I Read Their Tragic Fates, and My Family Reads My Mind?

Zane Lynch’s almost unyielding attitude surprised Caspian Rhodes. After a moment, he asked tentatively, "What did she do now?"

"What can she even do in her current situation? Nothing but her usual tricks, playing the victim and crying foul first."

Perhaps realizing her self-pity ploy wasn’t having the desired effect, Cassandra Lynch finally started to panic.

While still laid up in the hospital, she couldn’t wait to start whining to her legion of admirers in that manipulative, innocent-pity act she did so well. Now, all the prominent families in Jarden think the Lynch Family are sanctimonious hypocrites—talking a big game about cherishing their late brother’s orphan, while secretly giving her the cold shoulder.

"She probably thought we’d be afraid of the gossip and that even if we were unhappy with her, we’d have to keep up appearances. But she really miscalculated. My parents and I hate being threatened more than anything. We were originally thinking that since we’d lived together for over a decade, we could part on good terms. But now that she’s pulled this stunt, we have no choice but to drop the pretenses."

Caspian Rhodes raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Or maybe she’s betting we don’t have any evidence to prove she isn’t your second uncle and aunt’s biological daughter. Aren’t the rumors still saying you’re deliberately mistreating her to seize the inheritance your uncle and aunt left behind?"

It was like a wake-up call for Zane Lynch. "You’re right. How could I not have thought of that? My brain’s been fried from being so busy lately."

Caspian Rhodes unconsciously recalled what happened the night of the banquet and mercilessly called him out. "You’re not exactly a genius when you’re not busy, either."

Zane Lynch: "..." ’Ouch, man. That one hurt.’

"So? What are you guys planning to do? Go public with the DNA test between your family’s ’Little Two’ and your second uncle and aunt?"

"Of course. If Cassandra Lynch wants to hog my second uncle and aunt’s inheritance, she’d better be their actual biological daughter. If she’s going to use the dead as a shield, she should be prepared for the backlash. As it happens, it’s our family’s Little Two’s birthday in a couple of days. My parents and I will personally go and give *her* a huge surprise!"

"You guys should probably take it easy. You don’t want your ’surprise’ to turn into a ’scare’."

Zane Lynch: "..." ’Bro, would it kill you not to rain on my parade?!’

Having a meltdown that same day was Hector Donovan, who was working in another province. The guest list for Mrs. Donovan’s birthday party was being updated in real-time in the family group chat.

Most of the time, no one paid much attention to it, but Hector Donovan just happened to be bored that day and clicked on it. And that’s when he saw a certain glaring name.

[Donovan Family Gossip Group]

Second Bro²: Why is that pig’s name on the guest list? Who invited him? Is he a relative? Or a close friend? [ANGRY][ANGRY][ANGRY]

Misty Dawn: Which pig? Who invited a pig? [CONFUSED]

Second Bro²: That Rhodes guy! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Even through the screen, Eloise Donovan could imagine her second brother gritting his teeth. But as fate would have it, Mrs. Donovan was an expert at pouring oil on the fire.

Matriarch No. 2: Oh, you mean Mr. Rhodes. Serena invited him. And by the way, he’s the only one Serena invited!

As soon as she said that, Hector Donovan immediately spammed a row of fire-breathing emoji.

Second Bro²: That bastard went behind my back to get close to Serena! We should make Serena delete his contact info. That guy looks like he’s up to no good!

Matriarch No. 2: Well, it wasn’t really behind your back. They just happened to run into each other at the hospital yesterday. She probably mentioned it casually and invited him.

Second Bro²: Yesterday? A chance encounter? Isn’t that guy from Jarden? What hospital were you at to ’run into’ him? Why were you guys at the hospital anyway? Who’s sick?

It was only then that everyone remembered. The situation with Lillian Donovan’s family had been so appalling. Mr. Donovan and Justin Donovan were rushing to find evidence to rescue her from her misery, and Eloise Donovan was busy comforting the two kids. In all the chaos, no one had remembered to tell Hector Donovan. As a result, he was still completely in the dark.

Realizing this, the group chat fell silent.

After a long pause, Justin Donovan finally sent a file.

Reliable Eldest Bro: Gossip File 4 — The Love, Hate, and Drama of Aunt Lillian Donovan’s Family.ppt

The moment the file was posted, everyone in the group was stunned.

Patriarch No. 1: Eldest, you...

Matriarch No. 2: Eldest, you...

Misty Dawn: Big Bro, you...

Meanwhile, Hector Donovan, the only one who had been out of the loop, was busy reading through the summary of events his eldest brother had compiled, along with the investigative information they had already confirmed.

The more he read, the more shocked he became, but there was also a hint of melancholy. A feeling of annoyance and indignation welled up inside him. ’I’m out here working myself to death to support the family, and you’re all feasting on fresh gossip behind my back!’

The matter of Lillian Donovan’s family temporarily captured Hector Donovan’s attention, making him momentarily forget his fixation on Serena actively inviting Caspian Rhodes to the birthday party. He turned his concern to Lillian Donovan’s plans instead.

Second Bro²: It’s come to this... what is Auntie planning to do?

Reliable Eldest Bro: We just need to go through legal channels.

There was no concrete evidence yet linking Julian Croft to Master Donovan’s death.

But the matter with Julian Croft and Willow Croft was undeniable. Although the two never got a marriage certificate, in the eyes of people from certain regions, holding a wedding banquet carries more weight than getting those two little booklets.

Although it had been nearly twenty years, many of their fellow villagers had attended the wedding banquet back then. A few inquiries would bring it all to light.

According to current laws, to determine if someone has committed bigamy, it doesn’t mean they must have two marriage certificates. It’s only necessary to prove that they lived together with Willow Croft as husband and wife during the period of their marriage to Lillian Donovan.

For the Donovan Family, who already knew the two had held a wedding banquet, this was not difficult at all.

Their investigation revealed that the people in Julian Croft’s hometown still believe his wife is Willow Croft.

When Julian Croft brought them to the city, they saw it as a sign that he had made it big and was bringing his parents, wife, and child to enjoy a comfortable life.

From beginning to end, no one knew about the existence of Lillian Donovan and her two children, much less how Julian Croft had become so successful.

The Most Reliable Eldest Bro: Auntie will file for divorce on the grounds of bigamy and demand the return of the marital assets that Julian Croft has spent on Willow Croft and her son over the years.

No matter the grounds for divorce, making the other party leave with nothing is unrealistic.

But thankfully, back when Master Donovan agreed to their marriage, he had the foresight to have them sign a prenup. Therefore, a lot of the money Julian Croft has been siphoning off over the years was actually Lillian Donovan’s prenuptial property.

When they were still a family and on very good terms, Lillian Donovan didn’t fuss over these things. But now that the relationship has shattered and they’re going their separate ways, a serious calculation would result in an astronomical figure.

Julian Croft had indeed earned a lot over the years, but it was nothing compared to what he had spent. In other words, if they approached it from this angle, not only would Julian Croft fail to get any money from Lillian Donovan in the divorce, but he would, in all likelihood, end up owing her a huge sum.