Chapter 157

Sophia hardened her heart. "Obviously, Yvonne couldn't think straight and committed suicide!"

Joanna and Yosef were stunned. "Suicide?"

"Yes! Abandoned by her man, and thinking of her deceased mother. Is it so strange?" Sophia sneered, seemingly proud of her excuse.

Yosef, puzzled, started to speak, but Sophia glared fiercely. "Yosef, say she jumped! Otherwise, we all go to jail! My son, none of us will have a good life!"

The mention of their son silenced Yosef. He looked back at the spot where Yvonne had fallen, shaking his head and sighing. He didn't want jail, and he needed the $800 million.

Joanna felt relieved, but still apprehensive. "Mom, will anyone believe us?"

"Why not? I heard Yvonne saw a psychiatrist. We'll insist she was mentally ill. Her mother's suicide makes hers unsurprising!" Sophia snorted.

Joanna was astonished by the ease of the solution. Though still in shock, Sophia's words eased her. "Yes, she committed suicide! We couldn't persuade her..." Joanna rehearsed her part, anticipating questions.

Yosef, dumbfounded, didn't refute. He'd embraced his evil nature when he abandoned Yvonne.

Soon, Dylan arrived. The elevator only reached the sixth floor, so he climbed the stairs. He asked numerous people, but none had seen Yvonne. An ominous premonition settled over him.

He reached the roof, finding Yosef's family. "What did you throw down?" Dylan asked bluntly, his hands clenched. He wondered if they'd claim a dropped phone, but a phone wouldn't make such a splash. His eyes scanned the area, finding nothing suspicious. He questioned if he was overreacting.

Then, Sophia burst into tears. "My poor child, why so stubborn? Why the sea...?"

Chapter 137

Dylan's heart leaped. Yosef, understanding, embraced Sophia, patting her shoulder. "Yvonne wanted to find her mother. It's my fault. I failed as a father."

As they cried, Dylan considered clues. Did Yvonne kill herself because of her mother?

Seeing Dylan silent, Joanna cried. "Yvonne, you silly girl! Was it worth it, for a man?"

Dylan, stiffly, moved toward the spot Joanna indicated. Is that... where she jumped?

Joanna, panicked, glanced at Sophia, who glared, urging her to continue the charade.

More people arrived on the roof. Some questioned Dylan, some knew something had fallen into the sea, some were onlookers, others searched for Yvonne. Among them were Richard and Jamie.

Hearing of Yvonne's fall, they were stunned. They couldn't believe it.

"Impossible!" Jamie shouted, rushing to the railing. His fiery nature contrasted Richard's calm repression. Richard, too, was disbelieving. Mrs. Parker was strong and brave, confident in Pax Oceana's operation. Her work's unfinished. Why end her life now? A mistake? Maybe she's with friends! He called Yvonne. "Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is powered off..."

Richard panicked. Yvonne never turned off her phone. Could it be that...? He ran to the railing, seeing only the endless sea. A fall meant certain death.

Dylan recovered, breathing deeply, then confronted Yosef, grabbing his collar. "Why didn't you stop her? Why did you watch her die?"

He was devastated. He deeply loved Yvonne, never resenting her rejections. Her happiness was his contentment. Her absence was unacceptable. He refused to believe it.

Yosef was terrified. Guilt-ridden and a poor actor, he went blank when Dylan confronted him. He opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Sophia shoved Dylan away, cursing. "We're heartbroken, and you cause trouble? We pleaded with Yvonne, but she wouldn't listen! What could we do?"

"Yvonne wouldn't commit suicide!" Dylan muttered, shaking his head.

Jamie, hearing the commotion, turned, fixing his gaze on the family. He wasn't easily fooled, his face hardening. "Did you push her?" He knew Yvonne's struggles, and her family's turmoil. These aren't her family. They're wolves.

Sophia and Joanna hadn't expected their lies to be so easily exposed. Yosef held his breath, silent.