Volume 3: The End of the Lies and the Rebirth of the Iris
The bloody smell in the hunter's cabin hadn't yet dissipated when Irene's figure vanished into the darkness. The air was filled with the smell of damp soil and decaying leaves, mixing with the strong smell of blood on her body to form a nauseating and strange odor. She knew that she had to treat her wounds as soon as possible, or the infection would cost her life.
She艰难地made her way along a hidden path, and Carl's smile kept flashing through her mind. That smile, which had once made her feel at ease and warm, now was like a cold blade, stabbing her heart painfully. He had manipulated her, used her hatred, and pushed her into a desperate and isolated situation.
"Carl... what on earth do you want?" Irene murmured in a low voice, her voice so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.
She had to find Sean, but she wasn't sure if she could still trust him. There were too many lies, secrets, and betrayals between them, like huge chasms that were difficult to cross.
Finally, she saw the brightly lit figure of the Rockefeller Manor in the distance. The huge iron gate was tightly closed, and it was heavily guarded, just like an impregnable fortress. She knew that forcing her way in would only lead to her capture.
She hid behind a thick tree and calmly observed the situation in the manor. A black sedan drove out of the manor, and its headlights cut through the darkness with a dazzling light. She immediately recognized it as Sean's car.
"An opportunity!" Irene thought, and she decided to take a risk.
She carefully approached the road. When the car was near, she suddenly rushed out and stood in front of the car.
A harsh screech of brakes sounded, and the car almost hit her. Sean's bodyguards immediately jumped out of the car and pointed their guns at her.
"Don't shoot! It's me!" Irene shouted loudly, her voice hoarse and urgent.
The car window slowly rolled down, and Sean's pale and haggard face appeared in front of her. His eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and a trace of worry that he couldn't hide.
"Irene? You... why are you here? What have you done?" Sean's voice was low and trembling.
"Sean, trust me! I have to tell you something. It concerns your life and the future of the Rockefeller family!" Irene said anxiously.
Sean hesitated for a moment and motioned for the bodyguards to lower their guns. He opened the car door, got out, and looked at Irene with a complicated expression.
"Get in the car. Let's find a safe place to talk," Sean said, his tone tinged with a hint of weariness.
Irene didn't dare to delay and quickly got into the car. The sedan started again and drove in the direction away from the manor.
There was a deathly silence in the car, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was suffocating. Irene could feel Sean's suspicious gaze fixed on her all the time, as if he wanted to see through her.
Finally, Sean broke the silence. "Well, Irene. What exactly do you want to tell me?"
Irene took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. "Sean, Carl... Carl Howard has been using me. He wants to destroy the Rockefeller family, and I'm just a pawn in his hand."
Sean frowned, and a flash of shock crossed his eyes. "Carl? How is that possible?"
"It's true! He got close to me and to Olivia, all for revenge. He knows the secrets of the Rockefeller family, knows Olivia's true identity. He used these secrets to manipulate me and made me fall into his trap step by step," Irene explained eagerly.
Sean's face turned pale, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Olivia... what is her true identity?"
Looking at Sean's pained expression, Irene felt a pang in her heart. She knew that the words she was about to say would completely shatter all his beautiful illusions about Olivia.
"Olivia... she isn't of the Rockefeller family's blood. She... she's just an orphan from the slums, and I... I'm her twin sister, Irene Gray," Irene said painfully, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Sean's body shook violently, as if struck by lightning. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Olivia he had always loved deeply turned out to be a complete lie!
"No... it's impossible... you're lying! You're lying!" Sean shook his head frantically, refusing to accept this cruel truth.
"Sean, I'm not lying! Olivia is dead, and she was killed by Carl! He used my feelings for you and my hatred for the Rockefeller family, and made me take Olivia's place and become your fiancée!" Irene shouted hysterically.
Sean stared blankly at Irene, his eyes filled with pain and anger. He suddenly grabbed Irene's shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Tell me! Tell me this isn't true! Tell me you're still lying to me!"
Irene let Sean shake her, and her vision was blurred by tears. "Sean, I know it's hard for you to accept, but this is the truth. Carl's goal isn't just to destroy the Rockefeller family. He also wants to make you lose everything and make your life a living hell!"
Sean released Irene and leaned weakly against the back of the seat. His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were empty and dazed. He had always thought that he was in control of everything, but now he realized that he was just a pawn in someone else's hand, being played with at will.
"Why... why is this happening?" Sean murmured to himself, his voice full of despair.
"Sean, this isn't the time to despair! Carl will definitely take action against the Rockefeller family, and we have to stop him!" Irene said urgently.
Sean looked up at Irene with empty eyes. "What should I do? Who can I trust?"
"Trust yourself and trust the kindness in your heart. The crimes of the Rockefeller family are countless, but you're not the one who committed those crimes. You can choose to change, and you can choose to save the Rockefeller family and save yourself!" Irene said firmly.
Sean was silent for a long time and finally nodded slowly. "You're right. I can't run away anymore. I have to face the truth, and I have to atone for my family's sins."
"But... what should I do?" Sean asked, his tone full of confusion.
"We have to find evidence, expose Carl's conspiracy, and let everyone know his true face," Irene said. "And... Mr. Rockefeller the elder will definitely not let you go. He will do everything he can to get rid of you to protect the reputation of the Rockefeller family."
Sean nodded, and a flash of determination appeared in his eyes. "I understand. Irene, I trust you, and I trust your judgment. I will do my best to stop Carl's conspiracy, and I will expose all the crimes of the Rockefeller family."
Looking at Sean's determined eyes, Irene felt a glimmer of hope in her heart. She knew that there were still many obstacles between them, but as long as they worked together, they would definitely be able to overcome all difficulties.
However, Irene also knew that the price of the truth was far heavier than she had imagined...
In the next few hours, Irene and Sean formulated a thorough plan. They decided to join hands, expose Carl's conspiracy, and prevent him from destroying the Rockefeller family. They needed to find evidence, gain support, face the threats from the elder Rockefeller, and deal with all possible dangers.
They knew that this would be a difficult battle, but they had made up their minds. They wanted to fight for a just ending for themselves, for Olivia, and for all those who had been hurt by the Rockefeller family.
However, they didn't know that an even greater storm was approaching quietly...