Chapter 208

Nina put down the bowl and got straight to it, "When are you going to help me find Isabella?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "What's the hurry?"

Nina looked nervous. "You promised to help me, so you can't back out now."

Richard smirked, "And if I do, what can you do about it?"

Nina knew she couldn't do much.

But this was urgent. The Jose family had been searching for ages with no luck. She hoped Richard's connections could uncover what they couldn't.

Desperate, she grabbed Richard's hand. "You have to help me!"

Her sudden move made Richard pause.

He glanced at her hand on his, a playful look in his eyes. "Why should I help you?"

The look in Richard's eyes was clear. Nina knew what he wanted.

After a moment, she leaned in and kissed him lightly before pulling away.

Richard stared at her but said nothing.

Nina said, "That's a down payment. If you help me find the truth, I'll give you whatever you want!"

Richard smirked. "Alright, you said it yourself!"

"Yes."

Zaire had been investigating the car accident.

But everything seemed perfect.

The two charred bodies from that night were the Landon family's driver and a pregnant woman.

Everything matched.

Even if Richard's people investigated, they'd find the same.

The police had already closed the case.

Several rains had washed over the scene, leaving only some porcelain fragments in the grass.

Still, Richard took his people there personally.

As soon as Richard left, the hospital called, saying Sebastian was going to cremate the body.

When Nina and Zaire arrived, the body was already being pushed into the cremation furnace.

"Stop!" Nina rushed over and pushed the staff away.

She blocked the furnace. "Who told you to do this?"

"It was me!" An elderly voice said.

Emily supported Zoe as they walked in.

Zoe had lost a lot of weight, her hair now completely white, looking much less gentle than before.

It took Nina a moment to recognize her, "Zoe?"

"Nina, since Bella is gone, she should be laid to rest. Keeping her in the morgue is too harsh."

Nina found this absurd. "Zoe, is this your idea or Sebastian's? I'm Isabella's sister, and only I have the right to decide."

Zoe was so angry she couldn't catch her breath.

Suddenly, Zoe threw away her cane and knelt. "Nina, I'm begging you. Let Bella go."

Zoe, always calm, doing this startled Nina.

Emily tried to help Zoe up but couldn't.

Emily explained, "Since Sebastian hasn't woken up, Zoe was worried and brought a priest. The priest said..."

"Said what?"

"The priest said Sebastian hasn't woken up because Isabella's spirit is haunting him, so..."

"Nonsense!" Nina snapped, "Even if Bella became a ghost, she wouldn't harm Sebastian!"

Isabella was too kind; even as a ghost, she'd be a good one!

Emily fell silent.

Zoe kept crying on the ground, refusing to get up.

As the standoff continued, the door suddenly opened, and Jack walked in supporting someone.

"Sebastian!" Emily exclaimed, "You're awake?"

Emily rushed over and hugged Sebastian, crying uncontrollably, "Sebastian, you're finally awake. Thank goodness!"

This scene was jarring to Nina.

Nina turned away coldly and said to Zoe, "Zoe, now that Sebastian is awake, can you let Isabella go?"

"Sebastian, Sebastian," Zoe cried uncontrollably.

Sebastian stared blankly ahead, his eyes empty. He pushed Emily away and reached out. "Where's Bella? Where's Bella?"

"Mr. Landon." Jack supported him and led him to the cremation furnace. "Mr. Landon, Isabella is in the furnace."

Sebastian's hands groped over the furnace, gritting his teeth. "Whoever dares to burn Bella, I'll make sure they die here! Bella, I'm here! Don't be afraid! I won't let anyone hurt you."

With Jack's help, the body was pulled out.

Sebastian hugged the charred body desperately and ordered, "Jack, quick! Take Bella home."

"Yes."

Just as Jack was about to move, Zaire stopped him.

Nina's tone was calm. "Mr. Landon, please put Isabella down!"

Sebastian raised his head, his vision unfocused due to blindness. "Nina, I promised Bella I would protect her."

Nina's voice trembled, her hands clenched into fists. "If it weren't for you and Emily, would Bella have been so agitated? If she hadn't caught you in the act, would this have happened? Sebastian, you killed her! What right do you have to act now?"

Sebastian was stunned.

He sat there holding the body, as if something had shattered him completely.

Nina looked away, choking up. "She's dead now, it's too late to say anything. You and Bella weren't married, so it doesn't count. I am her only family. Mr. Landon, please stop bothering us and let Bella rest in peace!"

Sebastian shook his head. "No."

Nina directly took Isabella's body back.

Perhaps Nina's words had shattered his heart, so Sebastian hesitated and eventually let go.

Indeed.

He had no reason to hold on.

He didn't deserve it!

After Nina and the others took the body away, Sebastian fell unconscious again.

The night was calm.

Isabella got up from the bed and walked to the door.

The door was locked from the outside. She twisted the handle a few times, but it didn't budge.

Isabella looked around. Her only escape route was the open window for ventilation.

Standing by the window, Isabella looked down.

If she jumped from here, she'd be shattered to pieces!

The sea breeze blew, making Isabella's breath catch.

She hesitated for a second, then grabbed the window frame and climbed up.