The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Chapter 124

She sent money to her in-laws every month, and they were content to let her be, happy to have one less person to feed.

When Maria was five, and Zilvia started kindergarten, Catherine brought Maria to live with the Carter family. After Zilvia’s accident, the Carter family fell into financial hardship and turmoil, constantly beset by illness and unrest. Catherine, not wanting to burden the family, took Maria back to her in-laws. Not long after returning, Catherine ran...

Jaden paused, a glint of admiration flickering in his eyes. "Although I never said it aloud, I also had my suspicions about her. After Zilvia’s disappearance, I kept a close watch on her and investigated her movements over the past few months. But I found nothing that linked her to Zilvia’s disappearance. There were several times I caught her secretly scolding Maria, blaming her. She said that if Maria hadn’t caught a cold and needed care on New Year’s Day, she would have gone with Zilvia, and Zilvia wouldn’t have gone missing. I also noticed how she looked at our grandparents with resentment. I didn’t believe she wanted anything bad to happen to Zilvia."

Avery pondered and said, "Why does Catherine not love her daughter but love Zilvia instead?"

Jaden fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "I think she was banking on Zilvia becoming successful in the future so that she could bask in the glory."

Avery nodded, feeling like she was finally starting to understand. She asked, "Do you have any photos of Catherine?"

Jaden replied, "Mom should have some. You can ask her."

"Alright, thank you." Avery exhaled, placing a hand on her stomach. "You’ve given me a lot of information. I need time to process it, and I don’t have any more questions for now. There’s still plenty of food. Let’s keep eating."

Jaden smiled, a hint of anticipation in his expression. "So, what’s your current theory about Zilvia’s disappearance?"

Avery remained silent for a few seconds. "This case has been analyzed by the police, online investigators, and many experts over the years. Numerous conclusions have been drawn, but two unsolved mysteries remain. First, what did Zilvia see, or what caught her attention that made her leave the area alone? And second, how did Zilvia manage to avoid the surveillance cameras?"

Jaden leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. "So, what’s your conclusion?"

Avery’s gaze grew deep, sharp, and calm, completely unlike that of an eighteen-year-old. She said, "I analyzed all the information you and Dad provided and studied the layout of the shopping plaza where it happened. Zilvia and I are almost identical, not just in appearance but in mentality, personality, and the way we think. I put myself in Zilvia’s shoes and wondered why I would leave if I were her. How could I have avoided the cameras? My conclusion is... in that setting, during such a short window of time, no one could have lured me away, and nothing could have attracted me enough to leave the adults and go off on my own. The only possibility is that I left on my own accord, voluntarily, maybe even with a plan and a purpose, fully intending not to let anyone find or see me."

This was the thought that had first crossed Avery’s mind when her father mentioned Zilvia’s mysterious disappearance. It was such a wild and frightening thought that she hadn’t dared to explore it further at the time. But now, after doing a lot of painstaking research, going through the case files with help from her high-level police contacts, and thinking about what Jaden had just said, Avery was convinced that this possibility was real.

Jaden, usually calm and composed, found himself breathing a bit heavier, leaning back slightly in shock at such a bold idea. He said, "Are you saying that no one lured Zilvia away? That it was all part of her own plan?" His tone grew more agitated, his head shaking. "Even if she had such a thought, she was only five years old. Where could she have gone alone? What could she have done? She’d need to take a bus, a subway, buy tickets, book a hotel, rent a place..."

"You’re right." Avery nodded, her expression serious. "That is why I think she had help—an accomplice working from the outside."

Jaden was speechless. He stared at Avery in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, unsure of what to say. Anyone hearing such a theory would find it hard to believe a five-year-old could think of or carry out such a plan.

Avery remained calm. "Given Zilvia’s personality, she wouldn’t have liked ordinary street performances or crowded events. But on New Year’s Day, she insisted on going to the city center for something lively, which was out of character for her. Jaden, think carefully. On the day of the incident, was it Zilvia who suggested going to the pedestrian street? Was it her idea to ask your grandparents to take her? Why didn’t any of the other kids go with her?"

Jaden opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. After a long pause, he finally replied in a low voice, "You’re right. That day, it was her idea to go to the pedestrian street, and she specifically asked our grandparents to take her. Catherine had wanted to take her, but Zilvia said Catherine needed to stay and take care of the sick Maria. We weren’t interested in the commotion. Alaric and Arthur went to set off fireworks with the neighborhood kids. Zilvia was the only one who wanted to go downtown."

Avery pressed further, "Zilvia could use the internet, right? She could chat with people online, right?"

Jaden closed his eyes, his fingers, which had been interlaced, now separating and clenching into fists. "Yes, she could already type, play online games, and search the web."

"Avery, you..." His voice trembled, sadness filling his eyes. "Do you really think it’s possible? Do you think Zilvia really ran away on purpose, intending never to let us find her again?"

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