Chapter 382: Just a Suspicion, No Evidence Yet

Wren Sutton suspected that Maya Marshall was the mastermind behind the online smear campaign, but it was only a suspicion; she had no proof.

She was completely overwhelmed at the moment, her mind entirely focused on Adrian Lancaster and their children. She simply didn’t have the extra energy to investigate the matter herself and could only let the Lancaster family handle it.

After thinking it over, Wren Sutton picked up her phone and dialed the number of her father-in-law, Theodore Lancaster.

The call was answered after just a few rings. She began politely, "Dad."

Theodore Lancaster’s steady voice came from the other end, now laced with concern for his daughter-in-law.

"Wren, is everything alright at home? Get some rest for a few days and spend time with the children. We have people watching over the hospital, so don’t worry."

Wren Sutton took a deep breath. "Dad, there’s something I need to tell you."

"What is it? Go ahead," Theodore Lancaster said, immediately putting down the documents in his hand and sitting up straight. A strange sense of unease crept into his heart.

’This seems to be the first time my daughter-in-law has ever called me on her own initiative. She must have run into some real trouble, something she can’t solve herself.’

Wren Sutton didn’t beat around the bush and told Theodore Lancaster what had just happened at her home.

"Two reporters just came to the house. They tried to force their way in to interview and film, but my parents drove them away."

Her tone was calm, and she omitted the chaotic details, like the fact that a knife had been used to drive them off. She only stated the objective facts.

"I’m now aware of the slanderous rumors about me online. Those two reporters came to interview me about it."

As she finished speaking, a brief silence fell on the other end of the line.

Theodore Lancaster’s hand tightened around his phone. His brow furrowed instantly, a flash of surprise in his eyes that was quickly replaced by pure fury.

The Lancaster family had taken swift and decisive action yesterday to completely suppress the malicious online gossip. He had even instructed the family not to let his daughter-in-law know about the vile accusations online, not wanting her to suffer any more than she already was.

’To think that reporters would dare to barge into the Sutton Family’s home to interview her today... It’s abominable! A complete disregard for the Lancaster family!’

’He absolutely had to find those two bastards.’

"Wren, I’m so sorry. This is my fault, an oversight on my part. You’ve been wronged, and now the Sutton Family has been dragged into this mess."

"Don’t take any of that online gossip to heart. The Lancaster family will always be your staunchest support. Everyone in the family trusts you and supports you unconditionally. Not a single person believes those rumors."

"The whole family has seen what kind of person you are and how you treat Adrian. Having such a wonderful daughter-in-law is a blessing for the Lancaster family, and an even greater blessing for Adrian."

"Rest assured, all the online posts have been completely scrubbed. The Lancaster family has also sent out a lawyer’s letter. We will severely punish those who spread the rumors; we won’t let a single one of them get away."

"That includes the two reporters who tried to force their way into the Sutton Family’s home today. I’ll make sure to find them and give you a proper accounting."

Theodore Lancaster said all this in a single rush, trying to soothe Wren Sutton’s emotions.

Listening to her father-in-law’s apologetic words, the tip of Wren Sutton’s nose tingled, but a wave of warmth washed over her heart.

’So, the Lancaster family had been silently doing so much for her behind the scenes.’

As the daughter-in-law of the Lancaster family, she felt both gratified and deeply moved.

"Dad, I’m fine. You don’t need to blame yourself. I’ll remember everything the Lancaster family has done for me."

"I know the reason you all kept yesterday’s matter from me was for my own good. You didn’t want those malicious rumors to affect my mood. I understand your difficulties."

"Dad, thank you. And thank the whole family for me."

Theodore Lancaster was equally gratified and moved, but at the same time, he still felt a great deal of self-reproach.

"Wren, yesterday, besides suppressing the online gossip and removing the malicious posts, I also sent people to investigate the mastermind behind it all."

He paused and let out a heavy sigh.

"Unfortunately, we couldn’t find them. The other party is extremely cunning, with strong counter-surveillance skills. They left no openings. In the end, everything we traced led to anonymous accounts."

"I feel terrible about it."

"But don’t worry, we won’t let this go. If we can’t investigate it directly, we’ll find another angle..."

Wren Sutton was surprised, but she didn’t blame her elder.

’To think that even the Lancaster family couldn’t find out who did it... It just showed how deeply the person was hidden and how covert their methods were.’

’If the Lancaster family couldn’t find them, she certainly couldn’t either.’

Wren Sutton hesitated for a moment before speaking calmly, "Dad, I have someone I suspect, but I don’t have any evidence. It’s just a suspicion, a guess."

"Who?" Theodore Lancaster’s brow furrowed.

"Maya Marshall."

"..."

"Maya Marshall has always resented me and held a grudge. She has a motive," Wren Sutton said.

"If you’re asking who holds a grudge against me, I can’t think of anyone else besides her."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Theodore Lancaster’s eyes. His face darkened, filled with a menacing aura.

’It’s that Maya Marshall again.’

His mother suspected Maya Marshall in the car crash.

And now, Wren Sutton suspected her for the online slander and malicious defamation.

"Wren, to be honest with you, I sent people to investigate Maya Marshall right after the car crash happened. Your grandmother suspects she’s connected to it."

Wren Sutton’s hand, holding the phone, suddenly froze. Her heart sank, and a bone-chilling cold spread through her entire body.

She had originally only suspected Maya Marshall was the one pulling the strings behind this online smear campaign.

She had never imagined that the Lancaster family had also pointed the finger of suspicion at Maya Marshall for that sudden, horrific car crash.

Wren Sutton was trembling, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.

The scene of the car crash uncontrollably flashed through her mind again.

Adrian Lancaster, covered in blood, severely injured, still lying unconscious in the intensive care unit...

’If Maya Marshall really did plan all of this—from the lethal car crash to the slander and defamation afterward... ’

’Then this woman was no longer just resentful, jealous, or fighting for affection. She was completely and utterly deranged, inhumane, and capable of ruthless cruelty without any limits.’

Just then, Theodore Lancaster’s voice came through the phone, interrupting Wren Sutton’s thoughts.

"Unfortunately, the results of our investigation so far indicate that the car crash has nothing to do with the Marshall Family."

"The Marshalls’ recent movements, financial transactions, and external communications are all clean. There’s nothing unusual, and we can’t find any clues connecting them to the crash."

Theodore Lancaster was extremely frustrated by this.

The Marshall Family’s suspicion was cleared, the truck driver’s family had vanished into thin air, and the lead on the private jet had turned up nothing.

All leads had temporarily gone cold, with no new clues in sight.

Wren Sutton came back to her senses and suppressed the churning emotions in her heart. She didn’t want her subjective suspicions to influence Theodore Lancaster’s judgment.

"Dad, I was just guessing based on our past grudges. There’s no concrete evidence. You shouldn’t let my words bias the direction of the investigation. Everything should still be based on proof."

"I was just thinking that an extra lead might provide an extra bit of hope for finding the truth."

Theodore Lancaster agreed in a low voice. "I understand what you mean, Dad gets it. Don’t worry. Whether it’s the car crash or the online slander, the Lancaster family won’t stop investigating just because the leads have temporarily dried up."

He paused, his tone becoming sharp, firm, and allowing no room for argument.

"I swear I will get to the bottom of these two matters and drag out the mastermind behind them. Otherwise, I would have failed Adrian, and I would have failed you."

...

After hanging up, Wren Sutton released her white-knuckled grip. The phone slipped from her palm and fell onto the sofa.

The house was so quiet she could hear the TICK-TOCK of the wall clock.

Every word from the phone call echoed repeatedly in her mind, leaving her in turmoil.

The suspicion toward Maya Marshall, intertwined with the shadow of the car crash, wove an inescapable net that trapped Wren Sutton completely.

The investigation indicated the Marshall Family had no connection to the crash, yet the intense unease in her heart refused to dissipate.

Wren Sutton slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

’This is no time to let my imagination run wild. Adrian Lancaster is still lying unconscious in the hospital, and I have two helpless infants by my side who need me.’

’I can’t fall apart. More importantly, I can’t let these unknown conspiracies throw me into disarray.’

’The Lancaster family will do everything to uncover the truth. What I can do is protect Adrian Lancaster and our children, and protect this family.’

A moment later, Wren Sutton opened her eyes. The turmoil in them had faded, replaced by the resilience and composure of a mother.

She got up and walked into the bedroom, pushing open the ajar door.

Sunlight spilled onto the sleeping faces of Owen and Nina. The two little ones were sleeping soundly, looking incredibly sweet and adorable.

Wren Sutton stood by the cribs, her fingertips gently brushing against her children’s soft cheeks. The unease in her heart was dispelled by warmth, and a happy smile touched her lips.

Meanwhile, in the Lancaster family’s study, Theodore Lancaster put down his phone. The hostile energy around him had not diminished in the slightest, and his usually composed face remained grim and terrifying.

He stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, a cold light flickering in his eyes.

The online slander, the reporters trespassing at the Sutton Family’s home, the unresolved car crash—every single incident felt bizarre.

Even if the Marshall Family was temporarily cleared of suspicion, he would absolutely not let the matter drop.

Maya Marshall was still the biggest suspect. It was just that her methods were too clean. To expose a flaw, he would have to try a different approach.

Theodore Lancaster immediately dialed his special assistant’s number.

A short while later, there was a knock on the study door. The special assistant walked in quickly, his expression respectful.

"Chairman, you were looking for me."

"Go and take care of three things," Theodore Lancaster said, turning around. His tone left no room for doubt.

"First, thoroughly investigate the two reporters who broke into the Sutton Family’s home today. Find out which media outlet they belong to and who ordered them to do it. Even if you have to use coercion or bribery, you must dig up the person pulling the strings."

"Second, re-examine the origin of the online rumors. Start with the login IPs and financial flows of the anonymous accounts. No matter how much manpower or resources it takes, you must find the operator behind the scenes."

"Third, continue to secretly monitor Maya Marshall and all of the Marshall Family’s assets in the country. Do not alert them. Report any abnormality to me immediately, no matter how slight."

He clenched his fists, his voice filled with the grim determination of someone burning their bridges.

"Also, re-examine all the evidence from the car crash. The truck driver, the driver’s family, the vehicle’s route, the details of the scene—don’t miss a single thing."

"I’d like to see just who it is that dares to provoke my Lancaster family again and again."

"Yes, sir. I’ll arrange it immediately." The special assistant didn’t dare to delay and immediately took his leave.

The study fell silent once more. Theodore Lancaster turned back to the window, his brow tightly furrowed. He didn’t dare to let his guard down for even a second.