Chapter 272 Plotting

Ten minutes later, Natalie sat across from Stephen in his study, holding a cup of water. Despite her efforts to appear calm, the trace of worry on her brow was evident, and Stephen easily picked up on it.

"Do you not want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Uncle..."

"Yeah?"

"Don't you think everyone around here has been acting strangely lately?" Natalie pondered.

It seemed to have started when Cedric was released from Verde City prison. Both her uncle and Irwin had become peculiar.

The photos she had seen in this study felt like thorns piercing her heart. Regardless of Irwin's past kindness, Natalie now felt an overwhelming sense of doubt.

"Nat, we're talking about you now," Stephen's tone became more serious, causing a momentary tightness in Natalie's chest.

Before she could respond, Stephen continued, "Behaving like this will only make your aunt worry a lot."

"I know," she acknowledged.

She knew!

Yet, suddenly, the tranquility she had managed to restore in her life was disr