Silly Bride

Chapter 322

deepened as she continued eavesdropping.It was not until the person in the other room departed that she removed the earphone.She stared in disbelief at the wall before her as she replayed the conversation she’d just heard.The private detective took his leave after handing the important documents to Josiah.Josiah was convinced that the Young Lady who’d had a fling with Rufus was probably Jacinta. It was just that they were missing one piece of important evidence.The detective stated they’d located an asylum possessing the patient records and photos of the Young Lady.Yet just as they were about to visit the asylum, it suddenly went up in flames. All its records for the past ten years were thereby destroyed overnight.This was too much of a coincidence.Josiah felt that the fire was deliberate arson and wanted to call Xavier to tell him about it after the detective left.It was only then that he noticed he’d unknowingly silenced his phone and that there were several missed calls.He decided after some contemplation that informing Xavier about the detective’s findings could wait until he got home.Hence, he called Winnie back on the spot. Her ringtone sounded once the call was connected.Josiah’s eyes widened at that moment. The sound originated from the door of the private room.The door was slightly ajar, and he could distinctly hear that the ringtone was identical to the one he heard on his phone and that they were ringing in unison.He immediately got to his feet and opened the door to the sight of Winnie.Winnie hung up as soon as their eyes met.Josiah observed her stern expression and tried to come up with an excuse. “Fancy seeing you here. My phone was in silent mode. That’s why I didn’t hear you calling.”Winnie stared at him apathetically and didn’t bother with any pleasantries as she backed Josiah into the room.The man showed no signs of resistance as he felt a tinge of remorse and guilt.He kept walking backward until he was backed up against the wall.“Um… ” Josiah forced a smile at Winnie. “Would you like to hear me out? I can explain.”Winnie replied in determination, “That won’t be necessary. Where is it?”Since things had come to this, Josiah knew Winnie had heard the whole conversation that took place a few moments ago.He sighed. “Inside my briefcase.”Winnie glared at him before turning to rummage through his briefcase.She sensed Josiah following behind her, and she turned to warn him sternly, “Stand still, do you hear me?”He paused. “Loud and clear.”“I can’t believe you don’t have eyes growing behind your head as well,” Josiah muttered below his breath.Winnie ignored his jibe and proceeded to remove all the document files from his briefcase.It took her more than ten minutes to finish perusing the contents of the documents although she was a fast reader.Josiah was in despair as Winnie shut the files. How am I going to explain this to Xavier? Heck, I might even get a beating from this fierce woman before me.He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat to break the palpable tension in the room. “Am I given leave to speak now?”Winnie’s lethal stare swept toward him in the blink of an eye. “Who ordered you to investigate this?”“Can we take things one step at a time? How in the world di you appear out of the blue? This can’t be possible. I even opened the door once to make sure no one was outside. I didn’t see you.”“Stop trying to distract me. You hope to divert my focus from this conversation, aren’t you? Was Xavier the one who asked you to investigate this?”“Winnie, there are certain things we simply cannot agree on.”“Fine, I’ll do it myself then.”Winnie proceeded to unlock Josiah’s phone upon realizing that he still wouldn’t speak the truth.At that instance, Josiah regretted revealing his password to Winnie at Manchernius.She accessed his call history and saw that he’d been in contact with Xavier before she’d called him.I knew it. Winnie hit the call button instantly.The call connected quickly, and Xavier’s voice sounded from the other end. “How’re things, Josiah? Have you met the private detective? Has there been any progress with the investigation of Jacinta’s identity?”Winnie was overwhelmed with mixed feelings upon hearing Xavier’s curt mention of Jacinta’s name.“Xavier,