Chapter 237 She Is My Godmother
Ryder's panicked voice came through, "Mrs. Gemma Lancaster... she's dead!"
"What?" Harriet was shocked. "How could this happen! When did this happen!"
"Just now, Uma called and said Mrs. Gemma Lancaster suddenly lost consciousness. By the time the doctor rushed over to try to save her, she had already passed away!"
"Mr. Tristan Lancaster is on his way to the hot spring villa now, and I'm about to head over too!"
For some reason, Harriet felt inexplicably uneasy. "Was it an accident?"
"We don't know yet!" Ryder said. "But according to Uma, it was Dr. Smith who killed Mrs. Gemma Lancaster."
"Absolutely impossible!" Harriet said with certainty. "Ryder, I'll book a flight back right away. You must help me take care of Dr. Smith!"
"Yes."
"What's wrong?" Niamh noticed Harriet's pale face and asked, "What happened?"
"I need to get back to Emberfall right away."
Niamh realized something had happened. "I'll book the tickets!"
"The earliest flight isn't until tomorrow morning." Caspian stood up. "From the look on your face, this seems urgent. How about I arrange a private jet to take you back? You can arrive in Emberfall early tomorrow morning."
Harriet didn't hesitate much before accepting. "Thank you. I'll remember this favor."
"I'll make the call right now."
The two returned to the hotel to get their luggage, then headed straight to the airport.
Throughout the journey, Harriet kept calling Tristan, but no one answered.
Harriet called Ian, who picked up. "Harriet."
"Mr. Jones, do you know something happened at the hot spring villa?"
"I know, I'm heading there now."
"I feel much better knowing you're there. Dr. Smith couldn't possibly kill anyone. You must protect her. I'm already on my way back."
"Okay."
Harriet called Ryder again.
"What's the situation?"
"Mrs. Harriet Lancaster, Mrs. Gemma Lancaster has indeed passed away."
Harriet could hear crying through the phone—it must be Uma and Quinlan.
Harriet asked urgently, "Has the cause of death been determined?"
"Not yet. Mr. Lancaster has arranged for a medical examiner to come."
"That's good. Once the medical examiner arrives, everything will be clear." Harriet said, "The plane is about to take off. Please take care of Tristan for me."
"Yes."
The private jet took off, merging with the night sky.
Harriet lay in the comfortable seat, staring blankly at the ink-black night outside the window.
Niamh covered her with a thin blanket. "Harriet, long flights are exhausting. Get some sleep."
"I can't sleep." Harriet felt uneasy. "I don't know what's happening in Emberfall."
"Your mother-in-law never liked you. The fact that you're rushing back for the funeral is already more than enough. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"She's not the one I'm worried about."
Harriet had never been someone who repaid evil with kindness. Gemma's death meant nothing to her.
What worried her was what lay behind this incident.
Was it an accident? Or did someone murder her?
Why would they say Ondine killed her?
Harriet was also worried about Tristan.
After all, Gemma was his biological mother. Her sudden death—he couldn't possibly not be grieving.
Harriet closed her eyes, pushed away her anxious thoughts, and forced herself to sleep.
When the plane landed, it was past nine in the evening, Emberfall time.
Harriet dialed Tristan's phone, but still no one answered.
She called Ryder. "Where is Tristan now?"
"Mr. Lancaster is at the hot spring villa."
"Has the autopsy report come out?"
"Yes, Mrs. Gemma Lancaster died from poisoning—potassium cyanide, a heavy dose. Death was instant."
"How could she be poisoned?"
"Dr. Smith poisoned her."
"Impossible!" Harriet said anxiously. "It absolutely couldn't be Dr. Smith! Where is Dr. Smith now?"
"Also at the hot spring villa."
Harriet urged the driver anxiously, "Drive faster!"
As the taxi was about to reach the hot spring villa, the driver in the front seat suddenly spoke up. "Look, is that a fire up ahead?"
Harriet looked closely, and her whole body trembled violently!
The hot spring villa was on fire!
The taxi didn't dare get too close and stopped far from the villa.
From a distance, they could see the entire villa burning fiercely.
"Tristan!"
Harriet didn't have time to pay and hurriedly got out of the car, running toward the villa!
From afar, she saw Xavier sitting collapsed on the ground in the courtyard.
Tristan stood not far from Xavier, pointing a gun at the villa.
Harriet looked in the direction of his gun barrel and saw Ondine trapped inside the burning villa.
"Don't!"
The gunshot rang out almost simultaneously.
Ondine inside the villa slowly fell, her figure swallowed by the flames.
"No!"
Harriet screamed and ran toward the villa.
"Harriet!" Tristan turned and saw Harriet, immediately rushing forward to hold her. "What are you doing? It's dangerous over there!"
"Don't!" Harriet struggled while crying. "Let me go! I need to save her!"
"You're crazy!" Tristan held her tight, not letting her move. "It's dangerous over there!"
The burning villa suddenly exploded.
Tristan immediately picked up Harriet and ran outside.
Xavier also scrambled to escape.
After a loud bang, all three fell to the ground.
Harriet felt her head buzzing.
She raised her hand to pat her throbbing head and turned to look.
The villa after the explosion had collapsed, with only towering flames reflected in her eyes.
Harriet struggled to stand up and stumbled toward the villa. "No... you can't die..."
"Harriet!" Tristan caught up and grabbed her.
Seeing her face as pale as paper, Tristan's heart trembled. "What's wrong with you?"
"Tristan!"
Harriet shouted in breakdown and suddenly raised her hand.
A slap landed heavily on Tristan's face.
His head turned from the impact.
He didn't care about anything else and continued asking, "Harriet, you..."
The next second, Harriet in front of him collapsed like a butterfly with broken wings.
"Harriet!"
When Harriet woke up again, it was already daylight.
She lay in a hospital room with an IV needle in the back of her hand.
"Harriet, you're awake?"
Tristan sat by the bed, holding her hand. "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
"You fainted last night. The doctor said it was from lack of rest combined with emotional distress. You need to..."
"Where's Ondine?" Harriet's weak voice suddenly interrupted him.
"The villa exploded and is being cleared. No body has been found yet, but they found some remains."
Harriet froze, then pulled out the IV needle and threw off the covers to get out of bed.
"Harriet, don't move!" Tristan held her down. "The doctor said you need to rest properly."
"Let me go!" Harriet shouted in breakdown and pushed him away. "Tristan, why did you kill her? Why!"
"Because she killed my mother."
"Impossible!" Harriet's eyes were bloodshot. "She would never kill anyone, absolutely not!"
"Harriet, you can know someone's face but not their heart."
"Others might not know, but I know. She's an incredibly kind person. She could never kill anyone!"
"How could you possibly know?" Tristan asked. "Just because you got along well with her for three months, you've determined her character?"
"Harriet, you said yourself that your judgment of people isn't as good as mine. Don't you trust me?"
"I know she cured your condition and you're very grateful to her, but Harriet, that doesn't make up for the crime of killing my mother."
"I told you that while I was abroad, you had to help me take good care of her!" Harriet shouted in breakdown. "She's not just my lifesaver—she's my godmother!"