Chapter 448

Maisie paused for a split second before adding, “My mother knew him. He also told me that my mother
died because of the sleeper virus.”

Larissa covered her mouth. She was clearly in shock.

Hernandez was stunned in place, but his expression changed in an instant.

Hernandez asked Larissa to bring Maisie out while he continued to stay in the silent study. Nobody knew
what he was thinking-the only

thing that was clear to others was that his expression became even gloomier as time went by.

Larissa walked downstairs with Maisie and asked out of the blue, “Maisie, is what you just said true?
Your mother really-”

“Yes, Uncle Erwin wouldn’t lie to me.”

Maisie knew that Erwin would not lie to her about the cause of her mother’s death, but she still could not
help but worry about Hernandez when she thought of the change in his expression from just now. “Aunt,
can you tell me why Grandpa’s expression changed so drastically when he heard about the virus?”

Maisie addressed Larissa as her aunt, which made Larissa feel extremely relieved. She then reluctantly
replied after a while, “I don’t know. Your grandfather really didn’t know that your mother had been

infected. I didn’t know about that either. It’s no wonder she would leave with Strix…

“Now I understand why Marina would say that only Strix could save her back then. However, Strix still
couldn’t save her in the end.”



Larissa’s eyes were filled with loss and grief as she said to Maisie, “I know that there’s no cure for the
virus. Even though the drugs developed by Strix can control its side effects, Marina’s condition only
developed when it was already a year after the epidemic…”

Larissa suddenly stopped.

“Aunt, what’s the matter with you?” Maisie suddenly became worried when she noticed that Larissa’s
face gradually turned pale.

Larissa looked at her. “The incubation period of the virus is one year, which means that your mother was
already infected the year the epidemic started. That’s not impossible.”

Maisie was slightly puzzled. “Why would you say that?”



Larissa explained to her, “The epidemic from 30 years ago only broke out post-first contact. It’s said that
the source of the infection is related to the water reservation tank of a hotel, but your mother didn’t go to
that hotel at that time.

“Moreover, the people infected with the virus were no different from any ordinary people. They got to live
a normal life during the incubation period. The virus won’t be spread through the air but only through
direct contact. It’s just like the bacteria attached to an item’s surface. You’ll only be infected when you get
in touch with that item. However, your mother had always been staying in the de Armas mansion and
had never been in contact with any man before meeting Strix, so how did she get infected?”

On the way back, Maisie kept thinking about Larissa’s words.

‘It’s obvious that Mom’s virus infection is too strange. It seems that it was a man-made event, as Uncle
Erwin said. Now that I get to think about it, the virus infection is not a natural disaster but an invisible”



weapon” that kills people.’

At this time, she received a text message on her phone.

It was from Nolan.

The dead silent atmosphere in the car made Maisie very uncomfortable. Nolan spoke next to almost
nothing and would not take the initiative to start a conversation. Even though she wanted to break the
awkward atmosphere, she did not know what to say.

Quincy took a glance at the rearview mirror. As an outsider, he still could not help but feel uncomfortable
when he saw this.

‘Mr. Goldmann has been infected with the virus because of the conspiracy of those who want to
suppress the Goldmanns completely. If Mr. Goldmann doesn’t divorce Ms. Vanderbilt now, he won’t be
able to protect her because of his current condition.

‘Ms. Vanderbilt can only completely get rid of her relationship with the Goldmanns when she’s divorced.
She will also be able to keep herself out of all this mess when the de Armas recognize her as one of their
family members after this.

After all, with the power and influence that Hernandez has in Stoslo, it won’t be difficult for him to protect
Maisie. Those people only had the guts to lay their fingers on Maisie in Stoslo because Hernandez
wasn’t there. Not to mention that they’d have a chance to win the de Armas over if something were to
happen to Maisie back then.’


62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda