CHAPTER 253: SECOND TEST

"How many of them did you manage to gather?" Arthur was surprised when he heard Ranon had been gathering all the people from the Lozens.

All this time, he believed they had all been hunted down and killed. He couldn’t even protect his family; how could he protect his people? The reason he neither returned nor tried to communicate with them was that he was ashamed of himself.

It was his incapability as the leader that caused the downfall of the Lozens.

"Around two hundred or more. We are still looking for them. They know how to hide well."

Initially, Ranon assigned Lucian to handle the task, but later, he delegated it to Dalton and Elric, as the street was their area of expertise. This change enabled them to work more efficiently, and they managed to uncover many people who were still in hiding.

Hazel was aware of this. It was one of the topics they discussed before falling asleep. She also helped him find the secret spots where they might be found and their names.

Ranon was obviously shocked to learn that Hazel knew so much about the Lozens. Not only about River but also about the Lozen family and their people.

All the theories that didn’t make sense for Ranon at first became more believable, even though they were still illogical.

However, Ranon said nothing, because he didn’t want Hazel to become on guard and secretive again around him.

"That’s more than I expected," Arthur said in surprise. He was deep in thought. "What do you want?"

This time, it was Hazel who spoke. She waved her hand at the messy papers on the table. "The hit on Ranon. Who has put the hit on him? What have you found out?"

Arthur then explained to Hazel what he had figured out on his own, but more or less, it was the same as what Hazel and Ranon had found out.

However, Hazel knew her father better. She could tell he was holding back some information. "We can’t work like a team if you keep the information for yourself."

Arthur narrowed his eyes and then leaned back while crossing his arms. He was being defensive, and Hazel could tell that.

"There is something I want to talk with you about, only with you." Arthur glanced at Ranon, indicating for him to leave the room.

"You know that I will tell him whatever you tell me, right?" Without thinking, Hazel mimicked Arthur’s posture, and their gestures didn’t go unnoticed by Ranon.

"Yes, but it is important for me to talk about this matter with you alone," Arthur said.

"No, he stays." Hazel lifted her chin defiantly. "You are not in a position to make a request, Arthur. Was your venture into the Raven family successful?"

Arthur was not happy when Hazel reminded him of it. He contemplated the situation and then gave in. He didn’t have any leverage here.

"Answer my question." Arthur leaned his body forward; his focus was on Hazel. "How could you still be in contact with River when she was supposed to be dead?"

Ranon looked nonchalant, but he waited for Hazel’s answer as well. This was the question he couldn’t ask, because he feared she would pull away from him if he asked so many questions that made her uncomfortable.

On the other hand, Hazel didn’t answer the question directly. She took her time. She had expected this question when Arthur wanted to have a private talk with her.

But then, she still had to tell Ranon about the conversation, and she didn’t want to lie to him.

"River told me about you, about the Lozens, and about what Aubrey and Arlo had done to her." Hazel took a tentative pause, and the room became very tense as if the noise from the street had disappeared. "She wanted me to do a certain thing."

"Why do you have an obligation to cater to her?" Arthur interrupted. "Did you even know her before this?"

Ranon looked relaxed because Arthur had asked—and would ask—the questions that had been plaguing him. This was why he had brought Hazel along, to share the information about Arthur’s whereabouts when Rize had informed him instead of taking care of Arthur himself.

Ranon wanted Arthur to return and take control of his men again, but this time Arthur would work for him. That was his plan, and Hazel agreed to that.

"There are a few things that I can’t tell you. River didn’t want me to disclose them."

"She is dead," Arthur said coldly. His voice was on edge, as if he was holding back his anger and pain.

"Are you sure?" Hazel lifted her head and then looked at Arthur right in the eyes. "Are you sure that’s River’s body?"

Ranon shifted in his seat. He didn’t know where Hazel would lead this conversation.

"What do you mean? I saw the result, and I know you saw it, too."

"The Central Hospital belongs to Rafael Scar. The autopsy and everything else were done there." Hazel then told him about how she didn’t trust that man.

"Do you mean to say that he messed up the report? And for what?"

"I don’t know. There is no harm in checking the body again." Hazel didn’t think about it before. The thought about it just flashed through her mind, and she blurted it out. The more she talked about it, though, the more she believed there was foul play involved.

If the body belonged to River, it was impossible for the time of death to have been just four months before it was discovered.

Other people might assume that River had survived Aubrey’s killing attempt, but somehow someone killed her at the same spot.

However, Hazel knew better than that. It was not a possibility. If the body truly belonged to River, the time of death didn’t make sense.

Ranon raised his brows because he had never heard this theory from her. But it did make sense. After all, Hazel took an extra precaution to take him to another hospital when he had a car crash.

The driver was found dead a few weeks later in jail; thus, they couldn’t get information from a dead person. But the answer was there. It was not an accident. On that front, Ranon and Hazel were sure.

The death of the driver erased all the possibilities that Rafael might be innocent in all of this, and he didn’t collaborate with the McKennas and the Barlowes.

"Even if what you said is true, that the dead body is not River’s, has she ever contacted you all this time?" Arthur intertwined his fingers. The thought of River being alive was messing with his mind. He didn’t want to get his hopes high, but he couldn’t help it.

He wanted to see his daughter. It was hard for him to accept that there was not even a goodbye between them.

The last thing that they talked about was business. He didn’t even do her any justice by not punishing Aubrey and getting revenge on Arlo.

"No," Hazel replied truthfully.

Meanwhile, Ranon didn’t say anything about the phone that he discovered. It was the phone that River used to make calls to other people, but not once was there a log of the phone calls or the messages between River and Hazel.

He was sure all this time that Hazel was the one who pretended to be River.

"But, don’t you think it’s a possibility that she didn’t contact me because she couldn’t?" Hazel didn’t know what nonsense she threw at the wind, but she wanted the second test on the dead body, and Arthur was the only one who could prove it, since he was the only person who was blood-related to River. "You were the one who buried River’s body, right?"

Hazel and Ranon didn’t know where Arthur had buried the body. Even though they could find it if they really wanted to know, Arthur was right before them, so it was easier to ask him directly.

There was silence that fell upon them. The tension in the room was very thick, and none of them talked as they were contemplating their next move.

"Fine." Arthur finally gave in again. He must be exhausted, but he also felt the same feeling whenever he talked to Hazel; he felt as if he were talking to River. "Let’s do it your way."

Right at that moment, Ranon’s phone rang. He received a message from one of his men who was guarding the building.

"Are you expecting a guest?" Ranon lifted his head from the phone and showed the text to Hazel.

"No. No one should know that I am here, but I think I have lost my touch since the two of you can find me. Why?" Arthur saw Hazel glance between him and Ranon, her brows furrowed after she read the text on her husband’s phone. "What is it?"

"Three people are right in front of your door," Ranon said, and when he finished saying that, they heard the doorknob rattling. The three people that Ranon talked about must be trying to enter. "Do you bolt the door?"

Arthur’s eyes widened. "No."

These people might be able to open the door without the key, but if Arthur bolted the door, it might hinder them for a while. Unfortunately, Arthur didn’t.

Soon after, they heard a ’click’ sound and the door opened from the outside.

Everything happened so fast as Arthur pulled out his gun and aimed at the first person who entered the room.