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< The Forbidden Uncle
Chapter 72 Investigating Claire
Ryan’s speculation shocked me deeply.
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I stared at him, wide–eyed, almost forgetting we were in public, “No way! That’s terrifying!” I blurted out.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how loud I’d been. Embarrassed, I covered my mouth and avoided the curious stares of the other diners.
“It’s not impossible,” Ryan said, his brows frowning. “Right now, she’s the prime suspect.”
“You saying–Claire might have hired someone to kill me and kidnap Toby?” My voice dropped to a whisper as I took a sharp breath, gulping down several sips of apple juice to calm myself.
After all, Claire was my sister. Even though we’re at odds now, I had always treated her well in the past.
If she truly did this, I couldn’t understand–wasn’t stealing my husband and ruining my family enough? Why would she want me dead too?
“But we don’t have any evidence to prove it’s her–it’s just a speculation. Claire’s just a model; she wouldn’t have the resources to hire someone like Brandon and then cover her tracks so cleanly.”
“Unless,” he added, his tone growing darker, “someone’s helping her.”
I was so shocked I couldn’t speak. A cold prickled down my back.
If Claire had a powerful backer helping her-
This was far more dangerous than I’d imagined.
“I’ll have someone investigate her,” Ryan said, sliding a plate of toast toward me. “But don’t overthink it for now. We might be wrong. Just be careful for now, and let me know if anything feels off. Eat something and try to relax.”
“Okay, thanks,” I nodded, picking at the toast.
I wasn’t really hungry, but the food smelled good, and I figured I should keep my strength up.
“You don’t need to keep thanking me,” Ryan said suddenly, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “If you really want to thank me, you should show some real sincerity.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, caught off guard.
Seeing his teasing smile, my heart pounded in my chest.
“Relax, I’m just joking, don’t take it seriously,” he said lightly before shifting gears. “But on a serious note, even though Vincent agreed to divorce, it’s not over until the papers are signed. Things could still
take a turn.”
“Drake will help whenever you need. If you need to go to court, just let me know.”
“That’s great!” I said, genuinely relieved.
With Ryan and Drake’s help, I felt more confident about leaving Vincent behind.
“As for Toby,” Ryan added. “We’re still working on it. Don’t lose hope–things will get better,” he reassured me.
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< Chapter 72 Investigating Claire
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There was something in his voice that soothed me, easing some of the tension in my chest.
“I’ll stay strong.” I promised, gripping the edge of the table. “Toby’s waiting for me, and I won’t stop until
I find him.”
“That’s the spirit,” Ryan smiled warmly as he stood up. “It’s getting late, I’ve got to head to work. What about you?”
“I’ve got some errands today, so I won’t see you off,” I replied, waving him off. “Good luck winning over the person you like. What a coincidence – she’s getting divorced, and so am I-”
“And when you two finally get together, introduce her to me, okay? We’re practically in the same boat,” I teased.
Ryan paused mid–step, turning back to look at me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat, “Definitely.” he said, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Under his burning gaze, I felt a rush of heat flood my cheeks.
After he left, I slid into a car, preparing to visit the police station.
But as I sat there, memories of our conversation flooded back.
His confession that the woman he liked was getting divorced, the way he looked at me, that kiss we’d shared-
My heart raced, and my mind turned to mush.
A startling thought crept into my mind!
