Chapter 1582:

“I’m not blind, Corrine,” Jules responded. How could he overlook such a prominent item? Especially since Nate had acquired the tiara for a hefty sum, earning him the label of a foolish spendthrift from many. Its opulence was hard to miss.

“Can’t you see? The craftsmanship of these two hairpins and that tiara are strikingly similar,” Corrine asked, her voice light but laced with a hint of sarcasm, as if to mock Jules’ carelessness.

Jules rubbed the back of his neck, unsure. “And what exactly does that imply?” The tiara had been fiercely sought after due to legends claiming it hid a treasure map. Jules, however, had always been skeptical of such fanciful stories and was quick to dismiss them.

Corrine turned to face the window, her hands clasped around the glass, eyes lost in the view of the meticulously trimmed lawn. “I can’t shake the feeling that the arrival of the tiara, followed by the hairpins, is trying to guide me somewhere.”

Jules furrowed his brow slightly at her words. “Do you suspect the Hopkins family has some hidden agenda concerning you?” If that were the case, it might explain Carl’s strong opposition to the marriage. Historically, the Ford family and the Hopkins family had never intertwined their affairs. And while the Fords were wealthy, their resources paled in comparison to…

The vast fortunes of the Hopkins family—what could possibly be their interest in them?

“This is just a theory,” Corrine mused, placing her glass down and meeting Jules’ gaze. “Has there been any update from Eaton lately?”

Ever since Jonathan supplied the medication, there had been notable strides in the lab’s work, yet the breakthrough they needed continued to evade them. After analyzing Jonathan’s medication, they discovered that he had only used a substance similar in structure as a makeshift replacement.

“I’m actually headed to the lab this afternoon. Care to come along?” Jules suggested.

gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.k𝗈𝗺 – 𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝒶𝓽 𝖠𝖳

“Sure. Let’s go.”

As they drove, the conversation turned to the lunch earlier.

“Did you pick up on anything unusual about the old man today?” Jules asked.

“Did you catch any of their conversation?” Corrine asked, arching an eyebrow as she turned to face Jules.

Her attention had been on the engagement gifts at that time, not the discussions in the private room. Yet, the lingering tension during the meal was palpable, suggesting that the exchanges had been anything but cordial.

“I had stepped out for a smoke, remember?” Jules responded. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t find out what was said.”

Their eyes met, and Waldo’s face suddenly appeared in Corrine’s mind. Waldo, far away in his law office, possibly felt the distant tremors of conspiracy, as he shivered and sneezed uncontrollably.

Their discussion was still unfolding as they reached the lab.

Exiting the car, Corrine and Jules entered the building, finding Eaton poring over the latest experimental results. Hearing them approach, Eaton looked up briefly before extending a sheaf of papers toward them.

“You’ve timed your visit perfectly. Here’s the chemical analysis of the latest sample.”

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