Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 205

“Aaron, you have to believe me—I really had no idea about the transplant match.”

Cynthia’s voice trembled as she tried to explain. “It was all Matthew. He’s the one who told me that my kidney was a match for Serena’s. When I found out, I was worried Serena would never agree to a transplant, but Matthew said not to worry—he’d take care of everything. I swear, I never imagined he’d go as far as to threaten Dr. Owens…”

Aaron’s expression was cold and unreadable. “You really didn’t know?”

“I didn’t!” Cynthia nodded frantically, desperate for him to believe her.

Aaron let the silence hang for a moment, then changed the subject. “Let’s set that aside for now. Tell me about the antique vase.”

At the mention of the vase, Cynthia’s face went pale.

Last time, she’d assumed Serena was as good as dead, so she’d deliberately said the antique vase was a gift from Aaron. Now, with Aaron suddenly bringing it up, did that mean Serena had told him something?

“Where is it now?”

Cynthia’s relief was almost palpable when Aaron didn’t press her about the origins of the vase. She let out a shaky breath.

“Well… I… I don’t actually know where it went.”

The last time she’d seen that vase was back at the hospital.

“You don’t know what happened to it?”

“That’s right,” Cynthia said honestly.

Aaron’s brows drew together. “Then how did you get your hands on it in the first place?”

Cynthia bit her lip, recalling the days leading up to the transplant. She’d been racking her brain for a way to get Serena to sign the consent form willingly. Then suddenly, the antique vase had landed in her lap—Serena’s father’s keepsake. It felt like a godsend, a perfect bargaining chip.

“I… I bought it at an auction,” Cynthia lied, forcing herself to meet Aaron’s gaze.

He only frowned deeper, lost in thought.

She was so nervous she didn’t dare move, her legs trembling beneath her.