Chapter 1085 - 560: Setting a Deadly Trap to Verify What Happened (Part 3)

:"Let’s go back first; chatting here feels strange..." Her voice was gentle, the kind of gentleness that had been absent for a long time, with a hint of joy. The gloom on her face had been completely wiped away by Beckett Wright’s earlier words. He liked seeing her smile like this, akin to the sun just rising over the snowy mountaintop, bringing strands of warmth.

:"You’ve learned to change the subject with me now?" Joshua Hughes approached her, his sharp gaze trying to pierce through her heart like a beam.

He was still the same as before, domineering, wanting to control everything about her, even her thoughts. If she really married him, how could life be lived afterward, would they still be able to play happily together? Avery Jane sighed softly. This phrase was learned from Eliza Bell, but it was quite fitting though.

He couldn’t push her; Joshua Hughes repeatedly warned himself, although he wanted to control all her thoughts, he didn’t want to force her at all.

:"Let’s go." He took her cool, soft hand. This indeed wasn’t a good place to talk. He always felt something was off here but couldn’t pin it down, his long eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if a character was carved between them.

:"Move in and live with me; your place is too small." Her room was comfortable but indeed too small. He didn’t feel secure at all and wanted to quickly settle things, formally place her by his side to be at ease. Otherwise, it felt like something was caught in his throat, ready to jump out at any carelessness.

:"Live together?" Avery Jane furrowed her delicate brows, playing with her fingers. What was this? An invitation or an order? With what identity would she live with him? She realized that what she was thinking today wasn’t on the same channel as him, far apart.

:"No..." Her voice was low, sullen; it was apparent she wasn’t happy. This dimmed Joshua Hughes’ mood as he followed her darkening face. She minded about what happened in Paris, but it had been proven that nothing happened. Didn’t the night before she went abroad hold any significance for her? He thought she had accepted him; just now, he thought the biggest hurdle between them had been crossed.

The phone rang, breaking the stifling atmosphere in the carriage...

"Boss, the court added another lawsuit against you, stating you assaulted a police officer. The officer you threw suffered a fractured arm, seriously injured." Julian Carter’s calm tone carried no inflection. Such matters wouldn’t have been difficult in their hands before, but happening now made the situation much more serious.

Joshua Hughes hung up the phone with a steely face, looking as if frost had slowly formed over, chilling to the heart.

:"What happened?" Avery Jane watched him take a call, afterward his expression sinking slowly, eyes harboring a storm that was frightening to approach. She could determine it wasn’t due to his issues; did he have other troubles? How could he have troubles, even not troubling others was already good.

:"Are you worried about me?" Joshua Hughes’ husky voice echoed in the sealed carriage, carrying the most magnetic allure.

:"Hmm." Avery Jane nodded slightly, a strand of black hair fell onto her face side, contrasting her skin like the first snow on Tianshan Mountain, pure and delicate.

That single "hmm" sent waves through Joshua Hughes’ heart; she was worrying about him, openly telling him her concerns. This feeling was wonderful, as if his long-standing dedication and waiting finally had a response.

:"Don’t worry, just a minor issue..." Joshua Hughes reached over, holding her small hand, his previously fierce gaze turning gentle and affectionate in her presence.

It was definitely not a minor issue; anything that made his brows furrow like that wasn’t small...

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Safely sending her back to the apartment Eliza Bell rented, Joshua Hughes drove back to the company.

Upstairs, Julian Carter spoke coldly: "These people are really tired of living. Once you arrive at the court, they’ll definitely detain you. Once you’re in their hands, it becomes a big trouble. This isn’t Las Vegas, do you understand?"

How could Joshua Hughes not understand? Now Benjamin Lopez and Luis Hughes were forming a line, the former wanting revenge for his son’s lost eyes, the latter wanting to reclaim what he believed originally belonged to him. He could feel the uneasy, hateful air faintly spreading...

:"Detain me? On what grounds?" Joshua Hughes chuckled coldly, his handsome and brave features seemingly covered in frost. Today he was restraining himself; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been just a fractured arm.

:"Go retrieve the video and upload it online, see how they’re troubling me." Currently, this was the most feared scenario. Those people dared to cause a ruckus at the Hughes Clan just relying on Benjamin Lopez’s few words. Today, he was merely cooperating with the investigation, yet they wanted to restrict his freedom. Is that what they can do? A bunch of idiots, having wronged themselves and put their tails in others’ hands, yet still daring to clamor, truly courting death.

Julian Carter’s face remained indifferent, but inside, his heart trembled slightly.

Releasing that video was equivalent to slapping Benjamin Lopez hard across the face. The boss had always been decisive and ruthless, never leaving the opponent any way out, not even a little.

:"Moreover, the court’s workgroup has been here for a week, yet they’ve found nothing. They’re currently probing around various departments attempting to gather information." Julian Carter looked at Joshua Hughes, resolute and bold, truly someone who can control the situation completely.

:"Treat them to good food and drinks, let the PR department accompany them in conversation, soften their bones, eventually they’ll not want to do anything." His lips carried a hint of a dangerous smile, clearly understanding the inner workings of people.

All the supervisors were on high alert, reporting work was the most painful time. It appeared Joshua Hughes was casual, yet he could always pinpoint flaws in the minutest details, even while summarizing all data not a small error slipped past him. His mind processed faster than a computer; the finance department’s supervisor discreetly wiped sweat, his tongue seemingly frozen in his mouth, looking at the man ahead, mature and wise, eyes sharp like surgical blades, capable of dissecting his mind. Working under someone like him always required utmost attentiveness; he’d dedicated two days for this summary, yet the president still identified errors in the smallest numbers.

Cold sweat dripped, everyone knew Joshua Hughes wasn’t in a good mood these days, everyone on edge, careful and cautious, fearing to be caught in the storm’s tail. He lowered his head, preparing for reprimand, imagining President Hughes tossing the whole stack of data in his face or perhaps his bonus sinking.

The internal phone on the table rang, Joshua Hughes stared coldly at the pile of numbers, casually answering.

"Miss Jane is here." From the other end, Julian Carter’s tone remained flat, as if Avery Jane was just an ordinary visitor.

The man with a gloomy face moments before now had a flash sweep through his eyes, standing swiftly, striding towards the office door, leaving the finance manager dazed. What did he just witness? He clearly saw a man head over heels in love.

He hadn’t finished his report; should he stay or leave? His head ached, wishing to grab the few strands left on his bald head.