Chapter 420 +25 BONUS

I knew exactly what I had asked Steve to look into, but this wasn’t the time I’d imagined getting an update. My head was spinning with everything that had just happened, but now this unease crept in, making my eyelid twitch.

“What did you find?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“The info you had wasn’t the full story. There’s a final conclusion you missed,” Steve replied, sounding just as confused as I felt.

I took a slow breath. “Were you able to find it?”

“No,” Steve said, and suddenly his tone grew more serious. “The officer who handled the case died shortly after your dad’s accident.”

A cold shiver ran through me. “When?”

“One month after the investigation was closed.”

For a second, I couldn’t even breathe. Steve’s voice cut through the panic buzzing in my head. “Rea… you there?”

I jumped in, my mind racing. “Do you think his death was connected to how my dad’s accident was ruled?”

“I’ve thought about that,” Steve admitted. “But officially, it’s listed as sudden cardiac arrest. There’s a hospital report and everything.”

His words left me hollow, like the air had been sucked out of the room.

“I tried talking to his family, but they didn’t know anything that would help,” Steve added, and the chill in my bones deepened.

“So… there’s nothing left, right?” I asked.

“That’s what it looks like,” Steve said, sounding defeated. “Unless the officer left something behind, but his family doesn’t know of anything. And with his sudden death, the trail’s gone cold.”

It was starting to feel like the truth about my dad’s accident was buried too deep—too many years had passed, and anyone who could help was either gone or didn’t want to stir up the past.

“What about his colleagues? Friends? Did you check with them?” I pushed, not ready to give up.

“We did,” Steve replied, but there was a finality in his voice that told me not to expect much more.

I closed my eyes, feeling like a weight was pressing down on me. “So unless someone comes back from the dead, this is where it ends.”

“Not necessarily,” Steve said, trying to sound hopeful, but I could hear the doubt. “I’ll keep reaching out to the officer’s family, see if anything turns up.”

I stared out at the dark night, a void that reminded me too much of the night my parents never came home. “No need, Steve. If they knew something, they’d have said it by now.”

Whoever wanted the truth hidden did a good job. After ten years, those secrets were buried deep. And anyone who could tell me what really happened was either long gone or would stay silent.

Chapter 420 +25 BONUS

“Sometimes,” Steve said gently, “it’s best to let the past stay where it is.”

I could tell he didn’t believe in digging any further. He had helped me, but deep down, he didn’t think it was worth pursuing anymore.

“I get it,” I said quietly. “Thanks, Steve. I really appreciate everything.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t find more,” Steve paused before adding, “Oh, and congrats on the other news.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant the park opening or Hayden’s proposal, so I just said, “Thanks.”

Someone called for him in the background, and after a quick goodbye, the call ended.

I sat there, my thoughts spinning, before I typed out a quick message: [Steve, what was the officer’s name?]

His reply came back almost instantly: [Grady Crosby.]

I stared at the name on my screen, lost in thought, when Hayden walked in, fresh from his shower. I quickly put my phone down, and before I knew it, he scooped me up and sat me on his lap. “Tired? Want me to carry you to the shower?”

“Exhausted, but I don’t want to shower,” I murmured, leaning my head against his neck.

“I could wash you,” Hayden teased, a playful edge to his voice.

I shook my head, snuggling into him. “Not right now. Let’s just sit.”

“Something on your mind?” he asked, picking up on my mood like he always did.

I couldn’t shake the feeling—he’d once told me he was looking into the car accident that took his dad’s life. The timing of everything was too close, and before I knew it, I asked, “Hayden, how’s your investigation into your dad’s accident going?”

His arms tightened around me, his voice dropping. “They said it was brake failure. But the officer who handled the case died of sudden cardiac arrest not long after. I’ve talked to his family, his colleagues, but no one knows anything.”

His words echoed what Steve had just told me, confirming that Hayden hadn’t hidden anything.