It was, indeed, a thorough investigation because even Ste''s family records were here. There were many discrepancies in these records like how Ste''s brother got kicked out of school; he used to be a smart and diligent student, but suddenly, had a record of bullying that got him kicked out. The terrible records made it hard for him to get into another decent school or get a proper job.


    After reading more and more, Conrad soon got a grasp of how things went down before he reached the birth records of Ste''s son. Apparently, Ste birthed Maxen in a very secluded province. Because Ste was all alone and the town she moved in was conservative, many assumed she was not a decent woman.


    A woman was raising a son who didn''t know who his father was. Even though Ste had kind neighbors, there were still some who would talk about her because they had nothing else to do. In the long run, Ste was branded as a whore because of her strange schedule at night.


    Little did everyone know, Ste was simply working multiple odd jobs all in an attempt to raise her son to live infort. Ste didn''t seem she got affected by what other people called her or look at her until Conrad reached the other page.


    On the next page, it was Ste''s medical records. It shows there that because her illness was left untreated, her condition simply worsened as the tumor in her head augmented. She was beyond savable and only needed to count months before her death. Thus, Ste moved close to her brother so someone could take care of her son.


    Despite that Ste was ill, she still worked tirelessly for her son''s future and also to support her miserable brother. Ste worked until she died, and all her efforts were for naught because her brother maltreated her son. ''


    The reports that returned to Conrad only stated, "unkindly" treatment, but he could already imagine what sort of abuse Maxen went through at the hands of his uncle. This alone was enough to touch a part of Conrad that no one else could -- even though this was already a part of the past. It was the reason Maxen left home at such a tender age.


    Without any ce to go to and someone to support him, Maxen had to be smart so he wouldn''t live in the street. Maxen got his mother''s grit and worked multiple part-times, got himself a small space, and lived on his own.


    Maxen''s uncle didn''t even search for Maxen. It was as if nothing happened. This only showed how much Ste''s brother loathed his sister that passed on to Ste''s son.


    "It all started when Ste''s parents died..." Conrad trailed off, skimming the documents Warren handed him. "... no. It all started when Maynard chose Ste over his family."


    Conrad''s eyes narrowed, checking the dates. He didn''t know whether he should thank Warren or scold him. After all, Conrad only asked what sort of DNA Asher did, but Warren returned with more than just that.


    Now, Conrad couldn''t unread these documents nor could he stop from reading more. A part of him wanted to know to understand Ro and Maynard; his dearest friend who were like brothers to him but ended up hating each other.


    "One thing that connects these all events were..." Conrad gazed at the names that kept appearing on every page or every other page. One was Maynard and the second was Maynard''s wife or her family name.


    "Ahh..." he rocked his head, having a good grasp and picture in his head.


    Considering what sort of family the Quinn Family was, it wouldn''t be surprising if they had involvement in Ste''s miserable life. The Quinn Family was strict and traditional. Marriage was a big deal for them, especially the heir''s marriage. There was no way they would allow someone like Ste, who came from nothing, to marry into their family.


    No wonder Maynard suddenly got married even though he was in a long-term rtionship with someone else.


    "How... messed up, Maynard," Conrad whispered to himself, flipping the pages as he read more and more. This time, it was a brief report regarding a troubled marriage between Maynard and histe wife.<novelnext></novelnext>


    In the eyes of the public, Maynard and his wife had a good and picture-perfect rtionship. However, behind closed doors, Maynard never loved his wife. And a jealous wife could only push the me onto her husband''s previous lover.


    It wasn''t detailed how troubled their marriage was since Conrad could already guess. He already guessed the reason Maynard just couldn''t seem to love the woman he married for she was greedy and cunning. And he already guessed why Maynard''s wife wouldn''t stop messing with Ste because her husband kept hiring people to look for her through the years and she kept interfering.


    It was messy... until Ro "killed" Maynard''s wife that sent him back to prison. Ro''s intention wasn''t recorded, but it seemed Ro had involvement in Maynard''s wife''s death. Conrad was convinced Maynard wasn''t innocent as well. The only person who could answer that was Maynard and Ro since they were there that night.


    After the thorough information regarding Ste, Ro, and Maynard and how their lives spiraled down, Conrad''s hand and body trembled when he flipped to the next page.


    It was a DNA result of Asher Quinn and Maynard.


    "They weren''t..." Conrad trailed off as he held his breath, making sure he was reading the correct information. Maynard and Asher, the son he had so abruptly and also the reason he got tied with his wife in a marriage weren''t father and son!


    But the surprise didn''t stop there.


    The next page was another DNA result. This time, it was Asher and his deceased uncle -- Maynard''s cousin -- who died in a crash a very long time ago. Seeing the 99.999% that Asher and this man matched, Conrad''s chest swelled with mixed emotions.


    Did Maynard''s wife... fool her husband to force him into marriage?


    Conrad''s hand trembled as he turned to the next page. It was another DNA result, but this time, Maxen''s name was on it. The other name on it was Maynard.


    "What...?" Conrad dropped the documents on the desk; he already had a guess, but having a confirmation still took him by surprise. "Maxen...?"


    Just then, all the memories Conrad had with Maxen reyed in his head, and only then did he realize one thought he had before. When Conrad ''figured out'' Maxen was Roco''s son, Conrad remembered telling himself he didn''t resemble Ro. He didn''t dwell on it though.


    But now that he thought about it, Maxen''s face was a mix of Ste and Maynard. Maxen''s slight resemnce with Luke made all the hairs in Conrad''s body raise.


    "No..." whispered Conrad, holding his temple. "... just how messed up did things turn?" -- this truth was something Conrad was unsure whether to keep to his grave or let all out. After all, this would make a huge problem in the Quinn family, particrly for Maynard, that would eventually affect Maxen.


    With all theseid on the table, Conrad didn''t know what to do.


    What should he do with this knowledge in his head? Right now, Conrad had no idea.