Chapter 423

Alexander wasn't home when Lily arrived. She washed up, changed into her home clothes, and made a cup of hot cocoa before sitting down to open the folder Justin had given her. He'd said it contained information she might need, but she hadn't asked him to investigate anything, so she was unsure what it was about. After removing the papers, Lily glanced at them and saw Nathaniel's name. "It's about him?" she murmured.

A quick scan revealed the documents were the results of an investigation into Nathaniel's background, focusing primarily on his relationship with his mother. The document detailed information about Eloise: her identity, current status, and even the fact that she'd introduced Frank to Nathaniel. The last page contained the most crucial information: Nathaniel and his mother's DNA test results.

This astonished Lily. She knew nothing about Nathaniel's family despite their years together. She'd always believed he was an orphan, admiring his hard work ethic despite his difficult life. He'd been hiding a significant part of himself from her.

Eloise's name was vaguely familiar, but Lily couldn't place her. The papers revealed Eloise was a well-known actress, a former best actress award winner, who'd left the industry to marry the second son of the Tanner family. No one knew she had a son.

The revelation would be a massive scandal. Justin's warning had been an understatement; this information might not destroy Nathaniel, but it could ruin his mother.

The Tanner family of Ruby City was old money, primarily involved in business. Their wealth was built by several previous generations. The family was large and their relationships complex. Eloise's husband, the second son, held less influence than the eldest. Eloise had borne him only a daughter. He'd later had an affair, resulting in a son. While he likely respected his wife, their relationship lacked genuine affection. Eloise's long-standing connections and business acumen were mutually beneficial to their marriage. However, if he discovered her previous son and their continued secret contact, the consequences would be severe.

Holding the papers, Lily pondered the situation. The information, contained within a few seemingly innocuous pages, was highly confidential. Nathaniel had never mentioned any of this during their relationship, and Lily was certain no one else knew. Such a secret was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary private investigator, but easily obtained by the powerful Lodge family. Lily was confused. "I didn't ask Justin to help me. Why did he do this?"

After considering her options, Lily decided to keep the papers. Possession didn't necessitate immediate action. She placed the folder on a back bookshelf, then tidied up. She saw the two wooden figurines, still charming. Their presence made her feel embarrassed.

Lily had originally planned to commission the shop to carve something meaningful for her grandfather's birthday, but the young craftsman had quit, leaving her without the desired carvings and access to the specific type of wood. He'd seemingly vanished, untraceable. Lily had visited the woodcraft shop twice to inquire about him, but the owner knew nothing.

The small roadside shop simply posted job openings when needed; they hired suitable applicants without extensive background checks.