He vividly recalled being by his mother’s side when she fell ill.


    It was cancer, a tangible ailment that contradicted any notion of madness.


    Furthermore, his mother had been aware of Valerie and her mother’s existence since Valerie’s birth.


    She understood her husband well enough to know that he was phndering and she couldn’t control him in any way.


    Moreover, his mother, driven by a strong career focus, prioritized avoiding theplications of divorce and property division.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Consequently, she chose to turn a blind eye to his father’s affairs, feigning ignorance to maintain stability.


    And Valerie, still a child at the time, couldn’t have orchestrated such a scheme.


    After much contemtion, Graham reached a troubling conclusion.


    With deliberate intent, Valerie exploited his mother’s death as a pretext to lure Lucinda into the vi, attempting to perish alongside her.


    Even after the failed attempt, she resorted to gunfire, fully aware that it wouldn’t seed in killing Lucinda and that her true motives would inevitablye to light.


    Was her aim to repay his kindness and help mend the strained rtionship between him and Lucinda?


    Or was her actions driven by guilt over his mistreatment by Lucinda just a few days prior?


    Perhaps the only way to uncover the truth was to confront Valerie face-to-face.


    However, Lucinda was adamant about preventing private meetings between him and Valerie.


    If she discovered Graham’s intentions, it could lead to further misunderstandings between them.


    Graham hesitated, pondering whether he should disclose the truth to Lucinda or not.


    As anxiety gripped him, Violeta entered the room and settled beside him.


    “Did something happen between you and Lucinda? She seemed upset when she left,” she inquired.


    Graham shook his head, grappling with the dryness in his throat as he struggled to speak.


    “I simply wanted to inquire about what Valerie had said to her on the ind.


    Moreover, I wished to share something left by our mother with her.


    However, she misconstrued my intentions, believing I intended to intercede for Valerie, and thus, she became upset.


    ”


    “What?” Violeta’s eyes widened in disbelief.


    “Why not rify things with her? Lucinda is sensitive to the fact that you’ve assisted Valerie in the past.


    Since you didn’t exin things to her, the misunderstanding between the two of you will only deepen.


    ”


    A cough escaped Graham’s throat, and a pallor swept over his face.


    It wasn’t reluctance that held him back but the irreversibility of Lucinda’s conviction.


    He had no opportunity to exin, not after Lucinda had shown him Valerie’s damning confession.


    Violeta sighed heavily, her words tinged with empathy.


    “Building a rapport with Lucinda hasn’t been easy for you.


    She seemed willing to forgive after you took a bullet for her that day.


    But now, it feels like all that effort has been in vain again.


    ”


    After a brief pause, Graham silently passed the statements provided by Valerie to Violeta.


    “Valerie imed that she was responsible for my mother’s death and deliberately provoked Lucinda.


    However, I am convinced that Valerie never had the opportunity to harm Lucinda.


    The final gunshot on the ind was meant to help me.


    ”


    His words tumbling out, Graham broke into another fit of cough before managing to continue, “Darling, do you think I should tell Lucinda the truth?”


    Violeta weighed the situation with a serious demeanor.


    “Lucinda’s feelings toward you are strained.


    If you defend Valerie, she may not believe you’re being truthful.


    Instead, she might perceive it as a deliberate attempt to aid Valerie.


    She could even suspect collusion between you two on the ind, casting doubt on the authenticity of the gunshot you received.


    ”