Chapter 249 - 248: Could the Astraeus Group Be Related to Asher?

Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Could the Astraeus Group Be Related to Asher?

It must have been the organization behind the scenes, monitoring Silvia Lynch as she grew up.

And Silvia Lynch herself... sure enough, she wasn’t as harmless as she appeared.

She feigned mediocrity and cowardice, but behind the scenes... she was intelligently plotting one "accident" after another for her bullies, then hiding in the shadows with a contemptuous sneer.

This included the arrest of the Lynn Family’s parents as human traffickers, their precious grandson suffering brain damage from a high fever, and the grandmother’s comeuppance went far beyond that... poverty, a mentally disabled grandson, a son in prison...

Silvia Lynch used every means at her disposal for revenge, turning the people they cherished most into her weapons.

She knew exactly how to prey on everyone’s weaknesses.

She knew how to make her enemies suffer a fate worse than death—to destroy not just their lives, but their very souls.

Take Noelle Lynch, for example...

Noelle Lynch may have stolen Silvia Lynch’s so-called boyfriend, but Silvia never seemed to have any feelings for him. It was more like she deliberately handed him over to Noelle. She had engineered a way... to get rid of the man while continuing her charade.

’Sure enough... we all underestimated ’Silvia Lynch’.’

’She was one of the test subjects, too.’

I stared at the experimental data on the floor, lost in thought for a long time.

’If Silvia Lynch was really that smart, how did she die?’

’She was chosen by the Lancaster family as the best candidate to produce an heir and brought into their home, only to die of cardiac arrest from a drug overdose? And then... by some coincidence, I was reborn in her body.’

’Was all of this really just a coincidence?’

’And then there was Silvia Lynch’s diary.’

’When I went back to the Lynn family home, how was I able to find her diary in the warehouse so quickly, so coincidentally?’

’Thinking about it now, it feels more like Silvia Lynch had arranged it all in advance.’

’And Erin Whittaker said I wasn’t Cecilia Caldwell at all, but Silvia Lynch...’

’Ha... At this point, even I’m starting to have my doubts.’

’Who am I, really? What kind of ’thing’ am I? What am I?’

’What kind of test subject am I?’

’The people behind the Genetics Organization are using us for experiments. Are they really just testing genetics?’

’Compared to geniuses like Asher and Killian Lancaster, whose experimental data is considered complete and who have already been put into ’production,’ I should have no experimental value left. Yet the people behind this still seem to be observing us.’

’That can only mean one thing: I, Silvia Lynch, and even the other clone subjects, are hiding even more terrifying secrets.’

...

「Asher’s Residence.」

I followed Asher home, where Stella was already at the door to greet us.

It looked very excited, wagging its tail furiously.

’I remembered my Shaun being just like this—fierce toward everyone else, but obedient and gentle with me and Asher.’

"Have you been a good girl and finished your food?" I squatted down, rubbed her head, and almost subconsciously raised my right hand.

It was a hand signal I often used when training Shaun.

Shaun would obediently sit, tongue lolling out, and watch me attentively, waiting for my next command.

The moment I raised my hand, Stella obediently sat down, just like Shaun used to, waiting for my next command.

I froze for a second, then pointed toward a food bowl in the distance. "Fetch."

As if she understood perfectly, Stella dashed over, grabbed her little food bowl in her mouth, and trotted back.

Asher sat on the swing in the yard, watching me interact with Stella.

I rewarded Stella with a rub on the head and hugged her. "Such a good girl..."

’Just as good as Shaun.’

"WOOF WOOF!" Suddenly, Stella started barking furiously toward the gate.

I turned around. My gaze fell on a black car outside the gate, and I stood up, frowning warily.

The visitor... was Victor Quinn.

"Looks like we’ll have to move," Asher said grimly.

’This place isn’t safe anymore.’

’Anyone can just show up.’

Victor Quinn got out of the car, dressed in a black trench coat and holding a black umbrella. "Silvia Lynch... No, should I be calling you Cecilia Caldwell?"

I frowned, watching him with suspicion.

He just smiled at me. "Erin Whittaker must have told you some secrets, right? That was just the tip of the iceberg."

’He already knew Erin Whittaker had told me about the so-called cloning experiments.’

"The police are already investigating. Erin Whittaker sold me out, and it won’t be long before... they come for me. You were right... I’m just a lapdog for the powers that be. When the time comes, they’ll sacrifice me." Victor Quinn’s tone was tragic as he opened the car door. "If you want to know more, come with me."

I watched Victor Quinn, wary. ’Would he really reveal those secrets willingly?’

"Do you take us for fools?" Asher’s voice was low as he stood beside me.

Victor Quinn’s gaze fell on Stella, who was baring her teeth, and he chuckled. "Cecilia Caldwell, don’t trust anyone. Anyone could have been placed by the organization to monitor you. They could even be an NPC meant to advance the experiment, including... a dog."

Victor Quinn’s words sent a chill down my spine. He might have only mentioned a dog, but he was alluding to everyone.

"Have you ever seen *The Truman Show*?" Victor Quinn asked. "Art imitates life, but life will always be stranger than art."

I clenched my fists and looked at Asher.

’If everyone around me is just a planted NPC, does that include Asher?’

A memory surfaced... Asher, holding me in a pained embrace as I was covered in blood, trying to stop me from hurting myself. He had said, "Cece... I have nothing. I’m just a pawn that was created. I can live without the rest of the world, but I can’t live without you..."

’Belief is what gives a person the motivation and courage to live.’

’And Cecilia Caldwell was Asher’s belief and courage.’

"Cece, please don’t hurt yourself again. I’m begging you."

"I’m running out of time," Victor Quinn reminded me.

’The Rebels’ demonstration had clearly created a massive butterfly effect. The higher-ups were taking it very seriously, which meant the backers of the Genetics Organization were about to start cleaning house.’

’I had thought Erin Whittaker would be the one they’d eliminate, but I never expected Victor Quinn would be on the list too.’

’I figured that before the police could get to Victor Quinn, his backers would silence him permanently.’

"I have no regrets. After all, I’ve lived many more years than your parents did." Victor Quinn closed his black umbrella and got into the car.

I looked at Asher, and he looked back at me.

’Victor Quinn was running out of time, and there was still so much we needed to know.’

"I’m sorry about your parents’ death," Victor Quinn said once we were in the car.

’He was talking about Cecilia Caldwell’s parents.’

"As for your father..." Victor Quinn’s gaze fell on Asher. "His death was his own damn fault. Openly opposing the organization was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

Asher frowned.

"I’d advise you not to make any rash moves until you’ve become a power great enough to make even *them* hesitate." Victor Quinn sounded like he was giving us a final piece of advice, like a dying man...

"Sebastian Lancaster, the stupidest thing you ever did was sell the Lancaster Group to Astraeus. Astraeus has risen too quickly in recent years. The people behind this are wary of Astraeus, but they’re also trying to win it over. Last year, the Astraeus Group donated hundreds of millions to the organization’s labs, and its backers have already successfully infiltrated the inner circle. By giving them the Lancaster Group, you’ve only made them stronger."

’When that happens, the situation would only become more unfavorable for us.’

Asher sneered, squeezing my hands. "That’s not for you to worry about."

I instinctively looked at Asher.

’To fight power, you must first become power.’

’The Astraeus Group... could it be connected to Asher?’