“Rhea is dead?” A strange female voice asked.
Elijah was stunned, turning toward the sound. A woman entered from the backyard. She brushed the dirt from her hands before approaching, and he watched her every move until she hesitantly looked at Dominic.
“Uncle Dom?” Dominic glanced at Lily and rubbed his nose. “This is my apprentice.”
“Hello, I’m Lily,” Lily greeted Elijah politely.
Elijah found the name familiar, but he was far more surprised by Dominic’s introduction. Was this an acknowledgment of his secret apprentice? And a woman! As Dominic’s closest relatives, they knew he had a secret apprentice, though not their son, and had never learned the apprentice’s identity. Dominic had never mentioned it, and they weren’t close enough to inquire. His open admission now was quite surprising.
“Just now… did you say Rhea is dead?” Lily picked up the conversation. “I overheard it outside.”
“Do you know Rhea?” Elijah asked, taken aback. He glanced at the old man before continuing, “My wife and I witnessed it. Her body was being carried from an exploded abandoned factory.”
“You saw it?” Lily’s eyebrows rose. Is Rhea actually dead? Did she die… just like that?
After a moment, Elijah said, “However, I can’t be sure. The person was burned beyond recognition. I couldn’t identify them.”
“Then how do you know it was Rhea?”
“Her clothes! Mrs. Moore was wailing, saying they belonged to her daughter, but they were unsure. The body’s been taken for autopsy. They need tests to identify it.”
Sighing, he turned to Dominic. “But I feel this accident is too coincidental, don’t you think?”
Lily groaned, lightly drumming her fingers on her arms. Dominic glanced between her and Elijah. “It is coincidental, but there are many coincidences in the world. You can’t judge solely on that.”
“You’re right. I’ll wait for the forensic doctor’s report. Also, I’ve already…”
“You don’t need to tell me all this. Settle your grievances yourself. I’m an old man. I don’t want to interfere,” Dominic interrupted.
Elijah nodded. “Okay. As for Austin…” He had initially hoped finding Rhea would avenge his son and obtain the antidote from her.