Seeing Irish's persistence, he added lightly, "Just stay there."
Joseph remained in the bathtub, watching her. Irish bowed her head, gently wiping his body.
Unable to resist, he lifted his hands and caressed her face.
"You must not have had a proper rest, have you?" He felt guilty for her.
Irish leaned into the warmth of his touch. All her weariness seemed to dissipate, and she smiled, saying, "It's alright. I slept while holding onto your pillow."
Joseph's smile widened in response.
"Jordan has returned," she informed him.
Joseph was taken aback by the news.
Irish took hold of his hands. "Since his return, he has been assisting Roy. The shareholders have decided to adopt your plan, and they are currently making preparations."
She provided a concise summary of the situation.
Joseph nodded, understanding the circumstances, but he remained silent.
He couldn't return to the company, but fortunately, the Runestone Group was not solely dependent on him.
"Joseph, you know what? Jordan is deeply concerned about you. Despite his usual indifference, he genuinely cares," Irish stated, fixing her gaze on him. "He even fought with Leo."
Joseph felt touched, but he responded, "He's impulsive. Leo has nothing to do with the murder case. He simply wants me out of the picture."
"But he did plagiarize our new product idea."
"He just wants me out."
"Do you have any potential suspects in mind?" Irish inquired.
Joseph fidgeted with her fingers, contemplating for a moment before responding lightly, "Let the police handle the investigation."
"But right now, you are the one being suspected," Irish expressed her concern.
Joseph looked at her earnestly and asked, "Do you believe in me?"
Without hesitation, Irish nodded emphatically.
"That's enough. An innocent man cannot be convicted," Joseph said with a sense of relief.
Irish held his hands tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.
The following day was a good day, despite the presence of fog.
When one looked into the distance, the buildings were obscured from view.
Irish had a restful sleep. Throughout the entire night, she didn't shift her position and remained nestled against Joseph's chest.
Irish was awakened by the gentle kisses Joseph planted on her face and shoulders.
She opened her eyes to find Joseph's gaze fixed on her as if he was devouring her presence.
Noticing that she was awake, he kissed her forehead and then nuzzled into her hair.
As his lips brushed against her ear, he whispered in a low voice, "Do you want to be on top or underneath?"
Irish's face flushed with embarrassment.
The warmth of his touch radiated through her palm.
It felt so intense.
"I don't know..." she murmured, averting her eyes.
"Let me decide," Joseph replied.
Unable to resist, he kissed her once more, causing her body to grow hotter. She held onto him tightly, her heart racing. However, their intimate moment was interrupted by the doorbell ringing at noon.
Irish quickly tidied up her disheveled hair and opened the door.
To her surprise, it was the same two individuals from before. An uneasiness settled within her.
Suddenly, Joseph held her shoulders, his voice filled with reassurance. "I'll be back soon."
"Joseph!" Irish clung to him tightly, her face pale.
Joseph held her firmly, comforting her. "Don't worry. It's just cooperation. I'll return tonight. You must cooperate with the police as well. Tell them the truth."
Irish's breathing grew ragged, and she reluctantly let go of her grip on him.
****
Routine questioning was anything but simple, whether it involved the police or individuals summoned by the police. Regardless of whether it was Jordan, Irish, or the other members of the Lake family, they were all acquainted with Joseph, making it impossible for them to remain as composed and indifferent as mere bystanders.
The police conducted three rounds of questioning, beginning with Jordan, who had no means of evading it.
Given that their statements needed to be documented, a secluded office with a recording device was selected by the police. Chalmers' assistant assumed the role of interrogator while Chalmers himself silently observed the proceedings.
Initially, Jordan displayed a cooperative demeanor, providing answers to the assistant's inquiries.
However, as he realized that Joseph had become a prime suspect in the eyes of the police, his attitude underwent a noticeable change.
Jordan's behavior became increasingly disrespectful.
At one point during the interrogation, he nonchalantly propped his legs up on the table, leaning back in his chair, emanating an air of nonchalance fit for a regal figure. Moreover, he occasionally evaded answering certain questions by deeming them absurd.
Observing this display, the assistant rapped his knuckles on the table, reminding Jordan, "Put your legs down. We are in a police station."
Jordan cast a doubtful gaze in his direction.
Helplessly, the assistant pointed towards Jordan's legs.
Suddenly, Jordan expressed, "I apologize, but my leg is hurting."
"You…" The assistant's irritation was evident, but before he could utter a word, Chalmers signaled him to remain silent.
Frowning, the assistant suppressed his displeasure.
Meanwhile, Chalmers calmly observed the young man in his early twenties, who possessed a sturdy and towering physique. Aside from his striking eyes, his eyebrows bore a striking resemblance to Joseph's. In fact, if one disregarded his eyes, he could easily be mistaken for Joseph's older brother.
This was precisely why Chalmers decided to assign a male assistant to take notes instead.
A few days earlier, a female subordinate, fresh out of the police academy and known for her calm and composed nature, was initially tasked with transcribing Joseph's statement. However, upon seeing Joseph, she became flustered, blushing, and losing her composure. She found it difficult to formulate coherent questions, often getting distracted by Joseph's presence. Recognizing the situation, Chalmers promptly made the decision to replace her with a male subordinate for Joseph's statement.
Today, upon seeing Jordan's photograph, Chalmers promptly opted for another male subordinate, aiming to avoid any further complications.
"Did you willingly transfer your share to your elder brother, or was it done under duress?" the assistant continued his questioning.
Without hesitation, Jordan responded, "Voluntarily."
"Why?" the assistant inquired.
Jordan stared at him, conveying a sense of disbelief, and replied, "I have a very packed schedule."
"Because of racing?" the assistant probed.
"Yep," Jordan confirmed.
The assistant continued, "When Joseph married Ruby, was he aware of her being a lesbian?"
Jordan fixated his gaze on the assistant and responded, emphasizing each word, "I don't know."
"Is it that he didn't know she was a lesbian, or that you don't know if he knew?" the assistant clarified.
Jordan let out a dismissive snort, remarking, "Officer, are you trying to twist my tongue?"
The assistant's expression turned sour.
Jordan placed his legs back on the ground, leaning forward, and spoke with precision, "What I meant is that my brother's knowledge regarding her is unknown to me."
The assistant diligently made a note of the response.
Finally, Chalmers posed his question, "I've heard that your relationship with your brother hasn't been amicable."
"We're fine," Jordan refuted, shaking his head. "Officer, please don't believe in rumors."
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