"You're right." Bennett nodded, sounding a bit resigned. "Moss has gone to extreme lengths to keep her looking just like she did when she was alive."

It must have taken a tremendous amount of effort and time to keep a dead person's face like this. Moss, who didn't bat an eye at his nephew's injuries, clearly had a deep love for this woman. Their bond was definitely special.

Holden mulled it over before asking if they used to be lovers.

Bennett answered, "She's the one Moss loved the most-Emilia Valdez. He's so in love with her that he'd rather make his own reality than face the truth that she's gone."

“Emilia Valdez?" Holden repeated the name, furrowing his brow. The name sounded familiar like he had heard it before. He searched his memory, but it remained a blur.

Realizing Moss planned to turn Ariana into a lab rat, Holden quickly shifted his focus.

Glancing at the woman in the ice coffin, he asked, “What's Moss‘ crazy experiment about?"

"He wants to bring Emilia back to life," Bennett replied.

"What?" Holden thought he had misheard Bennett.

After a tense silence, Bennett clarified, "You heard me right. He plans to inject some bizarre concoction into Ariana to transfer her blood to Emilia, bringing her back to life."

"No way." Holden chuckled as he couldn't take the absurd idea seriously. "There's no such technology in this world that could do that. Moss is living in a fantasy!"

"Don't get me wrong. I agree with you. But he has lost it; nobody can shake him out of his crazy obsession." Bennett sighed as he slipped his hands into his pockets. With a casual air, he added, “Perhaps you're the only one who can stop him."

"Why me?" Holden turned to Bennett, confusion painted all over his face. "Can't you do it?"

Bennett shook his head slowly as he held Holden's gaze in silence.

Bennett's calm demeanor left Holden even more puzzled. Holden knew that Bennett was Moss' nephew. He believed it would make more sense for Bennett to reason out with Moss. But apparently, Bennett couldn't.

Bennett's words also hinted that only he could handle the matter.

Maybe...

"Your uncle doesn't fully trust you, does he?" Holden asked.

Silence took over Bennett. He stared at Holden for a while before raising his head. "My affairs are none of your business. Stop asking about that."

Holden was a bit shocked but then snorted dismissively. "I'm not interested in your life. Just don't screw up our mission."