?<strong>Chapter 653:</strong>


    Jayden looked at Elyse, his expression one of confusion. “How can you be so certain?”


    Elyse paused, her voice earnest. “I had a dream that someone pushed Tracy into the sea. She would never have taken her own life.”


    Jayden’s eyebrow arched. “So, you’re suggesting she didn’t head to Liverton by choice? Someone forced her?”


    Elyse nodded firmly. “It seems likely. She was ready to turn a new leaf with Shaun and had ns to see him the very next day. There’s no way she was contemting suicide.”


    Jayden considered this for a moment. “You’re saying Tracy had no intention of ending her life, certainly not in Liverton. If she was desperate, she could have found a way in Watscar.”


    “So, someone must have brought Tracy to Liverton and then pushed her into the sea, staging it as a suicide,” Elyse concluded with a serious tone.


    Jayden’s eyebrow lifted again. “If we follow that theory, then the most probable person who would have taken her to Liverton is—”


    Their eyes met and together they dered, “Lowell Ruiz.”


    Elyse began to piece it together. “Lowell is a major suspect. Remember, he even followed Dolores to Watscar recently to confront Shaun.”


    Jayden nodded. “Lowell’s mental state has been the talk of Liverton. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have harassed Tracy for Dolores’ sake.”


    Elyse nodded in agreement. “We’ll have to wait for Shaun to emerge before we can hear the full story.”


    Two hourster, Shaun entered the living room, refreshed and clean. He looked at Elyse and Jayden. “You two are still here? What’s on your mind?”


    “We need to discuss something about Lowell,” Elyseid out her analysis for Shaun, who listened intently, remaining quiet for a full ten minutes.


    Finally, Shaun broke the silence. “Initially, Dolores visited Watscar to propose a marriage between us. The Ruiz family had hit a rough patch and needed a solid ally to stabilize their finances. They sought my help.”


    Elyse, curious, interjected, “Did you agree to the marriage?”


    Shaun shook his head, his expression solemn.


    “I didn’t agree, but offered financial support to the Ruiz family during their difficult period. My only condition was that they leave me and Tracy out of their troubles. They epted the terms and soon returned to Liverton with Lowell.”


    “So, you’re saying your parting with Dolores was on good terms, and they agreed not to harass Tracy further. You believe Lowell had nothing to do with Tracy’s death and that he genuinely found her first after she took her own life?” Elyse summarized, seeking confirmation.


    Shaun remained silent, his doubts about Lowell and Dolores’ involvement in Tracy’s tragedy evident on his face.


    Observing Elyse’s distress, Jayden chimed in, trying to offer some closure. “If you trust Lowell and Dolores that much, maybe it’s best to stop digging into Tracy’s death. Perhaps it’s easier to ept that she didn’t love you anymore and chose to end her life in the sea.”


    Shaun, caught off guard by Jayden’s suggestion, faltered. “Will you stop the investigation?”


    Jayden arched an eyebrow, puzzled. “When I learned of Tracy’s death in the sea, my immediate response was to organize a search for her body. To this day, that search is ongoing. If Tracy really died, there should be some evidence—a body.”


    Shaun’s difort became apparent. “You haven’t actually searched for her body, have you? You’re more concerned about her than I am, and I’m barely her friend.”


    “Shut up!” Shaun snapped, irked by thement that struck a nerve.


    Elyse let out a weary sigh. “You’re convinced Lowell and Dolores did no harm to Tracy, yet we’re certain she wouldn’tmit suicide. If Tracy is indeed gone, we must uncover the real reason behind her death.”


    With those words, Elyse grabbed her purse, ready to depart.


    “Wait,” Shaun’s voice halted her.


    Turning, Elyse faced him, her expression puzzled.


    After a tense pause, Shaun dered, “I’ming with you.”


    Surprised, Elyse nodded her agreement. Driven by urgency, Shaun couldn’t bear to dy and promptly began their journey.


    As they flew on Shaun’s private ne, Elyse rested her chin on her hand, staring out the window. A sudden recollection made her exim, “I just remembered Tracy had been alone with Lowell once.”


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