Chapter 388
Chapter 388
“That doesn’t concern you, ” Roman snapped.
“It does if you want my help.” She folded her arms, winding slightly at the movement. “I’m not saying a
word unless you tell me p>
Roman’s jaw flexed hard enough to crack teeth. His fists clenched on his knees. “Paula… don’t test me p>
She didn’t flinch. “Or what? You’ll shoot me again p>
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Roman inhaled sharply through his nose, grounding himself. “Fine. ” His voice was tightly controlled. “My
father has tapes… of my late wife. ”
Paula’s expression softened for the first time. Her eyes widened, then recalibrated with understanding.
“Oh. Then yes… I understand why you’re terrified p>
“So?” Roman pressed.
“Her name was Serena Matthews.” Paula said.
I stopped breathing. It was her.
“Serena Matthews. Who was she? What is this case about?” Roman asked, oblivious to my horror.
Paula sat back slightly. Her gaze sharpened. “Serena Matthews was a small–time journalist. A nobody, according to the world. But she was relentless. She built her entire identity around exposing the people behind the unexplained disappearances no one wanted to investigate. And eventually, her digging led her
straight to your father p>
My stomach dropped so fast I thought I’d throw up.
“She connected dots,” Paula continued, “that people with much more experience failed to see–or pretended not to see. She believed General Blackwood was involved in the disappearances. And she fought hard to get anyone to listen. Talk shows. News channels Online forums. She tried everything. But no one wanted to touch it. Too dangerous. Too political. Too powerful. This was the most feared man in the country. Nobody dared go against him p>
Roman narrowed his eyes on her. “Did my father know what she’d been doing p>
Paula nodded. “Of course. And instead of ignoring her like most would have… he decided to shut her up.
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Chapter 388
Publicly p>
My heart sank deeper.
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“He went on national television,” Paula said, “and debunked everything. Called her accusations baseless. Presented screenshots of doctored messages supposedly proving she’d been trying to blackmail and extort him. Overnight, the media finally noticed her. The same people who ignored her before now ripped her to shreds. They dragged her name through the mud. Harassed her family. Dug up her past. Twisted every mistake she made p>
Each word felt like a hammer to my ribs.
“So she went into hiding?” Roman asked.
“That’s what we were told,” Paula said. “But I never believed it p>
A bead of sweat slipped down my spine.
“While the public speculated,” she continued, “an alleged relative came forward saying Serena fled
overseas due to harassment. But rumor has it that the relative wasn’t real. It was allegedly someone from
the General’s camp, pretending p>
My pulse throbbed violently in my neck.
At this point I knew–not suspected, not feared–that we were talking about the same Serena.
“Almost a year later,” Paula said quietly, “her body was found floating in a river miles away from her home.
She’d been p>
Roman froze.
Paula didn’t finish.
She didn’t have to.
Because the word was already burning in my throat like poison.
“She’d been shot in the head,” I said.
It came out hoarse. Raw. Broken.
Roman’s head whipped toward me so fast I heard his neck crack. Paula stared too, eyes widening as though
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Chapter 388
she’d found her missing puzzle piece.
Roman’s voice was low. Deadly calm. “And how,” he asked, “would you know that p>
My lips trembled. I closed my eyes. Air wouldn’t go into my lungs. Guilt, memory, grief–everything
swallowed me whole.
And I gave him the truth because I couldn’t lie anymore.
“I know this because it’s my fault she ended up dead p>
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3 83% 3/3 Sara Lili Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.