Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Is It That Serious

Donovan Lawrence’s eyes went wide. He stared at Sue Lawrence, his breathing ragged.

For some reason, he just felt Sue Lawrence was right. Maeve Walsh had vanished after their trip to the harbor, and the suspicion had never left him. He’d always suspected Jason Sterling was behind it, all so he could hoard the supplies for himself—all 1.4 million worth of them!

With her cat-like hearing, she could clearly pick up the sound of footsteps coming from downstairs. She was running out of time.

"Jason Sterling has people watching me, but he doesn’t know I have people watching him too. Cousin, that’s all I can say. Do you really think he’ll take you with him when the apocalypse comes? Don’t be a fool. Wake up. If I hadn’t seen your car pull up from my house, I wouldn’t have even known Jason Sterling had moved here..."

Sue Lawrence heard the footsteps stop outside the study door.

"Cousin, you have an Ability. I believe you can do just fine on your own, without relying on anyone."

Just as she finished speaking, the instant the doorknob began to turn, she ducked back down the plant-filled corridor and into the adjacent sunroom. There, in a dark corner, she activated Gecko Disguise and waited quietly for what would happen next.

When Miles Finch and his companion entered, it was as if nothing had happened. Only Donovan Lawrence was there, sitting on the sofa with a dark, uncertain expression, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Persuasion, Deceptive Marketing, Chain Tricks. Although none of the abilities were high-level, Sue Lawrence had layered all three on him just to be safe. Three C-level effects could stack up to at least a B Level. And that wasn’t even counting the fact that Donovan Lawrence’s Luck Value was currently less than one.

Miles Finch, Adam Zane, Tia Norris, and Mia Keller walked in to see Jason Sterling passed out cold on the sofa, his face ashen.

Tia Norris gasped. "Donovan Lawrence, what happened to Jason?"

Adam Zane and Miles Finch looked worried as well, and the group rushed over to the sofa.

Miles Finch shook Jason Sterling awake. The first thing Jason did upon waking was clutch his neck and leap back a meter, putting a safe distance between them. He glared furiously at Donovan Lawrence and roared, "Donovan Lawrence, are you trying to kill me?! Get the hell out! You’re not welcome on my team anymore!"

Donovan Lawrence? Trying to kill Jason Sterling?

The group snapped their heads around to look at Donovan Lawrence, their eyes accusing him as if he were a murderer.

After all, a raw ring of fingerprints was still clearly visible on Jason Sterling’s neck from where he’d been choked.

Miles Finch was furious. "Donovan Lawrence, how could you do something like this? What did Jason ever do to you?"

Adam Zane added angrily, "Now of all times, we’re fighting amongst ourselves? Can’t we just face the apocalypse together properly?"

"Hah? Properly? Together?"

Donovan Lawrence was seething, a wild madness in his eyes. "Jason Sterling, are *you* the one who wants to face the apocalypse with us ’properly’?"

Jason Sterling’s expression shifted. His neck still throbbed with excruciating pain, and his voice came out hoarse. "What do you mean by that? Donovan Lawrence, if you don’t want to be with us, then get lost!"

Miles Finch and Adam Zane tried to mediate. "Alright, alright, we’re all brothers here! There’s no need for this!"

"Yeah, isn’t there just some kind of misunderstanding between you two?"

"Misunderstanding?"

Donovan Lawrence let out a bitter laugh. He pulled out his phone on the spot and started looking up the number for the harbor authority.

For some reason, Jason Sterling suddenly felt a wave of irritation. He watched Donovan’s every move until he saw him dial an unfamiliar number.

"We’ll find out if it’s a ’misunderstanding’ soon enough!"

Donovan Lawrence looked at Miles Finch and Adam Zane. "Jason Sterling, heaven is always watching. What you’ve done can never be erased!"

Jason Sterling’s face fell. He gritted his teeth. "What the hell do you mean!"

"I’ll ask you one last time, where is Maeve Walsh!"

Donovan Lawrence’s voice suddenly boomed, and the study fell silent. Everyone was startled, because Donovan’s face was contorted with a rage so intense it looked like his eyes would split from their sockets.

Jason Sterling’s lips thinned into a line. He gritted his teeth. "I don’t know what you’re talking about..."

"Fine then. We’ll let the facts do the talking!" Listening to the hold music from his phone, Donovan Lawrence looked coldly at Miles Finch and Adam Zane. "You two listen carefully and see who’s telling lies!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the call connected. A pleasant female voice came through the speaker: "Hello, you’ve reached the N City Port Authority..."

The Port Authority?!

In that instant, all the color drained from Jason Sterling’s face.

"You..."

Before he could get the word out, Donovan Lawrence was already asking with a predatory grin, "Did anyone fall into the sea over there seven days ago?"

"Donovan Lawrence!"

Jason Sterling’s voice rose sharply.

But Donovan Lawrence simply put the call on speaker for everyone to hear.

"And you are?"

"I’m a relative of the deceased. I have a right to know the details of the incident."

There was a pause on the other end. "Yes, a woman by the name of Maeve Walsh fell into the water. Her friends, Jason Sterling and Tiana Lynch, reported it immediately. The coast guard and a search and rescue team searched for a full day and night. Unfortunately, aside from a jacket and one shoe, no trace of Ms. Walsh was found..."

As they listened, it wasn’t just Donovan Lawrence; the color drained from Miles Finch’s and Adam Zane’s faces as well. Tia Norris and Mia Keller turned to stare at Jason Sterling, their expressions turning grim.

Now, all eyes were on Jason Sterling. Their gazes were filled not only with suspicion, but also with a profound fear.

CLICK...

The moment the call ended, Donovan Lawrence shot to his feet. His shadow fell over Jason Sterling, oppressive and suffocating.

The voices of Miles Finch and the others were tinged with despair as their world began to crumble.

"Maeve Walsh fell in? Why would she just jump into the ocean out of nowhere?"

"So... is her spatial ability gone?"

"Did she really ’fall’?"

"If she fell, why didn’t Jason say anything?"

Once the seed of suspicion is planted, it immediately takes root and sprouts!

Watching all of this unfold, Sue Lawrence was practically bursting with glee. She then saw Donovan Lawrence demand with a venomous glare, "Jason Sterling, I’ll ask you one last time. Where is Maeve Walsh! And where are our supplies!"

At that, nearly everyone turned to stare at Jason Sterling.

Jason Sterling had no way to defend himself.

’Why would Maeve Walsh suddenly jump into the sea?’

’It’s incomprehensible. Jason Sterling must have done something to make her jump, right?’

’After all, no one else was there but them!’

Feeling the weight of their suspicious and resentful glares, Jason Sterling felt like he was going to lose his mind. ’Are they all crazy? Why are they questioning me?’

"Maeve Walsh really did jump on her own..."

Mia Keller spoke up at once, afraid she wouldn’t get another chance. "I want out. Give me my hundred thousand. I’m going to buy my own supplies. I’ll face the apocalypse by myself, I’m not sticking with you people anymore!"

Jason Sterling snarled through gritted teeth, "Mia Keller, are you insane? Who are you going to follow if not me? A single woman like you will be the first to die in the apocalypse!"

But Mia Keller paid him no mind and continued to back away. After all, she had come here today intending to quit anyway.