Chapter 55: Asher Is Abused by Them Again

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Asher Is Abused by Them Again

"Madeline, do you believe in souls?" I watched Madeline Quinn nervously, not knowing if she would believe me. "I’m Cecilia Caldwell..."

Madeline Quinn was stunned for a long time. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, her gaze darting around.

She didn’t say a word for what felt like an eternity.

’My story must sound too far-fetched and unbelievable.’

"What are you really after?" After a long pause, she frowned, looking a little angry. "How do you know all that? Are you trying to impersonate Cecilia Caldwell? Do you take me for a fool?"

She watched me warily, as if she thought I was the murderer or an accomplice.

’It makes sense. Having someone suddenly show up claiming to be your deceased best friend... no one would be able to accept that easily.’

"Don’t get upset, don’t get upset." I quickly raised my hands in a placating gesture.

Madeline Quinn froze for a moment, her gaze growing even more guarded.

’She’s probably trying to figure out how I know so many of Cecilia Caldwell’s secrets.’

"You suspect I’m one of the murderers or an accomplice, right? You think I did something to Cecilia Caldwell before she died, forced her to tell me your secrets, and now I’m here to trick you?" I voiced Madeline Quinn’s suspicions aloud.

Madeline Quinn didn’t speak, remaining vigilant.

"Okay, then. Ask me anything. Ask me about secrets that only you and Cecilia Caldwell would know. Cecilia couldn’t have told *all* her secrets to someone else. I really am Cecilia..." I explained, my hands still raised.

Madeline Quinn’s eyes grew a little red. She probably wished I really was Cecilia Caldwell, too.

’But we’re both atheists. How could we believe that someone was reincarnated in another person’s body?’

’This is the kind of wild plot you only find in novels.’

"Cecilia Caldwell left a few bank cards with me," Madeline Quinn said, watching me tentatively.

"Two. One was for my scholarship money, and the other was my salary card," I said very seriously. "The scholarship card has over thirty thousand, and the salary card has ten thousand saved up for Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker’s wedding gift. There’s also a joint card we have for donating to the children’s orphanage."

’I once thought about wishing Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker a long and happy life together, the perfect couple finally united. Too bad all they wanted was my life.’

At the mention of Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker, hatred flashed in my eyes.

Madeline Quinn spoke again. "Cecilia Caldwell had plastic surgery. What parts did she have work done on?"

Madeline Quinn’s words set me off. A naturally beautiful girl hates it most when people say she’s had work done. "I’m a natural beauty! Do I need plastic surgery? I haven’t had any."

"Wrong answer. I took her to get eyelash extensions," Madeline Quinn said with a wave of her hand.

"..." I was speechless. "Madeline Quinn, since when do eyelash extensions count as plastic surgery? The ones at that salon you took me to weren’t even as long as my natural lashes, and they made a lash fall into my eye and give me conjunctivitis."

Madeline Quinn’s gaze flickered. "Which salon was it?"

"That ’Heavenly Beauty’ place on West Third Road. The salesperson there kept complimenting me from the moment I walked in, saying I was pretty and had good skin, and that if I got some semi-permanent eyeliner and had my eyebrows tattooed, I’d never have to wear makeup again."

Madeline Quinn tightened her grip on her water glass and asked again, "Does Cecilia Caldwell love Julian Fletcher?"

My breath caught. I spoke, enunciating each word. "Cecilia Caldwell doesn’t love Julian Fletcher anymore. If she still did, then everything she went through, all the suffering she endured, she would have deserved it."

Madeline Quinn looked away, wiping a tear. "I’ll tentatively believe that you have some sort of connection to Cecilia Caldwell. But I don’t believe that you *are* Cecilia... Why don’t you just tell me what you want?"

"Erin Whittaker was the one who killed me..." I was afraid Madeline Quinn couldn’t accept it, so I corrected myself. "Erin Whittaker was the one who killed Cecilia Caldwell. Erin deliberately told Cecilia to go to the Street Alley on the 15th. She told Cecilia she hadn’t told anyone else. She lured her there to be killed by the murderer."

Madeline Quinn’s head snapped back to look at me. "Do you have proof?"

I shook my head. "I don’t have proof, but I... Cecilia Caldwell’s phone has a recording of her call with Erin Whittaker. Haven’t the police recovered the data?"

Madeline Quinn frowned. "Data recovery is complicated. It’s not that simple. It will take some time."

I nodded. "Once the phone recording is recovered, Erin Whittaker won’t be able to escape... and she knows it."

"You know a lot," Madeline Quinn said, watching me suspiciously. "What is it you really want?"

"To make Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher pay," I said with determination. "Doesn’t Julian Fletcher think Erin is some kind of benevolent fairy? Then let’s rip off her hypocritical mask and let Julian see her for who she really is."

"Us?" Madeline Quinn sneered. "What makes you so sure I’ll help you?"

"You will. You know what Cecilia Caldwell went through in the Fletcher Family, and you know Erin Whittaker has framed Cecilia more than once," I said confidently. "For your best friend, you will help me."

"Where do we start?" Madeline Quinn had given in. She truly did hate Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker.

"Erin Whittaker..." I pushed a slip of paper toward Madeline Quinn. "Cecilia Caldwell didn’t push Erin down the stairs. Jake Abbott was an eyewitness. They gave false testimony, they lied. Jake saw it clearly; it wasn’t Cecilia who pushed Erin."

"Jake Abbott is in on it with Erin Whittaker. Even if he saw what happened, he wouldn’t tell the truth," Madeline Quinn frowned.

"Jake Abbott is a coward... Help me put on a show. We’ll scare him a little, and he’ll spill everything. And when that happens... we’ll have both Julian Fletcher and Erin Whittaker there." ’I’m going to stage an opening act for Julian Fletcher, make him see what kind of person Erin Whittaker really is.’

’I want to watch their so-called true love slowly fall apart. I want to make sure Erin Whittaker never gets what she wants.’

’Erin Whittaker and Julian Fletcher must get the punishment they deserve.’

"I have to go..." Outside the window, a few people were searching around. I could tell they were the Lancaster family’s bodyguards at a glance.

’I can’t be away for too long. The Lancasters will get suspicious.’

"How do I contact you?" Madeline Quinn asked with a frown.

"I’ll contact you," I said, getting up and ducking my head to leave.

"I believe you... because you could answer my questions, you knew all that... It means Cecilia Caldwell truly trusted you," Madeline Quinn said, her voice hoarse.

A lump formed in my throat. I nodded. "Wait for my call."

...

After leaving the coffee shop, I took a taxi back to the Lancaster estate, carrying some baby supplies I had bought.

Master Lancaster was standing in the courtyard, a sour look on his face. "Where have you been?"

"Grandpa, I was so happy I went to the mall near the hospital to buy some things for the baby. I know it’s early, but buying them now is good luck. It means the baby will be born safe and sound." I smiled, trying to placate the old man before me.

’This old man was clearly not someone to be trifled with. Just looking at him sent a chill down my spine.’

"Hmph." Master Lancaster didn’t say much more, turning a blind eye. "You are now carrying the Lancaster family’s child. Only when this child is born successfully will you have completed your mission. Understand?"

I quickly nodded obediently. "You’re right, Grandpa."

"Alright, go back to your room and rest."

I followed the maid upstairs, but she led me to a different room. "Am I not staying with him anymore?"

"You’re pregnant. If you continue to stay with that madman, it might not be safe." The maid’s words were filled with contempt. They clearly had no respect for Asher.

"No matter what, he is still a young master of the Lancaster family and the father of my child. Isn’t it going too far to speak of him like that? If Master Lancaster found out, he’d think it was unlucky. What if the child I give birth to is also... mad?" I lowered my voice, intimidating her.

The maid’s face paled. She quickly bowed her head. "You are right, Young Madam."

As I passed Asher’s room, I suddenly stopped. The distinct sounds of a beating and someone trying to endure it in silence came from within.

I looked back at the maid. "What are they doing in there?"

"That mad... Young Master had another episode today. He tried to run away and got caught. Mr. Lancaster is teaching him a lesson." The maid glanced from side to side. "Madam, let’s go. We shouldn’t get involved."

My heart leaped into my throat as I remembered the injuries all over Asher’s body.

After taking a few steps, I stopped abruptly, turned back, and forcefully pushed open the door.