Chapter 1280

Ned narrowed his eyes, his gaze penetrating. Rosa felt a surge of anxiety under his scrutiny. She instantly regretted her earlier assertiveness. After waiting over three years, perhaps she should have been more patient. Soon, they would return to Murida for their wedding. On their wedding day, Ned wouldn't be able to resist her. And afterward, when she became pregnant, she wouldn't have anything to worry about.

She blamed Skylar for the hospital questioning; it had completely thrown her off balance. "I'm feeling tired after the hospital," Rosa said quickly, escaping further conversation. "I'm going to sleep. Don't overthink things, and get some rest too. We have a flight at 10:00 a.m." She slipped away, leaving Ned with a brief hum of acknowledgment before he closed the door.

He didn't go to bed. Instead, he went to the window, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one. A memory flickered in his mind. He fell silent, the cigarette burning between his fingers. Skylar's influence had been unexpectedly profound, unsettling his thoughts. After a few minutes, he stubbed out the cigarette and went to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Rosa lay in bed, actively researching Joe for the first time. Previously, she might have resisted, even after arriving in Jipsburg and noticing his resemblance to Ned. But now, she needed to know more. The online reports were all over three years old, yet he felt mythical—well-born and a powerful force in the business world, commanding both respect and fear. Aside from his childhood sweetheart, Vera, and his fiancée, Lizzie, he seemed to have no other significant female relationships.

Like her previous investigation into Skylar's background, only a few photos linked Skylar and Joe, sparking vague speculation without concrete evidence. The articles' descriptions of Joe played out in her mind like a vivid movie, overlapping with her memories of Ned. Ned, in the past, had lacked his current ability and determination.

Rosa suddenly threw down her phone. Her heart pounded. Tonight promised another sleepless night.

Meanwhile, at the Parkinson Residence, Aiken reviewed emails in his study. He'd received updates on his investigation into Ned; several of his people were in Murida. Thorough investigation would take time, but he was confident they would uncover significant details. Ned had been in a car accident over three years ago, spending a month in the hospital before a complete recovery. Before the accident, he'd been nearsighted and worn glasses, but now he didn't—and there was no record of eye surgery or a switch to contact lenses. Before the accident, he'd worked at a company with very average capabilities.

Aiken wondered how such a drastic transformation could occur. Furthermore, both events—the accident and the transformation—happened over three years ago at the same location as Joe's incident.