Chapter 83: No One Believes Me

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: No One Believes Me

"I just heard them say there’s a male victim."

This meant the serial killer was still at it.

And killing women wasn’t enough for him; now he’s started killing men.

They must all be connected to that orphanage.

He’s taunting the police, taunting them for being unable to catch him.

"Who the hell is he? Why don’t the police have a single clue about this person yet?" My voice was trembling.

’That person must be suspicious of me.’

Sebastian Lancaster held the umbrella over me, his body stiff.

I looked up at Sebastian nervously, rain dripping from my hair. "You know, don’t you? You know who he is, don’t you?"

"We can’t... let him kill anyone else." I clutched Sebastian’s clothes tightly.

’He knows who the killer is. Why won’t he say anything?’

"They... deserved to die," Sebastian said, his voice hoarse and his body trembling slightly.

I froze for a moment and looked up at Sebastian.

’They deserved to die?’

’Is he talking about the victims?’

"Then what about Cecilia Caldwell! What did she do wrong?" I shoved Sebastian away, losing my composure, and turned to run.

"Cece..." Sebastian called out my name, his voice tight with anxiety.

I didn’t stop. I just ran toward the crime scene, letting the rain soak me.

’Who’s the victim this time?’

...

「Southerlyn Pier.」

By the time I got there, I was soaked to the bone. The cold made me shiver uncontrollably, and my face was pale.

I stood on the side of the road with a crowd of gawkers, watching the scene unfold.

"The victim’s a man, another orphan from that same orphanage. After the big fire years ago, the government relocated the kids, and most of them were adopted. Looks like... the killer is definitely connected to the orphanage."

"Check everyone connected to the orphanage! Bring them all in for questioning!" Zeke Shaw was losing his cool.

’It was understandable. This was the biggest serial killer case Meridia had seen in years, and to this day, the police were completely stumped. They had no leads and had found no cracks in the killer’s methods. They hadn’t caught him, and he hadn’t left a single clue behind.’

"The culprit’s too careful. No hair, no nail clippings, not even a fingerprint. How is that possible?" a young officer asked in horror. "It’s as if there’s no killer at all... just like the rumors online say. A vengeful spirit demanding retribution."

Zeke Shaw’s expression turned grim. "Cut the crap! There are no such things as ghosts."

I stood frozen on the spot, watching the body being carried away by the police.

’A vengeful spirit... demanding retribution?’

’Not a single clue...’

’If it were a human, how could they possibly not leave a single trace?’

’Madeline Quinn said she went to my home and found no trace of anyone living there.’

’But I know for a fact I saw that person in the house...’

’Zeke Shaw is an atheist who doesn’t believe in ghosts or gods, but I... I’ve died once before.’

’But I know better than anyone that even as a ghost, it’s impossible to kill someone. You can’t even touch anything physical.’

’The dead are more like spiritual entities trapped in a fourth dimension, completely unable to touch anyone in the third dimension.’

"Silvia Lynch, who exactly are you?" Madeline Quinn was there too, holding an umbrella and studying me. "What is it you’re really after?"

My breath hitched as I looked at Madeline Quinn. "Why won’t you believe me..."

She frowned and gave me a warning look. "Don’t let me find any dirt on you."

A sudden headache stabbed at me, and fragments of memories that weren’t my own flashed through my mind.

’It was Silvia Lynch... and the killer.’

"I can help you eliminate the people you want gone, but you have to do as I say and marry Sebastian Lancaster."

Clutching my aching head, I squatted down, staring at the ground in horror.

’So Silvia Lynch... and the killer really were connected.’

"What’s she doing here? There’s definitely something wrong with this woman. Should we take her in for questioning?" Zane asked Zeke Shaw.

Zeke Shaw’s expression was grim as he looked at me. "Miss Lynch, this is no place for you."

I said nothing. I waited until the police cleared the scene before I stood up and searched for Sebastian.

’He... didn’t he come after me?’

I frantically searched for Sebastian, and only when I saw him across the street, also standing in the pouring rain, could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

’He was still here.’

"Sebastian..." I started to run toward him, but there was too much traffic.

"Stay there, don’t move." He ran over to me and anxiously draped his coat over my shoulders.

"Cece, let’s go home," he soothed in a low voice.

I nodded, looking back at the crime scene.

"That lunatic won’t stop," I said, my voice hoarse.

’The killer won’t stop.’

’He’ll just keep killing.’

’Until he’s satisfied.’

"I’m... looking for him, too," Sebastian finally spoke.

I looked up at Sebastian. "Why won’t you tell me his name?"

Sebastian shook his head. "Because I’m not sure myself."

I frowned, unsure if I could trust Sebastian.

...

「The Lancaster Residence.」

Back home, I took a hot shower. I was now curled up in bed, sipping a cup of hot water.

Sebastian came out of the bathroom in a bathrobe and crouched beside me. "Feeling any better?"

I nodded, feeling a little calmer. "Can I ask you something?"

Sebastian nodded.

"Why did you say those people who died... all deserved to die?"

’I desperately wanted to know what those people had done.’

Sebastian looked down, his long, elegant fingers slowly tightening into a fist.

The backs of his hands were covered in burn scars, but his fingers were still exceptionally elegant.

It was easy to imagine what a perfect ’work of art’ his hands would have been if they had never been injured.

"Fire... They set the fire." Sebastian kept his head down, as if lost in an agonizing memory.

His whole body was shaking.

I frantically grabbed Sebastian’s hand and instinctively pulled him into a hug. "It’s okay... It’s all in the past."

’So it was the people from the orphanage who set the fire, and Sebastian was one of the victims?’

’That could be a new lead for the investigation, right?’

I pulled out my phone and texted Zeke Shaw.

Me: Sebastian said the victims are connected to the orphanage fire.

Zeke Shaw: You don’t need to concern yourself with this, Miss Lynch.

I sighed weakly and leaned back against the bed.

’Just as I thought. Silvia Lynch herself is just too untrustworthy.’

’I bet Madeline Quinn noticed something was off about Silvia Lynch. Otherwise... she wouldn’t have suddenly become so cold and distrustful toward me.’

’What did she find out?’

"Cece, promise me... stay out of it, okay?" Sebastian pleaded, looking at me with anxious eyes.

The butler knocked on the door. "Young Master, Madam, the old master is back."

The old master was back from his flight. He could only lie in bed now, and it looked like he would need round-the-clock care for the foreseeable future.

I took a deep breath to compose myself, then ruffled Sebastian’s hair. "Let’s go down and see your grandfather."

’The Lancaster family’s affairs were just one more headache...’

’The old master was paralyzed, unable to speak or make decisions. I was afraid the rest of the Lancaster clan would eat them alive sooner or later.’