CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99: AFFECTING HIS DIGNITY

"I just finished handling a case nearby and immediately recognized you from behind."

Philip Paxton was tall, wearing a leather jacket and jeans, looking both upright and relaxed.

"Perfect timing, I have something for you. Shall I give you a ride home?"

Jean Ellison nodded and got into the car with him.

Philip Paxton took a thin folder from the briefcase he carried.

"This is an internal supplementary report from our investigation of the personnel involved back then. Although on the surface there’s nothing wrong, there are some details regarding timelines and personnel shifts that seem odd. I’ve marked them for you. See if you can recall anything."

Jean Ellison took the folder, her fingertips slightly trembling: "Thank you, it’s too risky..."

"No worries, it’s just a copy, doesn’t matter."

Philip Paxton waved his hand, looking at her pale face, his tone showing concern.

"You don’t look too well. Is the pressure getting too much? You have work, caregiving for your aunt, and dealing with Justin Holden..."

"I’m fine."

Jean Ellison forced a smile and carefully placed the folder into her briefcase.

"How about we have dinner together? We can talk while we eat? I know a nice private restaurant nearby, the environment is quiet too."

Philip Paxton suggested, with clear anticipation and care in his eyes.

Jean Ellison hesitated for a moment.

She indeed wanted to learn more about the case, and Philip Paxton was one of the few who knew her true identity and had been helping her selflessly over the years.

Both emotionally and rationally, she couldn’t refuse.

"...Alright," she nodded, "but I need to get back early, Jesse is still at home."

"No problem."

Philip Paxton agreed readily.

Philip Paxton restarted the car, merged into the traffic, heading towards a nearby commercial area.

He didn’t notice the black Mercedes quietly pulling out from the street corner behind them, keeping a close yet not too distant follow.

Justin Holden sat in the driver’s seat, his face cold, the knuckles of his fingers gripped tightly on the steering wheel turning white.

He had just received a call; the detective told him Philip Paxton’s afternoon whereabouts ended up near this commercial area. Mysteriously compelled, he drove over, only to see Philip Paxton getting into the passenger seat beside Jean Ellison.

The way they conversed side by side, the overly familiar and caring smile on Philip Paxton’s face, Jean Ellison’s apparent non-rejection...

He followed them all the way, watching as they parked at an elegant-looking restaurant and walked in side by side.

Justin Holden parked across the street in the shadows, with the window half down, simply watching the restaurant’s glass window with an expressionless face.

Through the distance, he couldn’t see the specific scene inside, only the blurry figures sitting opposite each other.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Night slowly descended, lights began to illuminate.

Justin Holden maintained the same position, like a silent statue, with increasingly deep ink swirling in his eyes. Countless thoughts uncontrollably flashed through his mind.

What exactly is their relationship? How long have they known each other?

Are Jean Ellison’s secrets, which he couldn’t uncover, related to this police captain?

Whenever they meet, what are they discussing?

Or is it...more than just discussions.

A nearly violent restlessness combined with a cold fury at being wholly hidden and ostracized threatened to break his usual calm composure.

Finally, he saw the two come out of the restaurant.

Philip Paxton had a smile on his face, seemingly saying something.

Jean Ellison’s expression was unclear, but seemingly more relaxed than before.

Philip Paxton accompanied Jean Ellison to her car, chatted a bit, then helped her open the car door.

Jean Ellison sat in the passenger seat. Philip Paxton leaned down, resting a hand on the car window, said some advice, then stepped back, and got back into the car.

The two cars merged into the traffic.

Justin Holden abruptly started the car and followed Jean Ellison’s vehicle.

His face under the flickering streetlights seemed increasingly complex and unfathomable.

Philip Paxton’s car drove all the way back to Sovera.

At the front gate, the vehicle recognition system didn’t raise the barrier, a man’s hand extended out of the car window, holding up an ID.

The bar raised steadily.

The guard stuck his head out as usual, smiling: "Mrs. Holden is back..."

He stopped midway, suddenly astonished by noticing the man returning with Mrs. Holden wasn’t Mr. Holden but a stranger.

He instinctively glanced over, not seeing the familiar black Mercedes.

Jean Ellison got out of the car.

"Mrs. Holden, today...Mr. Holden didn’t come with you?"

The guard couldn’t help but ask.

Though the couple usually didn’t appear very close, they mostly arrived and left together. Particularly on weekends, scenes of Mr. Holden picking up Mrs. Holden had been seen several times.

Jean Ellison was taken aback by the question, unsure how to respond.

At that moment, a beam of cold car lights approached, the black Mercedes drove up, stopping precisely behind Jean Ellison’s car.

The car door opened, Justin Holden stepped out.

He wore his morning home attire with a black windbreaker casually over it, tall and steady, walking to Jean Ellison’s side, naturally placing his hand on her waist.

Jean Ellison’s body momentarily stiffened, instinctively trying to dodge but was held steady by the force subtly contained in his palm.

Justin Holden looked at the startled guard, Old Wang, with an expressionless face, voice calm and indifferent, even carrying a perfectly measured, seemingly like he thought the question was fussing.

"The one who just brought my wife back was my cousin, just gave her a ride along the way."

He paused, scanning Old Wang, his tone still ordinary but conveying an undeniable conclusion.

"We’re all family, just chatted some casual talk, our relationship is very good, you overthought."

Old Wang felt embarrassed and quickly smiled apologetically: "Oh, look at me talking nonsense. So that’s how it is, Mr. and Mrs. Holden, please don’t mind. I was just asking casually, no other meaning, good relationship, good relationship!"

Justin Holden no longer looked at him, slightly tightened his grip on Jean Ellison’s waist, turning her, heading toward the unit foyer, leaving the guard awkwardly smiling behind.

Once in the elevator, Justin Holden immediately released his hand, as if he touched something distasteful, stepping aside, distancing himself from Jean Ellison.

The elevator’s reflective walls showed his extremely cold side profile and Jean Ellison’s slightly pale face.

Jean Ellison watched the floor numbers change, her fingers quietly curling, nails pressing into her palm.

She knew he saw it.

He was angry too.

She just wasn’t sure where his anger was coming from.

Was it merely because she returned in another man’s car, seen by the guard, possibly affecting Lawyer Holden’s ’dignity’?