Chapter 184
"Thanks, Adeline," Chloe said automatically.
Adeline waved her off with casual ease. "Don't mention it. I'll let you know once I find something."
After entrusting Adeline with the investigation, Chloe couldn't help but worry about it.
Just then, Karen's call came through.
Chloe's thoughts snapped back to reality. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, she decided to answer.
"What do you want?" She answered flatly.
"Chloe, do you have any respect for me as your mother? Where have you gone off to now? Get back to Crystal Haven immediately. Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused? The Williams family is giving us grief over this."
Karen's fury hit Chloe the moment she opened her mouth.
Chloe instinctively held the phone away from her ear.
Faced with the scolding, Chloe remained silent, acting as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Chloe's silence didn't stop Karen's tirade.
"I don't care where you are right now. Go apologize to the Williams family immediately. You really are heartless."
Hearing this, Chloe let out a cold laugh.
"Mom, I learned it all from you, didn't I? Do you know where I am right now? I'm in Riverton, standing in the house where you and Dad once lived. Guess what I've discovered?"
Chloe deliberately tested her.
Sure enough, Karen's tone changed.
"Chloe, you're being paranoid again! I've told you a thousand times—your father and I only got married because I accidentally got pregnant with you. He's been dead for years, and I've remarried. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Why so nervous, Karen? If you have nothing to hide, you wouldn't be scared even if I were standing at my father's grave right now."
Chloe's eyes grew colder as she remembered Anais on her deathbed.
"Besides, I wonder which is more embarrassing—Avery's bastard child or me! Our mother-daughter relationship is over. The next time I contact you, it'll be about my father. You'd better pray I never reach out to you again!"
Chloe was rapidly losing patience.
Seeing this, Karen's attitude softened as she tried to probe, "Wait, Chloe, I'm just worried about you. Your father and I lived together for ten years—how could there be no feelings between us? I was wrong. I'm just concerned about you. Derek's upset, there's so much going on at home, and now you and I are at odds. I need to think about myself too. Chloe, how have you been lately?"
With those words, Chloe immediately sensed Karen had ulterior motives for this call.
Chloe frowned instinctively, her voice tinged with impatience, "If you have something to say, just say it. I don't have time for small talk."
"I just wanted to ask if you've received any messages recently?" Karen asked vaguely, continuing to probe.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Goodbye."
Chloe made a move to hang up.
Perhaps afraid Chloe would notice something suspicious, Karen deliberately mumbled, "It's nothing, I was just asking. We are mother and daughter after all. Don't be angry with me. Remember to tell me if anything comes up."
Chloe didn't even respond before Karen hurriedly ended the call, as if afraid she might ask more questions.
Soon, Adeline finished investigating the origin of the email Chloe had received.
After sending Chloe the results, Adeline initiated a video call.
Chloe answered immediately and began reading the contents of the file.
"Chloe, I had someone check with the institution. That managed asset is an inheritance—not a large sum, but it's something your father left for you," Adeline explained while Chloe reviewed the documents.
"My father? Why am I only getting an email about my father's inheritance now?"
Chloe's voice was filled with confusion.
It wasn't that she didn't believe Edward would leave her an inheritance, but the timing of this asset's appearance seemed too strange.
Adeline shook her head and continued, "It is definitely from your father, but as for why now, the institution says this is the final payment."
Chloe immediately caught the key information in Adeline's statement.
"If this is the final payment, that means there were previous ones. Where did all that inheritance go?"
Chloe's expression gradually darkened as one suspect formed in her mind.
Clearly, Adeline had reached the same conclusion as Chloe.
Adeline spoke first, voicing Chloe's suspicions.
"You don't think Karen took the money, do you? Otherwise, this doesn't make sense."
"We don't have evidence yet. We need to investigate this properly. I'll ask her when the time comes."
Chloe's expression turned serious, her tone matching.
Even though she didn't want to suspect Karen.
Suddenly, Chloe remembered Karen's strange phone call.
"Adeline, Karen called me yesterday."
"What? Why would she call you? She's up to no good. What did she say?"
Adeline's voice instinctively rose a few notches, clearly displeased.
"I tested her with a few questions at first, and she got anxious. Then she asked if I had received any messages, and hurriedly hung up."
Chloe recounted her conversation with Karen truthfully.
Adeline immediately rolled her eyes. "I knew it! She must be involved. She probably took the money to support Avery. Hasn't she always favored her all these years?"
Realizing she'd misspoken, Adeline quickly apologized to Chloe, "Sorry, Chloe. I just got too angry."
Chloe shook her head, not taking offense.
"I just want to get to the bottom of my father's inheritance."
With that, Chloe ended the video call with Adeline and called Karen instead.
Karen clearly hadn't expected Chloe to call so suddenly. Though confused, she answered.
"What was that message you mentioned earlier?"
Chloe got straight to the point.
Karen grew wary, countering with, "What message? I was just making conversation."
Hearing her response, Chloe deliberately said, "Maybe I misunderstood. I think I received something today, but accidentally deleted it."
At this, Karen breathed a sigh of relief, attempting to gloss over the matter.
"Enough of this nonsense. I don't understand what you're talking about. I am your birth mother after all—I went through the pain of pregnancy to have you. If you don't want to help Avery, then just stay in Riverton."
With that, Karen hung up, giving Chloe no chance to continue.
The more Karen acted this way, the more suspicious Chloe became.
"What's wrong? You don't look well."
Howard's concerned voice came from behind her.
After collecting herself, Chloe explained everything that had happened.
"This matter deserves a thorough investigation. I also believe there might be more to this story."
After listening to Chloe, Howard offered his sincere advice.
"Alright, I'll look into the Scott family."
Meanwhile.
Karen turned anxiously to Derek, who was lying on the couch. "What do we do? That little bitch seems to have caught onto something about what happened back then. What if she discovers the truth?"
Derek pushed Karen away irritably, displaying complete indifference.
"What are you afraid of? Nothing's happened for all these years. What waves can she possibly make? You women worry too much."