CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 370: THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE DIED IS ME

In the villa’s side hall, Vincent Warner stood alone by the corridor, smoking.

A person dressed in a waiter’s outfit approached, "Mr. Vincent Warner, correct?"

Vincent looked at the waiter with curiosity, and the waiter said, "A lady named Audrey Sutton is looking for you."

"Audrey? Where is she?"

"In the tea break room of the side hall."

On the other side, after meeting Old Mr. Holt, Audrey Sutton was heading to the restaurant to find Shane Warner when she encountered a waiter halfway and received the same invitation.

Unsure what Vincent Warner wanted with her, thinking she might find some clues about the car accident from back then, Audrey glanced in the restaurant’s direction. Shane should still be chatting with Quentin Sterling, so she turned towards the resting area of the side hall.

It was designed like a café booth, with no partitions between them.

From afar, she saw Vincent Warner sitting in the corner by the door. Audrey stepped forward, "Mr. Warner?"

Vincent turned his head to look at Audrey, smiling slightly, "Didn’t Shane come with you?"

"...He’s over there discussing something." Audrey dared not say she came behind Shane’s back, let alone bring him along.

Feeling guilty, Audrey glanced around before sitting opposite Vincent, asking him, "Mr. Warner, why did you ask for me?"

Vincent looked puzzled, "Wasn’t it you who called me here?"

Audrey froze, confused, "I didn’t."

"A waiter just told me you were looking for me and asked me to wait for you here."

Audrey: "...Same here, he said you were looking for me."

Realizing something strange, Audrey felt it was a setup by someone. She sneakily surveyed the area again and found nothing unusual.

"Was there a mix-up? Could Shane have asked you here, and they got it wrong?"

Audrey shook her head, "Someone arranged this clandestinely, Mr. Warner. I’ve been encountering many strange things lately."

Talking with her head down, Audrey said, "It seems like someone wants me to investigate Shane’s car accident from back then."

Mentioning Sean Warner’s accident, Vincent’s eyes seemed to dim slightly, "Sean’s accident?"

Audrey nodded, "Recently, someone has been sending me photos, all about you, Sean, and my brother, as well as many photos and reports of that accident. I’ve been perplexed and wanted to talk to you."

Vincent lowered his eyes, pursing his lips, seemingly misunderstood in this matter, he appeared somewhat guilty.

Audrey said, "Mr. Warner, I actually believe you’re innocent. My brother said it couldn’t have been you. I think there’s definitely some misunderstanding causing Shane to always misunderstand you. Can you tell me what happened back then?"

Vincent didn’t expect Audrey to believe him. It seemed everyone thought he caused Sean’s death, and he had too many injustices to defend himself. He indeed felt sorry for Shane.

Vincent paused, as if recalling the events of that time, pursed his lips, and softly replied, "It’s not surprising Shane hates me. The night Sean had the accident, he was driving my car, so everyone thought I tampered with the car and killed Sean. But I really didn’t do anything. I don’t know what went wrong. I don’t know if it was an accident or if the one meant to die was supposed to be me. I investigated, but the parking lot surveillance was missing, and it was treated as a traffic accident, leaving the truth unresolved."

"The surveillance was missing? Are you saying someone tampered with your car?"

Vincent nodded, "I think everything was too coincidental. Just that night, the surveillance was gone. That’s why I don’t think it was a traffic accident. But it’s also the reason people suspect me."

Audrey found the situation increasingly strange. She recalled those photos, unable to understand the connection with her brother. Why were there photos of her brother and Sean together?

Vincent sighed, continuing, "I’ve always felt that the person who should have died that night was me. Sean can be considered a victim because of me, so it’s understandable that Shane can’t forgive me."

Audrey: "If that’s really the case, then you’re also a victim. I think the real culprit hasn’t surfaced and has cleverly pinned everything on you."

Vincent lowered his eyes, smiled, and said, "Actually, none of it matters now. It’s been so long, and things that couldn’t be uncovered then are even harder to find now. What’s past is past. I’m grateful that Shane met you. Maybe you’re his salvation. He used to live in so much pain, but now, it’s evident that he truly finds happiness with you."

...

From a distance, Shane Warner watched the tea room with a furrowed brow but didn’t approach.

Lan Irving came up to him, looking in the same direction at Audrey and Vincent, she looked up at Shane, saying, "Shane, aren’t you afraid she’ll team up with Vincent?"

Shane remained silent.

Lan continued, "Don’t forget how your brother died. When you’re caught in love, I foresaw this outcome, but unfortunately, she seems to have entered your heart. Now, even if she asks you to gouge out your heart for her, you’d probably willingly do it, wouldn’t you?"

Shane said nothing, turned, and walked towards the hall’s exit, with Lan watching his back, softly reminding, "Don’t be foolish, Shane. It’s still not too late to see everything clearly."

Audrey, thinking about Shane, had many more questions for Vincent but dared not delve deeper. She rose and left the resting area, heading straight for the restaurant, only to find Shane no longer there.

Bowing her head, she took her phone from her bag and dialed Shane’s number, "Honey, where are you?"

A hoarse answer came from the other side, "Waiting outside for you."

Upon hearing this, Audrey immediately ran towards the hall’s exit, seeing him leaning against the wall, smoking.

She furrowed her brow, glaring at him, "Didn’t you say you didn’t bring any cigarettes? Smoking again!"

Shane chuckled, "Someone else gave them to me."

Seeing him stub out the cigarette in his hand, Audrey didn’t say anything further and asked, "Shall we leave?"

Shane tossed the butt into the nearby trash bin, turned, and embraced her, saying, "Let’s go."

Snuggling into his embrace, Audrey asked, "How did the talks go?"

"Quite well."

Audrey gave him a sideways glance and said, "I’m not being petty, but even though Brother Sterling may be upright, Clarissa Morgan is still his wife. You should be cautious when cooperating with him, so there won’t be any trouble if something goes wrong with the product."