interrogation results are out, don’t you dare think about hiding them from us.”


    Briar nodded quickly. “Don’t worry. I would never hide it from you.”


    If things were really as they suspected, she would annihte the entire Lopez family, leaving no one alive.


    But for something like this, it was only right for her to be the one to do it.


    Her two uncles had already been hurt once by their sister’s death.


    She couldn’t bear to hurt them a second time with an even more brutal truth.


    What was supposed to be a pleasant family dinner was ruined by an unconfirmed suspicion, and none of the


    <b>10:05 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>


    four ate much.


    :


    <b>79 </b>


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    Briar returned to the vi with Ashton, her heart heavy. She extended a finger and poked his firm arm. “Ashton, can I talk to you about something?<b>” </b>


    Before Briar could even speak, Ashton caught her fidgeting finger. “You want my help hiding the results of Freddie’s interrogation?”


    Briar leaned into his broad, warm embrace and nodded. “Yes. If the final interrogation results are what we suspect, I want to be the one to end this. My uncles already lost their sister once; they can’t be hurt a second time.”


    Even the strongest heart couldn’t endure being repeatedly wounded by family.


    It was incredibly painful.


    She knew that feeling all too well.


    “Besides, with Mom and Grandpa gone, my two uncles are the only family I have left who have been good to me. More than revenge, I just want them to live a peaceful and happy life,” she said.


    “Alright. I promise.”


    Ashton pulled the crying girl tighter into his embrace. “Don’t cry. I’m here to shield you from whateveres your way. You’re not alone anymore. You’ve got me to back you up!”


    Briar’s eyes misted over with emotion and happiness. She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Ashton’s neck, and kissed him. “Darling, I’m so lucky to have you.”


    Ashton said, “You’re my wife. Who else should I be good to, if not you?”


    Ashton deepened the kiss, a blend of innocence and passion. “Honey, tonight is our wedding night. Every moment is precious. Let me carry you to our room…”


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