Brian turned away, casting a long shadow in the sunlight behind him as he walked to his desk.
Picking up the folder, he flipped through a page before nonchalantly closing it and setting it aside.
"Don't trouble me with such matters."
Brian circled to his desk, sitting in the leather chair with his hands crossed on the table. "Have you found any results regarding the investigation you were tasked with?"
Ethan belatedly remembered the matter and nodded slightly. "I looked into it. The small villa currently remains unoccupied, and not rented out or sold. The previous owner simply moved away."
Pausing briefly, he continued, "Moreover, Mr. Lewis, the phone number you provided has long been deactivated."
Brian furrowed his brow, momentarily speechless.
Last night, he went to great lengths to buy a chocolate cake, arriving at the house not too late.
Before returning to the house, he had mulled over many things, thoughts racing over what to say when they met, how to explain the years of no contact, and how to comfort her.
However, upon arriving, what was once the lively Taylor family home was now devoid of any presence.
The small villa stood shrouded in the night, quiet and desolate, devoid of any signs of life.
Brian felt around in the crack next to the iron gate, and sure enough, he pulled out a key from inside.. Its once shiny surface now faintly rusted from disuse.
Unlocking the door, he stepped inside, finding the small yard transformed into a barren land, the grass yellowed and lifeless.
The key to the main door rested under the doormat, and as Brian opened the door, he illuminated the living room.
Furniture draped in dust covers accumulated thick layers of grime, clearly untouched for a long time.
Placing the cake on the coffee table, Brian expected to see her upon his return, only to be met with an empty and abandoned house, which left him momentarily bewildered.
After a while, he took out his phone and dialed the familiar number.
"This number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please try again later..."
The mechanical voice echoed coldly from the receiver, leaving a hollow ache in his chest.
Recollecting himself, Brian pressed his temple with his hand, his voice grave and composed. "Continue the investigation."
"Understood."
Seeing his somber expression, Ethan added, "I have informed the security at the complex. If the owner of the house returns, they will notify me immediately."
"Very well. You may leave."
Ethan nodded, turning and exiting the room.
Brian lifted his gaze, his eyes holding an unidentified emotion. "Harper, where have you gone?"
After finishing work, Harper returned home and immediately started to pack her bags with enthusiasm.
Considering Lindwood City's dry climate, she made sure to pack enough skincare products and masks.
When Joseph returned home that evening, he noticed her partially packed suitcase in the living room.
His expression turned cold. Without even changing his shoes, he strode over to it. Alongside clothes, Harper's usual daily items filled the suitcase.
Was she planning to leave?
Joseph, unable to stave off thoughts of their impending divorce and felt a surge of dreadful emotions.
Had she already made plans to move out before the divorce was finalized?
The master bedroom door was ajar, and Joseph took a glance before walking straight in.
Harper was organizing her toiletries. Her phone was on speaker as she conversed with Grace.
Grace's voice came through with some background noise, "Who are you living with? Aren't you scared of living alone?"
"I'm not alone," Harper chuckled. "I have a fellow alum you should know, Patrick. I'm staying with him."
There was also a colleague she didn't know well, so she didn't mention him to Grace.
The three of them would be together, so they most likely stayed at the same hotel with rooms not too far apart.
At that moment, Joseph stood near the bathroom door, absorbing her words. His gaze carried intense scrutiny.
Did she wanted to move out and live with Patrick?
Was that the reason she was so eager to divorce?
Grace's teasing voice sounded from the phone. "Living with another man! Shouldn't you inform your Dr. Lucas?"
"Joseph?"
Raising an eyebrow, Harper remarked, "I don't need to inform him. This is my freedom!"
Before she could finish, Joseph's form appeared in the mirror, startling her to the point where she nearly dropped her phone.
Before she could utter a word, the tall man swiftly moved in, reaching over her head to take her phone and end the call.
His actions were swift and precise.
Perplexed, Harper couldn't fathom why her phone had triggered his reaction.
About to inquire, she looked up to see Joseph's displeased expression.
He grabbed Harper by the shoulder, turning her small frame to press against the cold wall, one hand resting at her side.
Too close.
The biting masculine scent was a familiar one to Harper, making her heart beat a little faster.
Harper shrank back, unable to control herself again from looking at the man in front of her.
He was extremely well-skinned, with tiny pores that were barely noticeable. His eyelashes were dark and slender. And his profound gaze had a mesmerizing effect, drawing one in involuntarily.
She couldn't look at him anymore!
She averted her eyes and pondered, 'No! He's not yours even if he's good-looking!'
Joseph lifted her chin and forced Harper to look up into his eyes. "Do you want to move out?"
"No."
Harper was having a little trouble speaking as he took control of her jaw. "Let go of me first!"
“You want to live with Patrick?”
Joseph's fingertips were cold, but his breath rolled and burned, spraying softly on Harper's face as if it was trying to burn her with every stroke
"When did I say I wanted to live with him?"
This man, with his strange quirks, always irrationally exploded over trivial matters. Did he genuinely think she was without a temper?
Harper glared, but her gaze held no intimidation in Joseph's eyes. Instead, it seemed to carry a sense of playfulness.
With her slightly chubby cheeks, she resembled a pouting baby hamster, and her eyes were watery as she looked at him.
Joseph's gaze hardened slightly, the depths of his eyes darkening as his voice grew slightly hoarse. "Then what did you mean by your words just now? Do you plan to move out without telling me?"
With most of his body towering over Harper, the mirror behind them reflected an image where she seemed completely overshadowed by him.
Harper blushed bashfully, her countenance tinged with embarrassment. She lightly pushed him, yet not with any force. "Well, I don't necessarily have to disclose everything to you either, since you haven't told me much."
Her voice grew fainter, not from guilt but as the man advanced toward her.
With a mere tilt of her head, Harper could have collided with his nose.
Her once steady heartbeat spiraled out of control, its erratic thumping threatening to burst forth from her chest.
Joseph crouched on the side of her face, and his dangerous gaze was like a hunting lion. “Did you forget that you're still my wife?”