Chapter 717: Chapter 717: Childhood Sweethearts Can’t Compare to Her Glance
"At the time, none of us were suspicious, and I certainly didn’t think twice, until... we heard a scream from upstairs, ah!"
"The scream startled us, and we quickly went upstairs, arriving at... my room. I was the first to push open the door, and I saw... a scene I will never forget in my life: Isabelle Willow and Clyde Gardner were rolling on my bed, their clothes half undone, in complete disarray."
"Afterwards... I can’t remember what happened next, because my mind exploded with a loud boom. I remember running out quickly, and in my daze, I missed a step on the stairs and tumbled down. My baby... was gone!"
Tears fell from Iris Crawford’s eyes in large drops, and she broke down, unable to speak further.
Serena Sterling quickly reached out and hugged Iris Crawford’s trembling shoulders, gently patting her, "Iris Principal, it’s all in the past."
"No..." Iris Crawford shook her head, "It won’t be over... I still have nightmares every night. I lie on a cold operating table, and my baby... is ripped out of my belly... My baby’s body stiffened, turning black and cold..."
Serena Sterling felt deep heartache for Iris Crawford; the loss of a child is a pain that no mother can bear. Any comforting words now seemed pale. She could only pat Iris Crawford’s back, silently accompanying her, giving her strength.
Iris Crawford cried until she was exhausted, and her emotions slowly calmed down. She looked up at Serena Sterling, "Serena, so I will never forgive Isabelle Willow in my life, and you should stay away from her. She’s not a good person at all!"
Serena Sterling’s eyes were bright and clear, "Iris Principal, what happened back then was very strange, wasn’t it? If Aunt Willow wanted to have an affair with Clyde Gardner, why choose the time and place at the Crawford family’s mansion during your birthday party? Isn’t that like gathering everyone and deliberately letting them catch her in the act?"
"Hmph! That’s because my brother kept Isabelle Willow locked in Jill’s room. She had no chance of an affair, and my birthday just happened to give her the opportunity."
"Alright, even if this makes sense, there’s another possibility that Aunt Willow was framed by someone."
Iris Crawford sneered, "Serena, do you think we didn’t investigate? At that time, we pulled the surveillance footage from the Crawford family mansion. After dinner, Isabelle Willow sought out Clyde Gardner and invited him into a room for a chat. Then Isabelle Willow entered the room first. Clyde Gardner couldn’t resist the temptation and followed her in. They ignited instantly and rolled into a heap. These were things Clyde Gardner himself confirmed, along with the surveillance. We have both witnesses and evidence. Serena, do you still want to say that Isabelle Willow was framed?"
Serena Sterling quickly furrowed her brows. Indeed, the Crawford family was full of exceptional people. When such a big thing happened, the Crawford matriarch, the sharp housekeeper Jude Crawford, would definitely have investigated right away.
With surveillance footage and Clyde Gardner’s testimony, these two solid pieces of evidence made it difficult for Aunt Willow to clear her name.
The matter was far trickier than she had initially thought.
Saying more now would only upset Iris Crawford, so Serena Sterling changed the subject, "Iris Principal, what kind of feelings did your ex-husband Clyde Gardner actually have for Aunt Willow?"
"Ha," Iris Crawford laughed, full of desolation, "Later... I opened his locked drawer, and it was full of portraits of Isabelle Willow. Back then, on that top jewelry catwalk show, it wasn’t just me who was dazzled by Isabelle Willow’s design, it was him too."
"Our years of emotions ultimately couldn’t compare to a single glance from Isabelle Willow. He transferred his affections and fell in love with Isabelle Willow."
"When I lost the baby, I was in utter despair and filed for divorce from him. He was too ashamed and signed the divorce papers, then left the City of Aethelgard. He has been gone for decades, and I have never seen him again. Of course, I don’t want to see him either."
Serena Sterling quickly revisited the entire incident in her mind, not missing any clues. Right now, her priority was still to find Clyde Gardner.
"Iris Principal, if you trust me, let me investigate this matter."
"Serena, after I’ve told you all this, do you still think Isabelle Willow is a good person? She..."
Serena Sterling held Iris Crawford’s icy hand, "Iris Principal, if Aunt Willow is not a good person, then let me take this opportunity to uncover her true face. Is that not better?"
Iris Crawford was stunned.
Serena Sterling continued, her clear voice resonant and forceful, "If Aunt Willow is indeed a good person, that suggests there was something else going on back then. Iris Principal, do you want your baby to die in vain? Don’t you want to find out who the real culprit was?"
Iris Crawford was dazed and, after a long time, showed deep fatigue, as if all the energy had drained from her body, "Alright, I’ll listen to Serena."
Serena Sterling tightened her grip on Iris Crawford’s hand. She always felt that there was a big hand behind the events of that year, pushing everything forward.
Since then, many things had happened between Jude Crawford and Aunt Willow. It seemed like these events were all connected, as if long ago, when no one noticed, someone had extended their hand into the Crawford family.
Or, perhaps, there has always been a pair of eyes watching over the Crawford family in the darkness.
Who is the mysterious mastermind, and what is their real purpose?
Serena Sterling felt surrounded by mysteries for a moment, as if she sensed something but couldn’t grasp it.
In Serena Sterling’s bright and clear eyes, sharp fragments of light slowly emerged, shining brilliantly. She never feared difficulty or danger; all mysteries would be unraveled, and everyone in the Crawford family would be freed from this suffering.
She could do it.
"Iris Principal, you look very tired. Let me drive you home to rest. From today, I’ll visit you every day. Share with me the people you meet and any happy things with me."
Serena Sterling suspected that the mysterious mastermind had opened a gap through Iris Crawford, with everything starting from Iris Crawford, so she suspected that the mysterious mastermind would still target Iris Crawford.
Iris Crawford nodded, "Okay, Serena, having you to talk with is the best. By the way, Serena, I have something to tell you!"
Iris Crawford suddenly spoke with seriousness.
Serena Sterling curled her lips, "Iris Principal, go ahead. I’m listening."
"It’s about Hayden Crawford, Serena, you need to be mentally prepared."
Seeing Iris Crawford’s serious expression, Serena Sterling also put away her smile, "Iris Principal, what happened to Mr. Crawford? Did something happen to him?"