Three days later, at the matriarch’s funeral.
York came to pay his respects.
Because the incident involved several prominent families, they had all tacitly agreed to a complete media blackout.
Gideon and York stood side by side at the back of the crowd.
They exchanged a look of mutual understanding but said nothing.
With the matriarch’s funeral, everything related to Ann was finally over.
That afternoon, York returned to Ferguson Mansion.
Wendy sighed. “I can’t believe that mother-daughter pair, Ann and Selene, were so vicious. They hurt so many people, not even sparing the matriarch.”
Sewell Ferguson's expression soured at the mention of them. “That pair were rats from the gutter. They got what they deserved.”
York sat quietly on the sofa, not joining the discussion.
“York,” Wendy asked, “I heard Mrs. Windsor ran into Ann’s brother and sister-in-law in Linshire City. For some reason, that Fiona woman beat her so badly in the street that she lost hearing in one ear. Is that true?”
York gave a curt nod. “Not only that, her face was slashed.”
Everyone involved got what was coming to them. None of them were innocent.
—
A few days later, Claudia returned to the country.
On her first day back at the hospital, she heard the news of the matriarch’s unexpected death.
Claudia was stunned. She remembered Gideon telling her his grandmother had a kidney transplant, was recovering well, and could have easily lived another ten or twenty years.
How could she have passed away so suddenly?
Seeing Gideon and two of his assistants stepping out of the elevator, Claudia hesitated before approaching him. “Gideon.”
Gideon dismissed his assistants.
Darleen lowered her voice. “It’s fantastic! They’re finally all dead!”
“Huh?”
Seeing Claudia’s reaction, Darleen let out a mischievous giggle.
“While we were gone,” she explained, “Mr. Quinn was poisoned to death by Selene, Laurel was killed by Ann, the matriarch was killed by Ann and Selene, then Ann killed Selene, and Ann’s sister-in-law, Fiona, crippled Mrs. Windsor.”
“Darleen, slow down,” Claudia said, completely bewildered. “What are you talking about? Were they dropping like flies?”
Darleen patted her chest. “I’m not kidding, it’s all true!”
She continued, “Ramona Quinn caused a huge scene at her dad’s wedding to Selene, even got a famous influencer to livestream it. But Mrs. Windsor instigated Laurel's family to crash the party and even brought Ann's son. Ann and her mother were publicly disgraced, and Selene lost the baby.”
Claudia listened, speechless.
Darleen grew more and more excited as she spoke.

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