The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride-Chapter 39: D-DAY

Hades remained still, arms folded as he listened. Milo paced, his voice growing more certain as he pieced the story together.

"At first, it was just a report of a hit-and-run accident," Luca began. "Nothing unusual, right? But I kept digging. The accident happened on the same night Van disappeared, which was already odd. He was supposed to be at his graduation, but instead, he went completely off the grid for two weeks."

Rowan frowned. "And?"

Luca exhaled. "Officially, Van had caught the flu. But he was being treated at home, not in a hospital."

That made them pause.

Clarisse finally spoke. "You’re saying it wasn’t just the flu."

Milo nodded. "Exactly. If it was really the flu, why stay at home for two weeks? And why would there be almost no medical records from that period? Something wasn’t adding up. So I went back to the accident report."

Gavin leaned in. "And?"

Silence settled in the room as everyone paid keen attention.

"I went back and looked into the accident from that night," he said. "And I found something. The victim was a lady. She was left comatose for a long time."

Milo’s jaw tightened as he continued. "That’s where it got weird. The girl who was hit—her information is completely blocked."

The room fell silent.

"Blocked?" Rowan repeated.

Milo nodded. "I mean, wiped clean. No name, no family details, no hospital bills. Nothing. It’s like she never existed."

"Who could do that?" Clarisse asked quietly.

"Someone with power," Hades said absentmindedly.

Milo nodded in agreement. "That level of access takes real power. And I managed to trace back the source."

A pause.

Then, he smirked. "Drumroll... The Malay Corporation."

Everyone sat up.

"Now that’s a puzzle." Rowan commented.

Gavin’s eyes darkened. "So you’re saying the Malay Corporation had something to do with the lady?"

Milo shrugged. "All I know is that they’re the reason we can’t find any details on her. And given how Van’s disappearance lines up perfectly with the accident... well, let’s just say I have a strong feeling this isn’t a coincidence."

Hades tilted his head slightly. "You think Van was involved in the accident?"

Milo exhaled. "I don’t know. But if he wasn’t, he definitely knew something about it. And whatever it was, it was big enough for someone powerful to bury the evidence."

Clarisse leaned forward, her voice lowering. "The only way we get real answers is by figuring out what happened that night. If we can do that, we’ll know why the matriarch agreed to bring Aurora into the family in the first place. And why she was so hell-bent on marrying her to the heir before things changed."

Gavin nodded. "It makes sense that the accident is connected to the marriage?"

Milo nodded. "Think about it. The Malay Corporation covered up the girl’s identity. Van disappeared for two weeks after the incident. And the matriarch—who rarely does anything without reason—suddenly agreed to an arranged marriage. Why?"

"So the key to all of this is the strange lady who is in a coma somewhere," Gavin said quietly.

Milo shrugged. "It’s a wild guess, but it’s the only thread we have. If we find out who she is and what happened to her, we might find out what the matriarch is hiding."

Hades leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. His gaze darkened as he processed the information.

"Find out who else knows about that girl," he ordered, his voice quiet but firm. "There has to be something—anything. A name, a witness, a trace of where she was moved. If her records are blocked, then someone out there still remembers her."

Milo nodded. "My contacts are already on it."

"I’ll have to connect with the East people," Gavin chipped in. "If Van was involved, then there’s a chance he left loose ends. We just need to pull the right thread."

With that, Hades pushed off his seat, his cold eyes gleaming. "Get to work. I want answers. As soon as possible"

"Yes, Boss." They all echoed in unison.

****

Alice was also fast at work.

She had spent the rest of the day buried in files, pacing across her room, poring over statements and CCTV logs that no longer existed. Every piece of paper, every bit of verbal testimony—she was determined to make it count. She had reached out to the necessary parties, tugged on the strings she was allowed to pull, and hoped it would all be enough.

Tomorrow. That was all she could think of. The first in-house private hearing. A make-or-break moment.

If she didn’t crack it then, if she didn’t hit hard with everything she had gathered... she was done. The consequences weren’t something she dared to calculate. Not in this house. Not with Hades.

Morning came like a slap.

Her alarm blared into her consciousness, making her jolt upright. 6:00 AM.

Her palm was sweaty as she reached out to stop the beeping. She rubbed her face, staring at the ceiling for a moment. No backing out now.

She began to pace. Again.

Should she call Priscilla? Would it help to ask the woman some questions to be sure she was on the right track? fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

But no—she dared not. Not today. Not with everything riding on this. She had to do it on her own. And with the support of whoever had dropped that file for her. Someone she already had in mind.

At exactly 8:30, Alice stepped out of her room. This time, at least, she looked the part—sharp in a tailored suit, scarf wrapped expertly around her neck to hide the faint shadow of a bruise. Her hair was smooth, tucked behind her ears, makeup subdued but flawless.

She headed out into the cool morning air with her car keys, wondering how to drive when she was this nervous, when she met someone standing by a car parked out front.

Dawin.

He was leaning casually against the driver’s side, dressed in a charcoal jacket, one hand on the car roof, the other in his pocket. His dark eyes flicked toward her, unreadable.

"Get in," he said, nodding toward the passenger side.