Chapter 408 - 411: Lying in Wait

It was completely dark by the time Adrian Lancaster brought his wife and children home from the film set.

The nanny carried Owen and Nina to the bedroom, gently placing the two sleeping little darlings into their cribs.

Adrian Lancaster and Wren Sutton went to the dining room for dinner. The whole family was waiting for them, without a single word of complaint.

After dinner, Wren Sutton went upstairs to their bedroom, wanting nothing more than to fall into bed and sleep.

Thoughtfully, Adrian helped her out of her coat and into her pajamas. He carried her to the bathroom to wash up, then carried her back to bed.

"Honey, I’m just so tired. I’m going to sleep first, good night..." Wren was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open, her voice trailing off.

The warm, yellow light from the bedside lamp shone on her peaceful, serene face.

Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze tender and affectionate as he watched her. The corners of his mouth lifted into a doting smile.

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Wren’s smooth forehead.

"Go to sleep, honey. Good night."

Once he was sure Wren Sutton was fast asleep, Adrian tucked her in, got up, and quietly left the bedroom. He then headed for his father, Theodore Lancaster’s, study.

Adrian walked to the study door and raised his hand to knock softly.

"Come in."

Theodore Lancaster’s deep, steady voice came from inside the study.

Adrian pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind him to shut out all outside noise.

Theodore was sitting behind his desk, looking through some documents. He looked up, saw Adrian, and set down what he was holding, his expression calm.

"Why aren’t you resting? It’s so late."

Adrian walked to the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from his father. He got straight to the point. "Dad, I want to talk about the car accident."

Theodore nodded, his expression turning serious.

"I knew you’d bring this up sooner or later."

"While you were still unconscious in the ICU, I already started investigating. Julian, Sean, and Caleb all helped."

"The Lancaster family used all of its connections and resources, looking into everything we could think of."

At this, Theodore sighed helplessly, his tone heavy.

"The results were... unsatisfactory."

"The other party was too meticulous, too clean. Their counter-surveillance skills were exceptional. Every lead we could find, both overt and covert, eventually went cold."

Adrian listened quietly without interrupting.

"Dad, I know you did your best. Even if you couldn’t find the truth, please don’t blame yourself."

His son’s understanding was a great comfort to Theodore.

But a persistent knot of unease remained in his heart. It troubled him day and night, something he simply couldn’t let go of. Just thinking about it was draining.

"The driver died at the scene, so the dead can’t testify. His wife and child vanished into thin air overnight, leaving no trace. The surveillance footage was destroyed."

"Looking at all the details, that car crash doesn’t seem like an accident. Someone was definitely pulling the strings from behind the scenes."

"The key to cracking this case now is to find the driver’s family. Our family has sent extra people to search for them, both at home and abroad, but we still don’t know their whereabouts."

Adrian’s expression was grave. He realized how complicated the situation was—it wasn’t as simple as he’d thought.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Dad, putting the driver’s family aside for now... the Lancaster family has been investigating for so long, and all the leads are dead ends. Based on your experience and judgment, is there anyone you suspect?"

Theodore tapped the desktop with his hand. His eyes turned cold, and his tone grew heavier.

"That’s exactly what I was about to say."

"Investigating the family is one line of inquiry. Investigating suspects is another."

"Since you’ve asked, I won’t hide it from you. I do have a suspect in mind: the Marshall family."

"The Marshall family?" Adrian repeated the three words under his breath. His expression was indifferent, his eyes showing no hint of emotion.

He was now a complete stranger to the Marshall family. He couldn’t dredge up any related memories, so naturally, he felt no emotional reaction.

"What grudge does the Marshall family have against me?"

Seeing his son’s blank, uncomprehending expression, Theodore sighed inwardly.

So, he softened his tone and tried to explain as concisely as possible, sticking only to the key information.

"The Marshall family doesn’t have a grudge against you. The person they resent is your wife, Wren Sutton."

"It’s highly likely that car crash was aimed at Wren. You were severely injured, almost died, protecting your wife and child."

Hearing this, Adrian’s dark pupils constricted. A wave of murderous aura washed over him, and his eyes grew chillingly cold.

’The mastermind’s target was actually my wife!’

’All the more reason for me to find the truth as soon as possible, drag the culprit out, and bring them to justice.’

"Why does the Marshall family resent my wife? Did they have a feud with the Sutton Family and take it out on her?"

Theodore shook his head. "It has nothing to do with the Sutton Family. It all started because of you."

Adrian was speechless.

"The Marshall family has a daughter, Maya Marshall, who was always in love with you. And you did spend some time with her."

"Later, it turned out you two weren’t meant to be, and you went your separate ways. You married Wren, but Maya Marshall held a grudge. Time and again, she exploited your old feelings for her to sabotage your marriage with Wren, trying to win you back."

"Until one time, she framed Wren in a plot with terrible consequences. In the end, she reaped what she sowed and lost her left leg. Her hatred must have grown even stronger after that..."

The more Adrian listened, the more his head ached. Vague, blurry images from the past flashed in his mind, but he didn’t dare think about them too deeply. The moment he tried, his head felt like it would explode.

His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into tight fists. He gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead.

’No wonder Mother said I had wronged Wren, that I’d done many things to hurt her after we were married.’

’It was all because of that woman, Maya Marshall.’

’Of course, it takes two to tango. I was at fault, too. I was unfaithful to our marriage, I betrayed Wren.’

’It was my indulgence that made Maya Marshall so brazen in her bullying of Wren.’

’That’s why Wren became so disheartened with me, why she wanted a divorce.’

’The logic was sound. It all made sense now.’

"Dad, based on what you’ve said, the Marshall family really is the prime suspect. They have more than enough motive."

"Where is the Marshall family now? Are they still in Aston?"

Theodore shook his head again, his expression tinged with heavy resignation.

"After Maya Marshall’s accident, evidence emerged proving she had slandered Wren and that the incident was something she had orchestrated herself. She was afraid of being prosecuted. On top of that, the Marshall family’s shady business practices from those years were reported, so the whole family fled abroad."

"I sent people to monitor the Marshall family secretly overseas, but they didn’t find anything unusual."

Adrian understood. His fists clenched even tighter, a layer of frost settling over his features.

"In other words, the Marshall family is highly suspicious, but there’s no evidence."

"Correct."

The air in the study seemed to freeze over. Even the warm yellow glow of the wall sconces couldn’t dispel the cold, heavy atmosphere surrounding the father and son.

Adrian’s fingernails dug deep crescents into his palms. His heart churned with immense regret and rage.

He had been blinded by old feelings, personally building a thorny cage around Wren, making her suffer endless grievances in their marriage.

And now, because of him, she had nearly been killed.

Thinking of Wren holding their child and smiling gently during the photoshoot, thinking of her falling asleep the moment she hit the bed, her defenseless sleeping face... the murderous rage in Adrian’s chest threatened to erupt.

Adrian looked up, his dark eyes showing no hesitation, only the grim determination of someone who had burned their bridges.

"If there’s no evidence, we’ll find it, bit by bit. The Marshall family may have wiped their tracks clean and hidden people away, but even the most careful plan can have an oversight."

"As soon as they let their guard down, they’ll expose a flaw. That will be the time to close the net."

Seeing his son’s calm and patient demeanor, Theodore nodded in gratification.

"Dad, have our people overseas continue to watch them. They shouldn’t make any rash moves. Just maintain the current status, let the Marshall family think we’re still running around like headless chickens, that we’ve grown complacent," Adrian said slowly, his thoughts clear and organized.

"Then what’s your plan?" Theodore asked in a low voice.

"Wait." Adrian uttered a single word. The overt malice in his eyes was gone, replaced by a bottomless chill.

"Maya Marshall has hated Wren for so many years. After going to such great lengths to plan this car crash, there’s no way she’ll be content to hide abroad for the rest of her life."

"When she finds out I’m alive and back, when she sees that Wren and I have children and a stable relationship, she won’t be able to contain her jealousy."

"I have amnesia now. I know nothing about the past and have no memory of her whatsoever. This is the perfect cover."

"She will definitely find a way to appear before me again, either to drive a wedge between Wren and me, or to find another opportunity to strike."

"We just have to lie in wait and let her expose herself."

After listening, Theodore slammed his hand on the desk in agreement.

"Good. We’ll do it your way. The entire family will cooperate with you."

Adrian stood up, gave his father a slight nod, and said gravely, "Dad, we have to keep this from Wren. I don’t want her to worry or get hurt again."

"I’m a man, her husband, and the father of our two children. If something happens, I have to be the one to stand in front of them. That’s my responsibility."

Theodore nodded, his eyes filled with approval for his son.

"Adrian, it’s good that you think this way. As a man, protecting your wife and children is exactly what you should do."

The father and son discussed a few more details in low voices, finalizing the comprehensive plan: to monitor in secret, lie low, and wait for Maya Marshall to expose herself. They wouldn’t make a big show of it; everything would be handled from the shadows.

The atmosphere in the study gradually calmed down. The oppressive tension was gone, replaced by a tacit understanding between father and son.

Adrian checked the time. "Dad, it’s getting late. We should both get some rest."

"Alright." Theodore’s tone was gentle. "Be patient with everything. Take it slow, don’t rush."

"Yes, I understand." Adrian nodded, turned, and left the study, heading back to the bedroom.

He gently pushed open the bedroom door. The light from the bedside lamp was soft and hazy.

Wren Sutton was still in the same position as when he had left. Her long hair was spread lazily across the pillow, her features were relaxed, and her breathing was even and deep. She was sound asleep.

Adrian tiptoed to the bedside, leaning over to gaze quietly at her peaceful, sleeping face.

The moment he saw her, the rage in his heart instantly melted into a swell of tenderness and heartache.

He slowly sat down, his fingertips gently stroking his wife’s soft hair.

He sat there quietly for a good while before carefully lifting the covers, sliding in beside her, and wrapping his arms around Wren. His movements were very light, afraid of disturbing her.

"Honey, I won’t let Maya Marshall have another chance to hurt you. I will protect you, protect our children, and protect our home."