Chapter 175: Shocking Details

Jeremiah's choice to save her when she was thirteen might have changed the course of his life. If he hadn't saved her, perhaps he wouldn't have died in a foreign land before reaching the age of thirty. A powerful wave of guilt washed over Raylee. She yearned to apologize to Jeremiah, but it was too late.

Raylee cast a glance at the memorial portrait and let out a deep sigh. Jeremiah, why did you keep so many secrets from me? Why didn’t you tell me anything?

“Not only did you cause the death of Jeremiah, but you also caused my mother’s death. You’re the reason I became an orphan, and I swear I will never forgive you in this lifetime!” Layla glared at Raylee, her anger surging uncontrollably. There was one misdeed after another, and it seemed like a never-ending cycle.

Kaylee was struck dumb. “You claim that Jeremiah saved me back then, I accept that. However, what does your mother’s death have to do with me? I’ve never even seen her face.”

“If it had nothing to do with you, why would Jeremiah want you dead? He clearly adored you!” Layla huffed.

Raylee recalled a time not too long ago when Jeremiah harbored lethal intentions toward her, contemplating pushing her off a cliff. After his unsuccessful attempt, he tricked her into going to East Aploth. He was very enthusiastic during their blind date, even going so far as to publicly rebuke Samuel on her behalf. However, his passion for her turned into something else afterward.

After piecing together her thoughts, Raylee suddenly remembered something. During Jeremiah’s final moments in Musmeynia, he mentioned that Alaric had called him, revealing some news. Pursuers were upon them. He didn’t have time to share the specific news before…

Could that news be related to his mother’s death? If that’s indeed the case, then everything adds up… Raylee’s expression turned serious as she hurriedly asked, “Ms. Layla, what exactly does your mother’s death have to do with me? Could you elaborate? I’m not trying to shirk my responsibilities. I just don’t understand why you hold such a grudge against me. I want to know the reason before I die.”

Layla huffed before saying, “I was about to ask you the same thing!”

With an innocent look on her face, Kaylee gazed at her. “I genuinely have no idea, and I can swear on it. Just like that incident overseas years ago when Jeremiah saved me, if you hadn’t brought it up now, I wouldn’t have had a clue.”

Layla’s face turned ashen. She gritted her teeth and said, “It seems neither of us knows. One evening, Jeremiah got utterly drunk and inadvertently let slip that there was something suspicious about my mother’s death, and it was somehow related to you. As for the specific details, you’ll only learn them after you join Jeremiah in the afterlife. He’ll tell you then.”

Once again, Raylee was left speechless. If neither of us knows, perhaps only Mr. Victor has the information.

Raylee then clenched her fists tightly. She longed to confront Jeremiah in person and ask him just how many secrets he had kept from her. At the same time, she also wanted to know what news Alaric, her adoptive father in name, had revealed to Jeremiah. Raylee’s emotions remained unsettled for a long time as she gazed at Jeremiah’s memorial portrait.

“You were Jeremiah’s first crush, yet you’re tied to my mother’s death. His love for you was complex, and he couldn’t bring himself to harm you. You, on the other hand, have caused… death. We don’t even have his complete remains to lay him to…”

“Jeremiah, just how wicked is the woman you’re in love with? Calling her a venomous vixen wouldn’t even be an exaggeration!” Layla uttered before abruptly bursting into tears again.

Kaylee furrowed her brows. Even though she knew her explanation at that moment would seem feeble, she still said, “Jeremiah’s death isn’t on me. After I arrived in Musmeynia, I did everything I could to save him. We were so close; we almost made it back alive.”

The thought of them boarding the helicopter and being on the brink of returning home stirred such intense emotions within her that Raylee couldn’t help but choke up.

“Almost made it back alive! In that case, tell me how did Jeremiah die!” Layla’s emotions flared up.

“Ms. Layla, did you have a bodyguard named Bradley?” Raylee looked at her with a serious expression.

“Yes. What about him? He’s a retired special forces soldier, highly skilled, and I sent him to protect you guys,” Layla murmured with a nod.

“Why didn’t you investigate his background?” Raylee didn’t want to hide the truth about this matter because she didn’t want to be the scapegoat again.

Just like that, she revealed the relationship between Bradley and Jeremiah in full detail. He wasn’t there to protect us. He was there for revenge. His girlfriend was lured to East Aploth by Jeremiah and ended up dead. If we were to truly investigate who caused the death of Jeremiah, then the culprit would be Bradley M. Layla, you’re the one who sent Bradley there…” Kaylee said.

Upon hearing those words, Layla seemed as though she had been frightened, weakly collapsing onto the chair.

When Her Heart Turned to Stone