Chapter 678 The Ludwig Family
Rumors are often grounded in truth..
“Who brought me to her room tonight?”
Nathaniel only remembered fragments during his intoxication. He recalled losing control over his faculties after a sip of the red wine handed to him by a fellow guest and that he seemed to have met Christina when he was on his way up to the suite on the top deck.
By the time he regained his wits, the woman in his arms had transformed into somebody else..
Then, Christina caught him red–handed.
Endowed with values imparted by his parents, Nathaniel could not tolerate his spouse’s unfaithfulness.
Now, however, he had become the person he despised more than anything.
“I went through the surveillance cameras on the ship. The person who brought you to Vera’s room is a server who works on the ship, but upon closer investigation, he is no longer aboard.” Sebastian frowned. “We have not docked since setting sail, and the lifeboats are all intact, which is why I suspect it is somebody in disguise. He has accomplices on this ship and more than one at that.
Vera is perhaps one of them.
Given Nathaniel’s reputation, they could not eliminate the possibility of her having other ideas when he was delivered to her door, as they were countless women who wanted a piece of Nathaniel.
“Focus your investigative efforts on Vera.” Nathaniel’s expression was grim. “See if she had any plastic surgery in the past.”
He noticed that Vera’s face was odd, like it had been stuck on.
Coupled with the rumors surrounding the Ludwig family, Nathaniel had reason to believe that Vera’s identity was stolen. D
“Why couldn’t Vera claim her inheritance?” he asked suddenly
“It is said that her father had placed his will in a safety deposit box with the bank when she turned eighteen as a coming–of–age gift. The only way to open it is with her fingerprint, which is not a match. That is why she has not been able to claim her inheritance, which is also the source of the rumor surrounding her identity.”
When Nathaniel heard that, he seemed to have come to a decision. “Find a way to get her fingerprint and a DNA test between her and the Ludwig family.”
While Nathaniel was doing his best to investigate Vera’s identity, Christina was not grieving. She and Nathaniel were on the same page–that Vera’s motives for approaching them were deeper than they first appeared.
In retrospect, it seemed that Vera’s chance encounter with Christina on the ship had been by design.
During my chance encounter with Vera on the gangplank, the surprise she spoke of must have been referring to her
and Nathaniel.
Christina felt frustrated by how slow she was to realize that.
I should have sensed her motives when she came and initiated the conversation.
Christina was leaning against the head of the bed. Her uncharacteristic silence disturbed Victoria.
After watching her friend for a long time, she drummed up the courage and looked for something to talk about. “Cheer up, Christina. It wouldn’t do the baby any good. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. I think that given Nathaniel’s exceptional qualities, women must flock to him before or after your marriage. He has never had scandals with any women, and he wouldn’t wait until now to be unfaithful.”
“Mmm,” Christina answered with a noncommittal grunt.
Victoria could not decipher her friend’s thoughts. Emboldened by the other’s willingness to speak, she continued happily, “If Nathaniel is involved with that woman, he has wronged you, and I won’t forgive him. I’ll teach him a lesson.”
“Nathaniel is innocent.” Christina looked up to meet Victoria’s indignant gaze with her placid ones, as though the crisis she was going through did not bother her at all. “That woman, Vera Ludwig, is the problem.” D
Victoria ignored the latter half of Christina’s response and gaped, wide–eyed with disbelief. “Are you thinking straight, Christina? There is no man who does not lie. You cant be so blinded by love that you find excuses to forgive his behavior. You shouldn’t lower yourself because you love him.
Christina gave a helpless laugh. “I’m well aware of what I’m doing.
Then, she told Victoria how she met Vera.
Victoria smacked herself on her forehead. “No wonder I found that woman familiar when I saw her. I remember now. I’d attended her eighteenth birthday party! During her mysterious disappearance, the other heiresses in her social circle were wondering if she was dead.”
Christina was grim. “Tell me everything you know about Vera and her family, Victoria.”
Victoria was raised abroad, so she did not attend the banquets of high society very often. As a result, most of what she knew about Vera was only hearsay.
“I’m not familiar with the Ludwig family, but my family once worked with theirs. My brother would be the right person to ask. I’ll contact him later,” Victoria said apologetically. “If I had known that you would be crossing paths with Vera, I would have taken the initiative to approach her.”
Christina consoled her friend. “It’s not your fault. Being unacquainted with Vera is a good thing because I wouldn’t want you to be stuck in the middle if I were to start a war with her.”
Victoria scoffed. “I wouldn’t befriend somebody who steals my friend’s husband.” She glanced tentatively at Christina. “Are you really not upset, Christina? Cry it out if you are. There’s no one here, and I won’t make fun of you.”
“This isn’t my first time dealing with something like that,” Christina replied. “What you see might not be the truth. From what I know of Nathaniel, he’s not somebody who would be this careless.”
Christina was skilled in hiding how she truly felt.
She was in despair when she saw Nathaniel with Vera.
However, she did not make a scene or interrogate him. Not because she thought it was not the right place to, but because her dignity and remaining wits prevented her from flying into a rage.
“The ship will dock tomorrow night. I thought of a way to test her motives, but I need you to play along with me.” Christina’s fiery gaze bore into Victoria’s.
Victoria felt Christina’s forehead. “Are you ill? One usually avenges themselves when they realize they have been cheated on. Why are you trying to prove Nathaniel’s innocence?”
Christina smacked her friend’s hand aside. “I’m fine,” she said, exasperated. “This is important, Victoria. Would you help me?”
Victoria was the only one she had aboard the ship; she could not ask Sebastian for help as he was Nathaniel’s trusted aide.
“You are my mentor and my sister. Of course I will take your side. Tell me what I can do to help.” @
