Chapter 2354

"You just said it yourself. The Fifth Prison holds many inmates with mental issues. Maybe there's something

wrong with him too, which is why he insists he's fine," Asher remarked indifferently. "It's like how drunk people always say they're not drunk-same logic."

"Not quite," Bella interjected.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Both men turned to look at her.

"On the contrary, mentally ill people rarely say they're not mentally ill. They often believe that everyone else is the one with the problem."

Steven's eyes lit up. "That's a good point!"

Asher nodded in agreement. "You're right; that does seem to be the case."

"When I heard Steve's description earlier, that man's expression sounded very coherent, not at all like someone mentally unstable. Besides, he took the opportunity and ran straight to Clarence at all costs. That means he had been suppressing himself for a long time, waiting for an opportunity. He didn't want to let this rare opportunity slip by." Bella turned to Steven again. "What did Clarence do afterward?"

"My brother said that before he could fully understand the situation, the prisoner was dragged away by the guards, kicking and screaming. They said the man was a complete lunatic and treated him far more roughly than the other inmates."

"That's strange," Asher murmured, his expression slightly puzzled. "If your brother was there to provide legal aid, every inmate should have the right to consult with him. So why was that prisoner forcibly stopped?"

Bella lowered her head in thought but said nothing.

Steven continued, "My brother said the incident bothered him even after he returned home. So, he reached out to some old colleagues from his time in the judiciary to try and pull up the prisoner's case file.

"Guess what? They couldn't retrieve it. Access was restricted, requiring special authorization from the Chief Prosecutor! Every other prisoner's file could be accessed, but not his. On top of that, he's under heightened surveillance. Tell me, isn't that weird?"

Asher fell silent for a moment before asking, "What crime did the prisoner commit? That much should be easy to find out."

"Murder two women. Other inmates said the killings were gruesome and brutal. But my brother said the prisoner didn't match the profile of a mad killer at all. He's emaciated and even has a congenital disability in one leg. He doesn't look like someone capable of such violence."

The mention of "mad killer" brought to Bella's mind another inmate at the Fifth Prison, Lucas Fowler, Grant's uncle.

Coincidentally, Lucas was also mentally ill, convicted of murder, and had killed two women.

Bella's mind raced as coincidences piled up.

Nothing in her life had been left to fate.

Her decision to join the battlefield as "Little Dove" in Kridor, fighting side by side with Justin, had been a deliberate, unwavering pursuit.

Her stint as a nurse in the rehabilitation center, caring for Grandpa Nigel, was another carefully laid plan-just for a chance to steal a few more glances at Justin.

Coincidences? Fate? They were merely the results of her long-planned devotion.

"Steve, take some time in the coming days to dig deeper into that prisoner's background. While you're at it, see if you can find out more about how Lucas is doing in there. I'll ask Axel to do what he can to retrieve the prisoner's case file. He's well-connected in the judiciary as a prosecutor, so he should be able to find something."

Steven straightened up immediately. "Yes, Ms. Bella."

Asher sat at Bella's bedside, his gaze soft as he looked at his pale-faced sister.

"Bella, is your saintly compassion acting up again? He's just a prisoner with no connection to you. Do you really need to care this much?"

Bella's lips curled in a faint, almost teasing smile, her beautiful eyes arching slightly. "I do. What if he's truly innocent?"

Asher fell silent, his dark eyes deepening.

As her elder brother, he could sense her intentions. There was certainly more to her interest in this case than met the eye.