Chapter 431 Clues
Chapter 431 Clues
Susan's gaze was pained, making Julian's heart clench. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
"Julian, tell me, what did I do that's not good enough? What did I do to make her despise me from top to bottom along with Chessie?” Susan bit her lips. "Even i f there's a reason she looks down on me, what about Chessie? She’s her granddaughter! Has she ever had sincere feelings for her?"
"Susie." Julian's lips quivered. "I know you and Chessie have been wronged, but..."
"But that's your mother. You can't help it either, I know," Susan said calmly, "You don't have to explain too much to me. Chessie and I are fine. You should go t o the hospital and keep your mother company.”
Susan was direct.
"Susie." Julian held her hands nervously. "Don't stress over this. I'll look into the incident and your innocence will definitely be proven."
As she kept her eyes on Julian, a bitter smile stretched on Susan’s face. "Julian, you can clear my name this time, but what about after that? If something else happens or someone instigates something in the future, your mother will still choose t o suspect me without hesitation."
Susan felt hopeless. She had been holding this in and putting up with Madam Shaw for Julian. What had she gotten in exchange? Endless hurt and doubt, that was all.
Susan had thought that she should try more to prevent Julian from feeling caught between them and had tried to warm Madam Shaw up with her sincerity.
So what?
Madam Shaw's heart was made of rocks.
She had learned Willa's massaging techniques this month and practiced more than 10 hours a day. Her arms were still sore. All her sacrifices were purposeful ploys in Madam Shaw's eyes.
Susan really thought that she was quite laughable now. She had tried so hard to please someone who did not even care every single day.
If Madam Shaw had targeted only her, perhaps she would still have tolerated it, but Chessie... Why should Chessie have to go through this hurt?
"Susie, believe me. There'll be a way. I'll surely...” Julian was speaking, but Susan cut him off. "Enough, Julian. I understand. I'm not pushing you to do anything. Your mother's in the hospital now, so take care of her. I won’t comment. As for her curses and scoldings, I can take them too as long as she doesn't hurt Chessie and my family." 1
Susan looked at Julian quietly. "That's my bottom line. If she steps over it, even though she’s your mother, I won’t let this go on."
Julian took a deep breath and gently patted Susan's hair. "I understand, Susie. And... thank you."
When Susan had been censured by Madam Shaw previously, she had not even felt a pinch in her eyes. Now that she heard Julian thanking her, she was filled with the urge to cry.
For real, if it were not for Julian, no one would have wanted a mother-in-law like Madam Shaw.
Fortunately, Julian was involved. He made her feel that her tolerance and sacrifices were required.
The husband and wife hugged each other in silence for some time before the hospital called to inform them that Madam Shaw was awake and was insisting on Julian keeping her company.
Unable to say no, Julian gave Susan a chaste kiss and went back to the hospital.
"Did you go to see Susan Shelby?" Madam Shaw looked at Julian with caution.
"Mom, you only gave me a week. You’ve got to let me investigate this matter, right?" Julian said without flinching.
Madam Shaw looked slightly appeased before she replied, "Julian, I'm not pushing you, but Susan Shelby really isn't a good woman. Don’t see her again. Just go through with the divorce in one week."
Without answering, Julian changed the subject. "Don't mind this stuff. Take care of yourself and nurse
yourself back to health first. That's the most important part.”
"My health hasn't been the best. Given what happened now, I don't think I have that many years left to live. Julian, remember, all this has happened because of Susan Shelby,” Madam Shaw mumbled, repeating herself.
Julian listened silently. He knew that nothing he said would help right now. What mattered currently was seeking the actual culprit behind this. The only breakthrough of the incident was Miss Lincoln.
In the days that followed, Julian hunted down every piece of information he could get about Miss Lincoln. Her birth and background, the people she had met before the incident, anything that was relevant was investigated closely.
According to the results, Miss Lincoln was an orphan who had graduated from art college. She was basically a college graduate. She was not married or dating anyone and had a fairly simple circle of friends. Only colleagues after colleagues.
While scanning that person's life in paper, Julian noticed something that surprised him. He narrowed his eyes at the information and muttered to himself." Ningcheng City?”
Miss Lincoln had studied in Ningcheng City's art college.
The short row of words unexpectedly drew Julian's
attention.
He asked for the investigation to focus on the clue in Ningcheng City and managed to make another breakthrough a few days later!
Miss Lincoln was an orphan, and art college was expensive. To finish her studies, she had engaged in inappropriate business for a while.
At the same time, the hackers discovered that a few days before the arsenic poisoning, Miss Lincoln had received an email. It had been deleted, but it was now restored. The email had been sent anonymously, and a few obscene photos had been attached. The men in the photos were different people, but the woman remained the same: Miss Lincoln.
The sender said in the mail, "I have more photos of you with me. If you don’t want these leaking, come meet me at Tantra alone."
The sender remained unknown, but the truth was surfacing.
A dangerous glint flashed in Julian's eyes.
The sender had probably used the photos in the email to blackmail Miss Lincoln to make her pass the arsenic to Chessie. The sender of the email was the culprit behind the entire incident.
As the investigation went on based on this clue, it suddenly led nowhere. The sender's IP address was found but ended up being an unlicensed internet cafe. The place did not even ask for ID when one entered, and many people shuffled in and out of it daily. The cafe admin could not even remember who sat where o n which day.
To find a solution, Julian had people continue looking into the clue in Ningcheng City. He focused the investigation on people who were familiar with Miss Lincoln and could possibly get their hands on these photos.