Chapter 201

I decided to take the plunge—entering the last three digits of their birthdays. It felt too obvious, but Matthew and Lindey always seemed to favor Jace slightly more, so I started with his numbers, then Wayne's. As I typed the last digit, my heart pounded like a drum. I couldn't hear anything over the frantic beat in my chest. Edward was only ten meters away; I dared not look at him, my gaze fixed on the screen, praying it would work.

Suddenly, the "Private" label illuminated. The password had worked. The destination appeared: Serenity Retreat. I knew that place—one of the three wellness centers I'd researched. After all that effort, I finally had the answer—those two crucial words.

I quickly reached to close the navigation history just as Edward opened the door. His eyes darted to my hand, then to the screen. My hand trembled; sweat trickled down my back.

"Rea, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice tight with suspicion.

I swallowed hard, forcing calmness. "Uh, I was just trying to put on some music. I don't really know how this system works," I said, affecting a casual tone.

Edward narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. It made no sense. I'd just told him I felt sick—who listens to music in pain? My lie was ridiculous, but I had no choice but to continue.

"I was feeling really bad, so I texted a doctor friend," I blurted, striving for believability. "She suggested calming music to relax. She also mentioned acute gastritis or even appendicitis and suggested I get checked out at a hospital."

The more I talked, the more fraudulent I felt. When had I become so adept at lying? But I needed to uncover the truth behind my dad's death. I had to know if it was truly an accident.

"Oh, I see." Edward handed me the medication he'd bought. "Let's get you to the hospital, then. Don't worry about the music; I'll find something for you."

"Thanks, Edward," I muttered, taking the pills. My heart still pounded, but I tore open the pack and swallowed one, despite lacking water. Swallowing medication without water was unwise, but it was just an antacid. It wouldn't kill me.

"Here, drink some water," Edward said, pouring from his thermos and handing me a cup. "Why would you take medicine without water?"

I took the cup and gulped it down quickly. The pill left a bitter taste, making me wince.

"You really are in pain. You're sweating profusely. Going to the hospital is the right decision," Edward said, glancing at me as he started the car.

It wasn't until we reached the hospital that my racing heart finally slowed. Edward insisted on accompanying me inside, unwilling to leave me alone. I had no choice but to let him come with me to the emergency room. While we waited, I quickly texted Lena, asking for help.

Luckily, Lena wasn't in surgery and arrived quickly. She helped me convince Edward I was fine and that he didn't need to stay.

"Edward, I'm okay. Please don't mention this to Matthew or Lindey. I don't want them to worry," I said as he prepared to leave.

He nodded, but I knew he'd likely tell them anyway. Once Edward was gone, Lena gave me a knowing look. "Alright, spill it. What's going on?"

There was no point in lying, so I told her everything. As I spoke, her expression grew increasingly serious. "Rea, are you sure you want to go down this road? You might want to reconsider."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, confused.

She paused. Then it hit me. "Are you worried this could lead back to Matthew?"

Lena didn't deny it, and my stomach plummeted. If my dad's death was connected to Thorsten Drago, and Thorsten was one of RiverwaveCorp's biggest clients… was Matthew involved? My mind raced. A cold dread enveloped me, and suddenly, I couldn't think straight.