Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 477: Chapter 477

"I'm fine." I took a deep breath, forcing myself to suppress the turbulent emotions inside me. I tried to appear calm and composed as I lifted my gaze to meet Cassidy's eyes.
Her brows furrowed slightly, a faint crease forming between them. Her usually lively eyes were now filled with confusion and uncertainty. She wanted to say something, but after hesitating for a moment, she remained silent.
A few seconds later, her soft yet questioning voice broke the silence. "Laurel, are you investigating this case?"
Lowering my eyes, I ran my fingers lightly over the rim of my glass with a casual smile. "I'm just helping a friend, casually looking into things."
Cassidy obviously didn't fully believe me. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and there was still suspicion in her eyes.
She fell silent for a moment, and the air between us grew tense with an unspoken weight.
Then, in a deep, melodic voice that carried a somber note, she spoke again slowly. "Laurel, this isn't just any case. It's a murder case. I've heard the victim was dissected while still alive. His heart was taken. Do you understand what that means?"
She paused, her deep, piercing eyes locking onto mine, filled with concern and apprehension.
Of course, I understood the gravity of the situation. The method used to kill Wilhelm was brutal and precise. This was no crime of passion. The murderer had a clear purpose.
What troubled me even more was that the missing heart had yet to be found, and there were no reports of recent heart transplant surgeries in the city.
This case reeked of something much bigger, a vast, hidden network of illegal organ trafficking.
Frowning, I unconsciously tapped my fingers against the table, my mind racing.
A criminal organization capable of extracting a heart with surgical precision would have no difficulty disposing of a body. And yet, they had deliberately dumped Wilhelm's corpse in the river at Disrey Park.
A man like Wilhelm, debt-ridden, aimless, with no real connections, wouldn't be missed immediately. His family would likely assume he had fled from his creditors.
So why would the killers abandon his body so openly? Was it an act of defiance, a taunt directed at the authorities? Or had something gone wrong?
Thinking of this, a sudden sense of urgency gripped me.
I shot up from my seat, my voice edged with anxiety. "Cassidy, I need to go. Send me Jalen's contact information."
Cassidy flinched at my abrupt movement. Her face turned pale. The rosiness of her lips faded into an almost bloodless shade.
She clutched the hem of her shirt tightly, her voice quivering. "Laurel, you..."
Seeing the worry in her eyes, a warmth spread through my chest. I quickly reassured her. "Don't worry. I'll be careful."
With that, I gave her a brief wave and hurried out of the restaurant.
I had Liam accompany me to the hospital.
The moment I pushed open Marvin's hospital room door, the sharp scent of disinfectant filled my nose.
I walked straight to his bedside, grabbed a sandwich from the cabinet nearby, unwrapped it smoothly, and took a small bite.
While chewing thoughtfully, I eagerly asked, "Marvin, tell me, in the days leading up to the incident, was there any unusual activity near Disrey Park? Any police patrols around that area?"
Marvin was leaning against the headboard, reading a book. Hearing my question, he looked up, his face showing clear disdain. He frowned slightly, his eyes filled with confusion. "Why are you asking about this?"
Just then, I noticed his Adam's apple move subtly, and a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.
Without another word, he quickly put down his book, grabbed his phone, and his fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he dialed a number.
Turning his back to me, he spoke in a low, serious voice, though I couldn't make out what he was saying.
After a while, he hung up and turned around. His expression had grown incredibly grave.
He remained silent for a long moment, as if organizing his thoughts, then finally said, "A few days ago, there was a burglary in the villa district near Disrey Park. Someone called the police, claiming things had been stolen from their home."
The hospital room fell into a heavy silence, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall breaking the stillness.
I set aside the untouched noodles in my hands, leaned forward slightly, and asked urgently, "Was anyone assigned to investigate? Did they find anything unusual?"
Marvin shook his head, rubbing his temples lightly, his brows deeply furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
He said, "I sent Ethan and Brady to check it out. They reported back saying they found nothing unusual."
I knew Ethan and Brady were both highly capable investigators, especially Brady. He was practically Marvin's mentor.
When Marvin first joined the police force, he had been assigned to Brady's team and had even taken a knife for him once. Their bond was anything but ordinary.
As for Ethan, he had been working with Marvin for years, always diligent and reliable.
"You suspect the two of them?" Marvin lifted his gaze, locking eyes with me. His expression was stunned, clearly not expecting such a theory from me.
A brief silence followed before his eyes hardened with determination. His tone was firm. "Impossible! Laurel, stop making baseless accusations! I've worked with Brady and Ethan for years. I know them better than anyone. There's no way they would do something like this!"
His face darkened instantly, veins subtly bulging on his forehead. He pushed himself up on the bed, leaning forward, his entire demeanor exuding anger. His eyes bore into mine, filled with frustration and disbelief.
I looked at him calmly, unfazed by his reaction. Letting out a soft sigh, I said, "Marvin, I want to believe that too.
"But out of everyone with access to the investigation, who else could have this level of information? I'm not accusing them without reason, but all the clues are pointing in this direction. We can't afford to overlook any possibilities."
He retorted, "It wasn't them. There are other members in the investigative team."
I exhaled quietly, stepping behind him. "Marvin, I know you don't want to believe it. But think carefully. When Brady and Ethan reported about the villa, was there nothing unusual? Are there any details you might have overlooked?"
Marvin pursed his lips, his expression blank as he lifted his head to meet my gaze. His voice was low and steady as he finally said, "Brady mentioned that his child suddenly developed a high fever that day, so he left early."