Chapter 729: Chapter 729: All These Years, He Couldn’t Forget Her
When it comes to deception, it’s always the Crawford family deceiving others.
Turns out, Iris Crawford knew everything!
But she didn’t reveal it.
"Iris, you..." Zelda Willow looked at Iris fearfully. If Iris Crawford told Jude Crawford about this, she and the entire Willow family would be doomed, utterly destroyed.
"Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I haven’t told my brother about this before, and I won’t tell him in the future, because Isabelle Willow doesn’t deserve it, she doesn’t deserve my brother’s love!"
"However, for so many years I’ve turned a blind eye to you mostly because of Zane. I really like Zane, this nephew of mine. This is your greatest contribution to the Crawford family. Even if it’s for Zane’s sake, I’ll protect you and your maiden family, as long as you keep quiet and don’t cause trouble."
Iris truly valued her nephew, Zane Crawford. Zane was never close to Zelda Willow, and Jude Crawford was indifferent to Zane because Zelda wasn’t favored. So, Zane was only close to his aunt.
During a long period when Iris was trapped in grief, it was Zane who stayed by her side.
Iris remembered one time when she had a nightmare about her deceased son. She woke up drenched in cold sweat in the dark, alone, and the overwhelming grief and pain made her break down. She sat on the bed, hugging herself, and wept.
That was when the door creaked open, and little Zane ran over barefoot, climbed onto her bed, hugged her with his small arms, and gently patted her back, saying in his childish voice, "Auntie, why are you crying? Is Auntie hurt? Zane will blow it away so it won’t hurt..."
Little Zane’s gentle pats comforted her, providing warmth and companionship in that cold night.
After that, Iris took Zane with her wherever she went.
In fact, Iris realized what kind of person Zelda Willow was when she overheard her conversation with her daughter in the hospital that day. Compared to the brilliant and stunning Isabelle Willow, Zelda didn’t even qualify to be a mere backdrop.
Isabelle’s son, Hayden Crawford, was extraordinarily intelligent from a young age, resembling Jude Crawford the most and perfectly inheriting the Crawford family’s business acumen.
Initially, Iris didn’t think highly of Zane because he was Zelda’s son, but Zane surprised her.
Zane’s IQ was close to Hayden’s. He was never interested in business, having a talent for medicine. At eighteen, he became renowned across Aethelgard, becoming the city’s top-gold surgeon, exceptionally brilliant.
Since Iris couldn’t have children, she regarded Zane as her own son and was immensely proud of him.
Zane’s personality was peculiar as well. He didn’t resemble his father, Jude Crawford, or his mother, Zelda, but rather Isabelle Willow, sharing her aloof yet graceful demeanor.
Over the years, Iris knew about the affairs between Isabelle Willow and Chase Sullivan, but she never spoke about them. She deeply hated Isabelle.
Zelda Willow was cold all over, shocked as she realized Iris never truly respected her. Instead, Iris was the first to see through her true nature.
Zelda gradually calmed down, thinking about her son, Zane Crawford. Three years ago, Serena Sterling risked her life to send Zane away from Aethelgard, a place full of trouble. Today’s Zane is a top-tier golden hand surgeon globally, officially taking over the Academy of Sciences. At 27, he amazed the medical world as Professor Doctor Crawford.
Zelda straightened her back, knowing her son was her greatest support, with Zane by her side, she never had to fear.
Now that Iris knows, it’s fine. Zelda knew Iris and Zane’s relationship well, so she wasn’t worried at all.
"Iris, I only want to say that everything I do is for Jude. I truly love Jude, but now that Isabelle is back, we must find a way to stop her. Iris, we share the same goal." Zelda returned to the main point, still trying to make Iris her tool.
Iris furrowed her brows but said nothing.
Zelda grew more puzzled, "Iris, what’s the matter with you? Don’t you hate Isabelle anymore?"
Iris’s hatred for Isabelle was deep-seated. She had once driven to confront Jude, causing a scene, but within just two days, her attitude had drastically changed.
Zelda believed something must have happened to cause such a huge change in Iris.
At that moment, Iris silently paused and then slowly spoke, "I’ve promised Serena to give her some time."
Serena?
Serena Sterling?
Hearing "Serena Sterling" made Zelda freeze. Serena, Serena has resurfaced.
No wonder Iris had such a massive change within two days—all because of Serena!
Zelda had previously clashed with Serena, aware of her terrifying nature. Serena was a cunning and persuasive girl, whom Iris adored.
Unexpectedly, Serena was already involved in the Crawford family’s matters!
Zelda thoroughly disliked Serena, even if Serena had saved Zane’s life three years ago.
Zane is now 27, and with his outstanding charm, many noble ladies and wealthy heiresses desired him, aspired to marry him. Yet, Zane had no companions — not even a romantic relationship.
She knew, Iris knew too, the entire Crawford family knew, over the years, Zane has never forgotten about Serena.
"Iris, what did Serena say to you?"
"Serena mentioned how the matters of the past were suspicious, she would help me uncover the truth, but I needed to give her time." Speaking thus, Iris gazed out at the dense darkness outside the floor-length window, murmuring, "In the past couple of days, I’ve realized, Isabelle loved my brother, so why did she... why roll into bed with Dylan Gardner? It’s all so contradictory..."
Recalling those painful past events, Iris quickly closed her eyes, "But what I saw with my own eyes couldn’t be wrong, I lost my child too..."
Iris felt a headache, her head splitting with pain, and she used her hands to clutch her aching head sorrowfully.
Zelda was utterly terrified, everything that happened tonight was unexpected, as if events were straying away from their predetermined path toward the truth, even Iris, the person involved, was starting to question it.