Calls came in on Brian's phone incessantly since they had entered the room.

Lightly knitting his brows, he arranged the matters, which all related to Joanne, through incoming and outgoing calls.

The two tasks he needed to do now were clear: unveil the truth of the case, and minimize the impact on Joanne.

About forty minutes later, Brian finally set aside his phone. As he looked back, he was met with Joanne's calm smile.

But Joanne's tightly twisted hands betrayed her uneasy heart. She asked, "Is it complicated?"

"We are searching for the real murderer. Once we find him, our problems will be solved." Brian rustled Joanne's long hair to restore her peace of mind. "Eat first."

Joanne nodded and smiled as she fiddled the food inside thermal container with chopsticks. "This is my first time eating the food my brother cooked for me."

The three dishes and one soup were half veggie and half meaty. Chris cooked all of Joanne's favorite dishes lightly, knowing that she couldn't eat anything heavy.

Indeed, Chris had put some thoughts into it.

After a sip of the clam soup, Joanne nodded with surprise at the fresh and sweet flavor which overflowed her mouth and delivered a spoonful to Brian. "Perhaps Freya was conquered by my brother's cooking that she easily accepted the relationship with my brother."

Although knowing Joanne was just complimenting her brother, Brian still felt uncomfortable at heart and gloated, "It is the future father-in-law whom your brother needs to conquer now."

Knowing that Mr. Norris was only as stubborn as Freya, Joanne could almost imagine the difficulties presented for Chris down the road.

She looked at her husband smilingly. "My brother is also your brother. Would you consider helping him?"

Brian lifted his brows and replied with an obscure evilness lurking under his deep eyes. "That depends on your performance."

Joanne was stunned - what about her performance?

With some thoughts, Joanne vaguely comprehended his intention and couldn't help but glare into Brian's eyes C she was a murder suspect, yet he still had the mood to mess around?

"What were you thinking about?" Brian passed a bowl full of rice to Joanne and commanded, "Finish eating it."

He just wanted her to eat?

Now that Joanne finally came to realize she took it the wrong way, she buried her face in the bowl of rice trying to hide her embarrassed hot cheeks.

In any case, Joanne happily finished eating the bowl of rice. In response to Brian's request, she could say that "she performed well".

Finally, she set down the bowl and said, "Brian, you should go back."

Brian's eyes flickered and he stared at Joanne. Slowly, he understood.

Earlier, Joanne had purposely acted at ease so that he could go back free of concerns.

After all, she was still half of a law enforcement officer. She understood the regulations... and it was illegal for him to stay.

"I am well aware of the things I did not do." Joanne looked serious and her thoughts were clear. "I also believe that Captain Turner will snatch out the real murderer soon and prove my innocence. The outsiders don't know any better, and you have a lot more things to deal with. It will be more convenient for you to do it at home. I can stay here alone."

"But I'm still worried." Brian gently hugged Joanne around the waist. "I've arranged everything. Your brother and Gavin will take care of it. Let me stay with you tonight, don't worry."

"..."

Joanne quietly dropped her eyes and brows and buried her head in Brian's arms.

The previous rationality battled with the selfishness in her mind.

While reason told her to let Brian go back, selfishness told her to let him stay.

This was the first time she found herself in a position in which she couldn't expect what would happen in the next second. Perhaps Captain Turner would snatch out the real murderer and restore her innocence, or she could be struck by graver news which would drive her into a deeper abyss.

No matter the outcome, she hoped Brian would stay beside her. But rationality had won the battle, and he should go back to handle the matters outside.

But Brian knew, more than anyone else, that she would be afraid so he would stay against all odds.

It was impossible for Joanne to admit that she wasn't touched.

"The latest news, let's take a look at the murder case which took place in central city at noon today..."

The TV was originally playing in the background, but news anchor's voice immediately captured Joanne's attention that she pulled her head out of Brian's arms and looked to the screen like a little hamster.

Brian grabbed the remote control trying to turn off the TV, but Joanne held down his hands. "It's fine. I want to see how the news had spread outside."

Soon, Patricia's face appeared on the screen.

In contrast to her usual arrogant appearance, Patricia had turned into a tragic mother within a half-day period. She looked into the camera with her swollen eyes and accused Joanne of murder in a hoarse tone.

Unlike when she was surrounded by multiple media, Patricia was actually serious about the interview this time and answered the questions in full details.

"I married into the Scott Family when Joanne was fifteen years old. She always thought that I was the cause of her mother's death and she never accepted my daughter and me and always targeted us. I can't believe that years of my sympathy and tolerance for her are in vain, and she actually killed my only daughter."

"Yes, a few days ago at President Frenk's birthday party, she did say that she wanted my Mia dead. She had always spoken of such things over the years, and we usually endured her. But who'd thought she was this vicious..."

"Why did she do this? Now that she is the wife of President Lambert, she's got support. She doesn't have to depend on the Scott Family anymore. Her wings have grown strong that there's no stopping her..."

...

Patricia cried as she spoke, projecting an image of a mother who had been tolerating her unreasonable stepdaughter for years but ultimately ended up losing her own beloved daughter. Without a doubt, all the audience in front of the TV probably sympathized with her.

As they sided with Patricia, they would surely grind their teeth at Joanne.

Had the news broadcast supported live comments, Joanne would probably be chastised to the bones.

Brian eventually turned off the TV and looked at Joanne. She was smiling with endless coldness and sarcasm.

"Steven was the one who cheated in marriage." Joanne ground her teeth. "At the time Patricia told my mom she had given birth to Steven's daughter, who was a few month younger than me, my mother was in poor health and was susceptible to stimuli. Now Patricia actually has the nerve to present herself as the victim?"

She had to credit Patricia's ability to turn the facts upside down.

Soon, Gavin called in and apologized, "The TV station wanted an exclusive interview with Patricia and she did not refuse. There was nothing we could do to stop. Joanne, I am sorry."

"Patricia wanted the audience to wage war against me, while the TV station wanted higher ratings. It's not your fault." Joanne calmed down and asked, "How are they?"

Gavin knew Joanne was asking about Steven.

"Not so well. All affairs had been handled by the deputy general manager. Steven... was last heard hospitalized in the ward on 7th floor. The financial crisis of Su's company couldn't hold any longer. Now that everything is a mess, if your brother had the heart to do so, he will soon be able to take over the company through a successful acquisition."

"I understand."

Joanne hung up the phone.

Understanding Chris's character, Joanne knew that he would not make the move at this time period. Chris would never take advantage of other's misfortune. But... was it a coincidence that Steven lived in the ward downstairs?

Brian immediately read Joanne's mind and asked, "Should I take you downstairs to see him?"

Joanne pressed her lips and eventually shook her head.

As for Steven, Mia was probably his only and favorite daughter. He definitely did not want to see the suspect murderer of his daughter.

Besides, she had already terminated their relationship as father and daughter, why bother to see him?

Brian lightly sighed. "I will tell the hospital to take care of him."

Joanne simply replied, "It doesn't matter."

The company assistant had brought over some urgent documents and Brian turned the living room into his office. Joanne followed him out for she did not want to stay in the ward which smelled like sterilized water. Clueless, Brian looked at her and she puckered a smile and vowed, "I promise I will not bother you!"

To increase the credibility of her promise, Joanne hugged a pillow, nestled on the sofa and watched Brian with innocence.

This was actually enough to affect Brian.

Feeling guilty, Brian quickly lowered his head and diverted his focus back on the document.

Although Joanne was not as active as Freya, she couldn't stand sitting like this for a long time either. Soon, her gaze began to sweep the room and finally rested on Brian's laptop.

He didn't seem to be using it, could he lend it to her for watching a movie? But would it disturb him if she suddenly asked?

Brian soon noticed Joanne's longing look. He closed the laptop and handed it to her. "Don't read web news."

"Sure!"

Feeling ecstatic, Joanne carried the laptop and rushed back to the sofa. She opened a video website and adjusted the volume to the minimum.

She was currently only watching one drama, and only one episode aired per week. Each episode was only twenty minutes long so that she finished watching them in an instant. Curiosity emerged once more.

Brian prohibited her from browsing web news, for he was concerned that the online discussions could affect her mood.

She also knew that she was looking for trouble, but... how her heart tingled with curiosity!

She peeked at Brian, who was focused on the documents. If she were to secretly browse the webpage, he couldn't possibly notice it, right?

While she thought about it, Joanne clicked open a gossip website.

Expectedly, the entertainment gossip forum was almost swept by the news that the wife of President Lambert was involved in a murder case.

However, this was not the most surprising finding.

What surprised Joanne the most was that several people suddenly emerged on the forum and claimed to be her college classmates. They welcomed questions from netizens who wished to know more of Joanne's characters and the things she had done in college.

In college, she had always stayed away from any sort of disputes. Even she had forgotten what she had done.

Exactly when did she offend so many people?