Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Wading into Muddy Waters

There was no way Jason Sterling could know that she was the one who killed Maeve Walsh. He was just spewing nonsense to make her the scapegoat—even though he hadn’t actually accused the wrong person.

But still...

Through a gap in the leaves of a dieffenbachia, Sue Lawrence stared coldly at Donovan Lawrence.

’I thought sending him to the police station would buy me some peace and quiet. But who would’ve thought he’d get out again? Oh, cousin, dear cousin, if you want to hate someone, go hate the person who paid to get you out.’

Mia Keller was completely baffled. "Reincarnator or not, what are you all talking about?"

"Shut up, you stupid woman. This is none of your damn business. A woman’s place is to quietly cook, wash clothes, and serve men. Why do you have to stick your nose in everything, huh?"

Donovan Lawrence spat viciously, clearly having no regard for Mia Keller. At the same time, the color also drained from Tia Norris’s face. She lowered her head, her expression grim, and fell silent.

"Alright, you and Tia Norris go downstairs and prepare some snacks and drinks. I want orange juice, Jason wants an iced Americano, Adam Zane wants pear soup, and Miles Finch wants mango sago. Make sure everything is made fresh—the coffee freshly ground, and the pastries hot and straight from the oven."

Donovan Lawrence wore an arrogant, commanding expression. This was how things had always been in his past life, after all. The only difference was that back then, the one he’d ordered around was Sue Lawrence, and that woman had always been obedient, working hard without a single complaint.

But now? He was down one Sue Lawrence but up one Mia Keller and one Tia Norris. Going from being served by one woman to two... now this was the life!

A nasty smile spread across Donovan Lawrence’s face.

Mia Keller wanted to say something more, but Tia Norris pulled her away. Once they were out the door, Tia Norris said, "Alright, just shut up and do as you’re told. My dad says the same thing. What else can women do? Serve tea, fetch water, and have babies. That’s it."

Mia Keller was shocked. "No, I came here to..."

"Shut up and hurry up. We have a lot to make, and it’s not going to get done in a flash."

Tia Norris dragged her away, and so the words Mia Keller wanted to say—’I’m actually here to quit’—remained unspoken.

’Oh well, I’ll say it when I get back. It’s better to say it to Jason Sterling’s face anyway.’

The two of them entered the kitchen.

Sue Lawrence activated her [Cat’s Hearing] Skill. Once she confirmed the two women weren’t saying anything important, she turned her full attention to the four men in the room.

Among them, only Jason Sterling and Donovan Lawrence were Reincarnators; Miles Finch and Adam Zane were not.

With the women gone, Miles Finch immediately asked, "What do you mean? What’s a Reincarnator?"

Donovan Lawrence snorted coldly. "It means we lived through the apocalypse in our past lives but died to zombies. In this life, we’ve come back to start over. Miles Finch, you remember this: stick with us, and you’ll eat well!"

Miles Finch looked shocked, but he quickly calmed down. Maeve Walsh had a Space Ability and Tia Norris had an Ice Control Skill—was anything truly impossible anymore?

"Then... then what did you mean about Sue Lawrence being a Reincarnator too?"

The study fell silent once more.

Donovan Lawrence looked at Jason Sterling. The man’s brows were tightly knitted, and for once, his eyes showed a rare hesitation.

’Tiana Lynch said that ever since the meeting at City Hall, Jason Sterling seems to be obsessed with Sue Lawrence again.’

"It means..." Donovan Lawrence’s expression suddenly turned savage. "In our past life, Sue Lawrence tripped us up and framed all of us. This life, she might do the same. If she killed Maeve Walsh, then the next one could be any one of us."

At these words, the expressions on both Miles Finch’s and Adam Zane’s faces turned grim.

Miles Finch couldn’t help but mutter to himself, "Is it because of that child? But she was the one who betrayed Jason first. Wasn’t that child the proof of her affair?"

Donovan Lawrence crossed his legs. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Haven’t you heard that one?"

Jason Sterling even nodded in agreement. "That’s why it’s even more important for us to trust each other completely, with no rifts between us. I really don’t know what happened with Maeve Walsh. I was framed. Don’t fall for someone else’s trap!"

’Fall for someone else’s trap? He means my trap, doesn’t he?’

Sue Lawrence, eavesdropping from the side, was stunned. ’Are they using me as a cautionary tale to teach their own people a lesson in unity and camaraderie?’

’Hah. Buddy, you’re overthinking things.’

’There’s no way you lot could ever truly be united.’

Miles Finch and Adam Zane looked at each other, suddenly at a loss.

But it seemed that besides following Jason Sterling and listening to him, there was no one else they could trust.

Especially Sue Lawrence. They wouldn’t believe her if their lives depended on it.

"AHH!"

Tia Norris’s scream came from downstairs. The four men snapped their heads around tensely. Donovan Lawrence jerked his chin. "You two, go downstairs and check it out. I have something to say to Jason."

"Alright."

Miles Finch and Adam Zane turned and went downstairs. Once the sounds of their footsteps faded, Donovan Lawrence suddenly leaped up, viciously grabbed Jason Sterling by the throat, and gritted his teeth. "You can fool the others, but you think you can fool me? I’m a Reincarnator too! Sue Lawrence isn’t a Reincarnator at all, and she had nothing to do with Maeve Walsh’s disappearance! Jason Sterling, you better explain yourself! Where’s Maeve Walsh? Where’s her space? Where are the supplies that were in it? If you dare double-cross me, I’ll strangle you right now!"

"Ghk! Don... Donovan Lawrence!"

Jason Sterling was stunned. With his throat grabbed, his face turned beet red. He couldn’t breathe and was on the verge of being strangled to death.

"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about! Let go!"

"Talk! If you push me, I’ll do anything! I even robbed my own third uncle’s family! You really think I’m scared of you? Talk! Where’s Maeve Walsh!"

"I..."

Jason Sterling couldn’t get any air. His vision swam, and he quickly passed out.

Donovan Lawrence gasped for breath. He leaned down to feel for breath from Jason’s nose. Still breathing. Not dead. ’Right, he can’t die,’ he thought. ’How am I supposed to find out where Maeve Walsh is if he’s dead?’

He slumped onto the sofa, utterly spent, only to suddenly find himself staring into a pair of chillingly familiar, cold eyes.

"!! Gmph!!!"

Sue Lawrence leaped to Donovan Lawrence’s side and clamped her hand tightly over his mouth.

"You... mmmph!"

’Sue Lawrence!’

’How could she be here? How could she be here!!’

Terror made Donovan Lawrence’s eyes go wide. He was on the verge of a breakdown. It was only natural; the person he was just thinking about killing had appeared right in his face the very next second. Anyone would be scared out of their mind!

Sue Lawrence gave him a slight smile, activating two Skills in quick succession.

[C Level Fraud Marketing], [C Persuasion Technique]. Of course, her [D Level Chain Tricks] was still in effect.

"Donovan Lawrence, you’re my dear cousin. Your dad is my dad’s older brother. I don’t want to see you get scammed, and I don’t want to see my uncle heartbroken."

She stared into Donovan Lawrence’s eyes, noticing that his focus was now entirely on her, just as she’d expected. She continued her gentle persuasion.

"Jason Sterling lied to you. He’s the one who killed Maeve Walsh. If you don’t believe me, you can call the port. Ask them if the coast guard was dispatched seven days ago to recover the body of a drowning victim named Maeve Walsh."

She spoke quickly, then paused abruptly, pressing her lips together. "And what’s more, they never recovered a body. Maeve Walsh... she’s vanished without a trace, dead or alive!"