From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 360

“Laurinda, I know you’ve been looking for me. I just... I couldn’t face you. Your father trusted me with that experiment, with the whole team, and I let everyone down.”

“It wasn’t your fault. Someone on the team betrayed us. As soon as I got the call, I rushed to help, but I was too late.”

“When I got there, the lab was gone. Just a huge crater. I couldn’t even get the bodies out, couldn’t give them a proper burial.”

Guilt twisted inside Laurinda. She could have stopped the experiment. She had the power, but she’d hesitated. She knew how important the project could be if it worked, so she let the researchers make the call. Because of that, so many people never made it out.

“This isn’t on you. You tried to move us, even tried to end the project. We pushed back, and that’s why things ended up like this. Laurinda, you said someone was bought off. Do you... do you have someone in mind?”

Goodwin’s tired eyes fixed on Laurinda. The moment she mentioned a traitor, he’d already guessed the answer, but he just couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

“No,” Laurinda said softly, shaking her head. She didn’t want to think it could be him. She couldn’t believe he’d betray everyone, especially the people who treated him like family.

Goodwin understood just by looking at her. He let out a heavy sigh, full of pain.

“I don’t want to believe it either. I’m sure the truth will come out, sooner or later. After we escaped, I was in a coma for a while. When I finally woke up, Penn told me the data he’d risked everything to protect was gone. And Andie disappeared with it.”

Under the table, Adolphus squeezed Laurinda’s hand. Since Goodwin hadn’t answered, Adolphus stepped in. “If you don’t want to put yourself or Laurinda at risk, there’s another way. We leave the country. I can take you to Frostford. I swear you’ll be safe there.”

Laurinda stared at Adolphus, shocked. “You want to take Goodwin away?”

“That’s right. I don’t know exactly what this research project is, but I do know it’s not safe here anymore. While I was looking for Goodwin, I realized there were several groups all searching for him. That’s why I rushed you over as soon as I did. It’s only a matter of time before they find him.”

Laurinda’s face grew serious as she looked at Goodwin. “Goodwin, do you trust us?”