Chapter 431 - 434: Could Claire Bennett Be Maya Marshall?

Wren Sutton found the suspicion hard to believe, thinking she must be overthinking it.

But the name on the clinic door in front of her forced her to accept that her suspicion might be true.

To confirm it, she raised her hand and knocked gently on the clinic door.

"Come in."

A doctor’s calm voice came from inside.

Wren Sutton pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The scene inside the clinic unfolded before her. The space wasn’t large, but it was exceptionally neat and orderly, exuding an air of professionalism and rigor.

Metal shelves against the wall held a neat array of prosthetic components and orthopedic braces. Everything from lower-limb sockets to joint bearings glinted with a cold, hard metallic luster under the fluorescent lights.

The desk was spotless, arranged with patient file folders, a medical magnifying glass, and professional measuring tools.

The air was filled with the faint smell of disinfectant, mixed with the distinct scent of medical-grade silicone.

A supervising physician, a man in his forties, sat behind the desk, head bowed as he organized a thick stack of medical records.

His white coat was crisp and immaculate, the cuffs buttoned securely.

Hearing the sound, he slowly looked up. His gaze fell upon Wren Sutton, his expression a mixture of professional politeness and detachment.

Wren Sutton removed her mask, stepped forward, and asked politely, "Hello, Doctor. I’d like to ask you about a patient."

The doctor gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his fingertips still resting lightly on a file folder as he waited for her to continue.

"Around ten o’clock this morning, a young woman named Claire Bennett was here for an appointment." Wren Sutton spoke slowly, enunciating each word with clarity.

"She was wearing a dark, long dress and a wide-brimmed hat. She seemed to have some trouble with her left leg when she walked. I happened to see her in the hallway and watched her come into this office. So, I wanted to take the liberty of asking... does she wear a prosthesis on her left leg?"

The moment the words left her lips, the air in the clinic seemed to still.

The doctor’s fingers, which were holding a pen, paused. The polite hint of a smile in his eyes vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

He set down his pen, folded his hands on the desk, and looked at Wren Sutton with a calm gaze.

"I’m sorry, ma’am. This hospital strictly adheres to all regulations regarding patient privacy. The personal information, medical records, and physical condition of all our patients are not disclosed to any third party. This is our professional code of conduct and a line we must not cross."

After a brief pause, he patiently added,

"Even a patient’s immediate family must present formal authorization and proof of kinship to inquire about a condition or request information. Only after the request is reviewed and approved through hospital procedure can we release anything."

"Otherwise, I cannot violate regulations by privately disclosing any patient information to you. I hope you understand."

The doctor’s words were reasonable and perfectly legal, leaving Wren Sutton with no grounds for rebuttal.

She didn’t press the issue. Instead, she apologized sincerely. "I’m sorry, Doctor. That was thoughtless of me. I truly wasn’t trying to pry into her privacy."

Wren Sutton abandoned her direct approach and adopted a more relatable explanation, her eyes artfully conveying just the right amount of apprehension and concern.

"You see, Doctor, I know Ms. Bennett. We’re friends, of a sort, but I never knew she had an issue with her left leg."

"I happened to run into her at the hospital today and was about to say hello, but then I saw her come into this office, and I hesitated to approach."

"I was afraid that if I suddenly called out to her or walked up to her, I might touch on a sore subject and hurt her feelings, making things awkward for both of us."

"That’s why I waited until she left before daring to come in and ask you."

Wren Sutton explained her story, her tone earnest.

"I truly mean no harm, and I don’t want to invade her privacy. I just want to understand my friend’s actual situation so that I can be more considerate when we’re together in the future. I want to avoid accidentally saying or doing something to make her uncomfortable or cause any unnecessary embarrassment."

Her explanation was so sensible and well-reasoned that it successfully eased the doctor’s wariness.

The doctor’s expression softened. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke in a tone that was both tactful and clear. "I can only tell you that your suspicion is correct. As for any other details or her diagnosis, I really cannot say more. Please understand."

Hearing the confirmation from the doctor, Wren Sutton’s heart plummeted. An indescribable chill washed over her.

She didn’t linger or try to press him for more details. Steeling her emotions, she said politely, "All right. I understand. Thank you for your time."

With that, Wren Sutton turned and walked out of the office.

The moment the door closed behind her, the calm composure Wren Sutton had been carefully maintaining crumbled, replaced by a complex, heavy expression.

She stared out the window at the distant sky, her heart refusing to quiet down.

She had finally confirmed her suspicion and uncovered the secret Claire Bennett was so desperately trying to hide. Yet, she felt no excitement. Instead, a strong, unidentifiable, and bizarre feeling rose from the depths of her soul.

This secret was like a key, forcing open the floodgates of a memory Wren Sutton had sealed away for years, making her remember a person she had hoped never to think of again.

The woman who had repeatedly used any means necessary to destroy her life, only to lose her own left leg in a self-orchestrated accident, leaving her confined to a wheelchair.

As for whether Maya Marshall had later been fitted with a prosthesis, she didn’t know. She had never bothered to find out.

Wren Sutton wanted nothing to do with Maya Marshall, preferring to act as if she had never existed.

But now, Claire Bennett’s secret had violently dragged that memory to the forefront of her mind.

And the two women had far too much in common.

They both had a left leg amputation.

They were both obsessed with Adrian Lancaster, scheming and contriving all sorts of ways to get close to him. The mixture of adoration and ambition hidden in their eyes was practically identical.

What sent a chill down Wren Sutton’s spine was that they both looked at her with the exact same hostility, jealousy, and scheming gaze.

’No wonder. On the night of the charity gala, the first time I saw Claire Bennett, I felt there was something familiar about her eyes. Now I finally understand. Her eyes are just like Maya Marshall’s.’

The same physical disability, the same target, the same hostility.

How could there be so many unbelievable coincidences in the world?

The more Wren Sutton thought about it, the more her head throbbed as if it were about to split open. Her temples pulsed, and a suffocating panic tightened in her chest, as though an invisible hand were squeezing her heart, making it difficult to breathe.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on her back, clinging to her skin as a chill crept slowly up her spine...

A wild, insane thought exploded in Wren Sutton’s mind.

’Could Claire Bennett actually be Maya Marshall, back in the country with a new face?!’

The moment the thought surfaced, Wren Sutton’s stomach churned violently. Nausea rose in her throat, and the burn of stomach acid stung her eyes, making them red and watery.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, barely suppressing the urge to vomit on the spot.

’No. Impossible.’

Wren Sutton frantically shook her head, desperately trying to deny the horrifying thought.

’It can’t be. How could Claire Bennett and Maya Marshall possibly be connected?’

A while ago, she had spoken with her father-in-law, Theodore Lancaster, on the phone.

During the call, Theodore Lancaster had been calm and resolute, telling her clearly that the Lancaster family had grown suspicious of the Marshall Family after the car accident. They had people secretly monitoring the Marshall family’s every move, and Maya Marshall was under surveillance as well.

They hadn’t found any unusual activity, let alone any sign that Maya Marshall had secretly returned to the country.

All the evidence suggested that Maya Marshall was currently abroad, nowhere near Aston. It was impossible for her to be here, appearing by her side as Claire Bennett.

Wren Sutton sat on a bench in the hallway, covering her face with her ice-cold fingertips as a tide of unease washed over her heart.

’Should I tell Adrian about this?’