Chapter 780: So It Was Them

Jacqueline Spann wasn’t surprised. She had long suspected that Ethan Hawthorne had a wife and son; otherwise, how could her aunt have gone so many years without an official title? But deep down, she looked down on her aunt for being so slow and indecisive. After all these years, she still hadn’t managed to get rid of that troublesome mother and son, leaving herself in such an awkward position.

"Do you know where they are, Auntie?"

"I don’t know. I’ve been searching for a long time but can’t find them. Your uncle has always been wary of me," Bernice said with resentment.

Jacqueline Spann frowned slightly. ’Not a single clue. Auntie is just too useless. If she had taken care of that mother and son a couple of years ago, she’d be Mrs. Hawthorne by now. She could have legitimately inherited Ethan Hawthorne’s property and stayed in Tristone openly.’

Bernice added, "However, I’ve heard that the mother and son are either in Vessaria or somewhere around Aurelia. I’ve already sent someone to make inquiries."

Something clicked for Jacqueline. ’Vessaria again,’ she thought, then asked, "Auntie, do you know their names?"

"I do. The woman’s name is Rosalind Green, and the son is Adrian Hawthorne. He’s two years older than you."

Jacqueline Spann’s mind went blank. She was in a daze and didn’t snap out of it for a long time. Bernice patted her on the cheek and asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong with you?"

"Auntie, I know where they are. I know them."

Jacqueline Spann exhaled, forcing herself to calm down, but her heart was still pounding. ’Ethan Hawthorne is Adrian Hawthorne’s father? It really is a small world.’

’I thought I had escaped my past and could start a new life, but now I’m tangled up with these people all over again.’

"How do you know them? Don’t tell me that mother and son are from your village?"

Bernice was stunned. She quickly put two and two together, and her expression turned ugly. ’After all this time searching, that bitch Rosalind Green was hiding on Millstone Peak all along. I even went to that village a few times.’

Jacqueline Spann nodded emphatically. "Yes, they live on Millstone Peak! I should have realized it sooner; the timeline matches up perfectly. Adrian Hawthorne’s father left five years ago and was never heard from again. Everyone in the village said he was dead."

Bernice gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she weighed her options. She quickly made a decision.

"Don’t say any of this to your uncle. And don’t tell him you lived on Millstone Peak."

"Okay, I won’t."

Jacqueline Spann guessed what her aunt was planning. Far from feeling any sympathy, she was actually a little excited. She added a reminder, "That Goldie Thorne is also from Millstone Peak. His family are the village bullies, and he’s on very good terms with Rosalind Green and her son. Some of the local thugs tried to cause trouble at the Hawthorne house and ended up losing out."

Bernice was very surprised. ’So Goldie Thorne is connected to Rosalind Green and her son, too? Could Rosalind have been the one who told him to sabotage my business?’

"Are Rosalind Green and Goldie Thorne involved?" A possibility occurred to Bernice. ’A beautiful single woman struggling to get by with her son... what other choice does she have but to find a man for protection?’

’She refused to believe Rosalind Green had remained chaste all these years. For all she knew, the woman had probably been with several men.’

Jacqueline Spann’s heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly what Bernice was implying. She said evasively, "Well, their families are very close. Goldie Thorne isn’t married, and he goes over to the Hawthornes’ place all the time."

Bernice sneered. ’Just as I expected. That bitch is having an affair with Goldie Thorne.’

She was in no mood to make lunch. Leaving Jacqueline Spann at home, she went out to find the same people she had hired before.

"I don’t care what methods you use, you must ruin this woman’s reputation. Make sure everyone knows about it. This is the down payment. You’ll get the other half when the job is done."

Bernice threw down five hundred yuan. The thugs’ eyes lit up. This was a sweet deal. ’Getting paid to sleep with a woman? Where in the world could you find a better gig than this?’