Silly Bride

Chapter 322
The man in the room listened attentively to the sounds coming from the room next to his.He didn’t even notice Winnie creeping
stealthily into the room until she tapped him on the shoulder.He jumped in fright. “Who are you? You scared me to death! Didn’t I
say I’m waiting for someone and don’t need your service right now? Get out, quick!”The man told Winnie off as he’d mistaken her
for one of the staff members.Winnie looked down at him wordlessly before digging into his shoulder blade with her fingers.The
pain caused the man to realize something was wrong. “You’re not one of the staff, are you? Why are you here?”He struggled to
free himself but to no avail due to his disadvantaged position of sitting on the ground.Winnie bore down on his shoulder and
utilized her height to flip him over using her knee as a pivot.Her icy gaze remained locked on the man. “That should be my line.
What’s your motive, and why are you stalking Josiah?”“I’m not! I came here to have a meal. Who the h*ll is Josiah anyway? Let
me go at once, or I’ll call the cops!” the man retorted.Winnie scoffed. “Is that so? Do you think denial will save your skin? Lucky
for me, I’ve got a way for you to spit out the truth!”With that, she took hold of her phone and snapped several photos of the man’s
face.The man took the chance to break free from Winnie’s hold and escaped.Winnie did not chase him down as she knew he
would not tell the truth even if she managed to catch up to him.Based on the equipment he’d been using, she surmised that he
was a professional at this.Those in his line of work usually kept the information of their employers a secret. Thankfully, she’d
taken a clear photo of the man’s face.She was extremely curious as to why he had been trailing Josiah.Besides, what is Josiah
talking about in the other room?Winnie’s gaze fell on the listening device before her. She then picked up the earphone and
placed it in her ears.As she listened in on what was happening next door, her face fell.Her frown only 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, it’s Winnie
speaking.”