Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 71

Julius finally asked the question he had been overlooking: "Grandma, how did you even find out about Chloe Hawthorne's astrological compatibility chart in the first place? How did you know she was the right candidate for the warding-off-death marriage?"

Nadine recalled the past. "After getting advice from the Abbot at the Monastery, I went straight to Brighton Hospital.

I asked your Uncle Abel to check the hospital records for any unmarried women aged nineteen to twenty-five who were born on August 8th.

I figured a major hospital like that sees a massive flow of patients, so finding someone who fit those exact criteria wouldn't be impossible.

Abel kept pressing me on why I needed that specific information, so I lied and told him I was looking for someone who had once saved my life. That was the only way he'd help me look.

It just so happened that Chloe had recently visited Brighton Hospital as a patient, so Abel gave me the details. I had someone look into the address he provided.

It led us straight to the Hawthorne family and Chloe, which is why I sent Larry to their house to ask if they'd agree to let her marry you for the warding-off-death marriage."

Julius finally understood how Chloe's astrological compatibility chart had ended up on their radar.

He asked, "Who else knows about this?"

Nadine fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Besides Larry and the Hawthornes, no one. The concept of a warding-off-death marriage is built on old superstitions. If word got out, I was terrified it would tank the Blackwood Group's stock.

That's why I had Larry approach them quietly. I was at the end of my rope, Julius. I was so terrified something would happen to you. How would I have ever faced your parents?"

Her eyes reddened as she spoke. She truly had been desperate. Her eldest grandson had refused to amputate his leg, and she was terrified he might do something drastic. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, which was why she clung to the Abbot's words.

Looking back, it was all clearly superstitious nonsense. If it were true, then Stella taking Chloe's place shouldn't have worked—yet Julius's legs had healed anyway.

It was all thanks to the doctors. It had absolutely nothing to do with any warding-off-death marriage.

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