Chapter 506 Plot Twist Claire scoffed, crossing her arms. "Observing? That's all?" She leaned forward slightly. "Because from where I stand, it seems like you've been obsessed, not just observing."
Eligos didn't flinch. Instead, he took a slow sip of his wine before setting the glass down. "The past is the past, Claire," he said, his voice dismissive. "You should stop dwelling on it."
Claire raised a brow and let out a short, humorless chuckle. "That's rich, coming from you." She tilted her head slightly, studying him. "If I should stop dwelling on the past, then why are you so desperate to find out about Allan Smith?"
For the first time that night, the easy amusement on Eligos's face vanished. His expression hardened, the air around them growing heavier.
"That," he said coolly, "is a different matter."
Claire's eyes narrowed. "And what makes it different?"
Eligos was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping idly on the table. Then, after a deep breath, he spoke.
"I will tell you," he said slowly, "but only if you tell me the reason why you asked me to meet you."
Claire didn't hesitate. "Because I know what happened to Allan Smith."
Eligos's eyes sharpened. "And?"
"It wasn't because of me," Claire continued, holding his gaze, "like you keep insinuating."
Eligos's eyebrow twitched. He had been so sure, so certain that Claire had something to do with Allan's disappearance. But the confidence in her voice made something uneasy settle in his chest.
He leaned forward slightly. "What do you mean?"
Claire exhaled. "Allan Smith didn't die because of me," she said evenly. "The one responsible for his death is Robert Robertson."
A sudden stillness settled over the room.
Eligos felt as though the world had just stopped. His breath hitched slightly, his grip on the glass tightening.
Robert Robertson?
The name echoed in his mind like a cruel joke.
The same Robert Robertson whom he had trusted, the man he had made deals with, the man he had relied on to manipulate events to his advantage... had he been the one responsible for Allan's death? "No," Eligos said finally, shaking his head. His voice was quiet but firm, like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else. His gaze turned sharp as he glared at Claire. "You're lying." Claire shook her head. "I'm not."
Eligos's jaw clenched. "Then prove it."
Without a word, Claire reached into her bag and pulled out a photograph, sliding it across the table toward him.
Eligos picked it up, frowning as his eyes scanned the image. It was a picture of Robert Robertson and Allan Smith-together.
Eligos's frown deepened. He hadn't expected them to be that close.
"This proves nothing," he muttered, setting the photo down.
when you know the rest of the story," she countered. "Listen, Allan died a few days after the car crash incident. The cause of death listed
fingers tightened around the
"So?" he pressed.
were clean." She gave him a
Eligos's frown deepened.
that Robert
possible that Robert told Allan
thoughts were racing, colliding into one another as he tried to make sense of the
to
acid. He had been blinded by his anger toward Claire. So much so
like
anger, beneath the betrayal, something
the shift
"Why do you care so
didn't answer immediately. His gaze was still fixed on the
Then, finally, he spoke.
Smith..." He
Matthew and Claire waited.
he finally
is
A stunned silence followed.
felt the air leave her
been quietly listening the entire time, looked just as shocked. "Your what?"
all the revelations she had
the truth about her parents. She had already been shocked
And now this?
the very man at the center of this
insane," Claire
out a breath, setting the photograph down with an unreadable
"And you thought
gaze, and for once, there was no trace
"Yes."
"Well, now
expression remained unreadable, but Claire could see the gears turning
a slow breath. "Robert
I need your
about Robert involvement. I think it's time Robert have a taste of
don't work in teams." Said Eligos
serious look. "I've told you the truth. Without
a while. "Fine. But I expect you
had no idea
few days had been
fragments of evidence that had been buried for years. The three of them made an odd team-considering their history—but they were united by a
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VtjipprbH8O0nkTYkODRXQu3NEjGOprVkQP9Q1Xl9ijPMUu5aUYNHEYhl5WM9MBCMTBTpY8DiwwS1PU7CfRhL5CSp+VrYpfQ5f7VWBSLEAZNxgrPUKBcwcUMZDyjXd+WpQ==
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