CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: LOOKS PRETTY GOOD

Jean Ellison stood in front of a villa, looking around but unable to find the exit. An Audi car sped past her from not far behind,

She turned her head to look, but there was no one behind her, and she didn’t see any car pass by.

Jean walked onto a small path and saw a familiar figure in the distance.

The man stood in front of a bulletin board, with a colleague holding a camera beside him, seemingly filming a legal awareness video.

Jean’s heart sank, and she quietly stood not far away, watching him.

Philip Paxton was dressed very formally today.

The navy police uniform wrapped his tense shoulders and back. The tough lines stretched the fabric without a wrinkle, while the gold badge on his shoulder epaulet glimmered slightly.

The belt cinched his waist and abdomen tightly, the metal buckle gleaming coldly, and the waistline was neatly tapered.

Philip Paxton looked up and saw her, gesturing for his colleague to wait a moment.

He jogged over to her, his entire skin a sun-kissed tan from years of outdoor training. He was ruggedly handsome, and a sudden smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Claire, what are you doing here?"

Jean extended her hand but paused just a second before touching his lips.

"Officer Paxton, you should call me Jean Ellison now."

Philip scratched the back of his head, embarrassedly saying, "Oh right, my memory isn’t great, I forgot."

"It’s fine, no one heard anyway."

Jean smiled faintly, the light shining on her face, bright and warm.

The moment his gaze touched her face, the fingers resting on his gun holster froze still, the knuckles stiffened.

Lately, he had been busy helping the province shoot promotional videos and hadn’t gotten around to seeing her.

He didn’t know if she was adjusting to life outside, or if her colleagues at work were giving her a hard time.

"Officer Paxton, never mind why I’m here now, I’m lost. Would you be willing to escort me out?"

Jean asked with a smile, and he nodded absentmindedly, not even hearing her words clearly.

Claire wanted him to do something, he would always agree.

"Lawson, you head back first."

Philip called across the road to his colleague, who immediately responded, "Yes, Captain Paxton."

Jean walked shoulder to shoulder with him, the two walking side by side.

He felt a bit awkward, adjusting his hat brim and tugging at his police uniform.

"Is your uniform new today? It looks nice."

"Yes, do you like it?"

Philip looked at her happily, tilting his head slightly.

She was about a head shorter than him, and this angle was perfect for gazing at her profile without her easily noticing.

Jean nodded, and the smile on his face deepened.

Philip saw up ahead that turning out would lead to the grand gates of the villa area, and he unconsciously slowed his steps.

"I heard from Officer Dalton she’s found a job for you and rented a place."

"Yeah, the owner of the news company is Officer Dalton’s cousin, and the landlord where I live knows Officer Dalton too."

"That’s good."

Philip felt at ease, trusting Isabel Dalton’s arrangements.

Jean stopped walking, and a few meters ahead was the villa gate; she could call a cab and go on her own.

"I’ve been going on about myself. How about you, Officer Paxton, how have you been lately?"

Running into him, she naturally wanted to ask about him.

During her five years in prison, Officer Paxton visited her every weekend, rain or shine, bringing her books, daily necessities, and even photos of Jesse, and he asked the prison guards to look after her.

She still remembers the first time Philip Paxton visited her in prison.

She was being bullied by the big sister inside when he arrived and swiftly restrained the person who tried to hit her.

The prison warden called him in for a talk, and with a stony face, he earnestly explained.

Claire Caldwell was his distant cousin, young and naive, and got in because of bad influence.

As her cousin, it was only right for him to visit.

Since then, this cousin started frequently appearing at Crestwell Women’s Penitentiary.

She gave birth to Jesse on a stormy night, and Isabel Dalton, unable to drive, panicked upon seeing her covered in blood, in excruciating pain.

In desperation, Isabel called Philip Paxton.

What was supposed to be an hour’s drive, he made in half an hour without asking any questions, directly taking her to the nearest hospital.

She was delirious, drenched in cold sweat, and heard the wail of sirens, which terrified her.

Later, Isabel told her she was in labor with Jesse the whole night, losing more blood than they could transfuse, and the doctor came out of the operating room multiple times, asking them to prepare for the worst.

But fortunately, as dawn broke, the sound of a baby crying came from the operating room.

She pulled through; both she and Jesse were safe and sound.

Only Officer Paxton stood with his legs numb; however long she was inside, he stood outside, unwavering, like standing guard.

"I’m doing quite well." Philip Paxton extended his hand, wanting to pat her head; thinking better of it, he withdrew his hand.

Jean noticed his intention, caught his wrist, and placed his large hand on her head.

His palm was warm and broad, with a thin callus.

"What are you worried about, I haven’t gone bald."

Philip gently ruffled her hair and quickly retracted his hand, gazing at her with indulgent eyes.

"Mm, I felt it, there’s still plenty of hair on top."

Jean raised her eyebrows triumphantly, spinning around in place like a little sun.

"Not just the top, my whole head is full of hair."

"Don’t worry, the little work at the company won’t tire me out."

What truly weighed on her heart was Jesse’s illness and the lawsuit with her cousin.

But she didn’t intend to tell Philip Paxton about it; he had already helped her enough. If he learned about Jesse’s situation, he would try to help, which might unnecessarily cause trouble.

"The gate is just ahead, I can go on my own from here. Go back and finish shooting your video."

Jean waved at him, but he stepped forward again.

"This gate has restricted access; I’ll show my ID so the security can open it for you."

"Alright."

The two walked side by side to the gate. Philip Paxton pulled out his ID from his uniform, and the security guard, seeing it from afar, smiled and opened the gate.

"Officer, take care."

"Mm."

Philip Paxton responded indifferently, his jawline sharp and his thin lips pressed tightly together without a curve.

It seemed he treated everyone with the same rigid and serious demeanor, except in front of Jean, where his face would light up with a smile.

Captain Paxton, he was a captain now.

Five years ago, when he was ordered to arrest Claire Caldwell at Kingswell University, he was just a new criminal police officer, fresh out of the police academy.

During her five years in prison, he must have cracked many major cases.

Several weekends when she saw him, he’d have bruises on his face, clearly having had a scuffle with criminals.

Jean was about to turn around and leave when Philip Paxton called her from behind, hesitating before asking, "Where can I find you?"

"Don’t you know where I’m living now?" Jean countered.

Philip remained silent for a few seconds before answering with a smile, "Alright, I know."

The day she was released, he was the one who picked her up, having taken a day off work.

But, her living alone, and him going to her place unannounced—would that make her uncomfortable?

That was what he was concerned about, which was why he wanted her work address.

Since she mentioned it, he would definitely visit when he had the time.

Philip Paxton wanted to see Jean off, but after taking two steps, she suddenly halted and staggered back.

A black Audi was parked sideways in front, its door opened, and a man with impossibly long legs stepped out of the car.

His shirt and trousers fitted his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the platinum watch on his cool white wrist shimmered.

Justin Holden slammed the car door with his left hand, his gaze level and cold-faced, his look steady and sharp as it fell upon the two.