Silly Bride novel (Winnie and Xavier) novel Chapter 418

Just as Harold was about to put Winnie's fertility report back into the drawer, Josiah entered the room abruptly.

Harold didn't expect him to return so quickly, while Josiah was surprised to see “Xavier” going through his drawer.

Josiah couldn't help but frown curiously. “What are you looking at, Xavier? I'm surprised you actually found something of interest in here.”

Even though Harold was shocked by Josiah's sudden return, his calm demeanor prevented him from giving himself away.

Instead, he waved the report in his hand at Josiah.

“It's Winnie's report. Of course I'm interested.”

Josiah nodded in acknowledgment. “I forgot to shred it. It's just that she's blind now. Otherwise, it would be terrible if she saw it.”

“Oh?” Harold immediately understood what was going on.

It turns out that they are hiding from Winnie the fact that she's barren. They must be doing so to avoid hurting her feelings. This is certainly wonderful news. Haha, if the real Xavier was unwilling to tell her the truth, I'll be the one to do it!

The mere thought of the devastated look on Winnie's face caused Harold to curl his lips subconsciously in elation.

Meanwhile, Josiah's brows furrowed when he saw “Xavier” smiling strangely with Winnie's fertility report in hand.

Hence, he gave his friend a curious look. “Xavier, why are you smiling?”

“Was I smiling?” Harold quickly reverted back to his emotionless expression as he asked, “Why are you back already? Has the matter outside been resolved?”

“Not yet, but I sent someone to deal with it.” While speaking, Josiah took the report back and dumped it into the shredder in the corner of the room.

After returning his attention to “Xavier”, he inquired, “Other than your wounds, do you feel discomfort anywhere?”

“No.” Harold shook his head. “What's wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?”

The frown on Josiah's face deepened. “I just feel that something is different with you, but I can't put my finger on what it is.”

“In that case, let the data speak for themselves.” Harold cocked a brow. “Didn't you take my blood? You should run them through all the tests you need.”

Josiah nodded while letting out a hum of acknowledgment.

Flashing a smile, Harold patted Josiah on the shoulder. “In that case, I'll take my leave first.”

“Okay, I'll walk you out.” Josiah stuffed his hands into the pocket of his lab coat as he followed Harold out.

However, Harold stopped him. “I'll be fine. You should get back to work.”

“All right then.” Josiah didn't insist as his gaze trailed Harold's leaving silhouette.

Cognizant of the way Josiah was looking at him, Harold was irritated. I have to get rid of this annoying jerk someday.

The moment he stepped out of the hospital, Harold heard his phone ring.

However, when he saw that it was Winnie on the line, he put it back into his pocket, ignoring her call deliberately.

It wasn't until Winnie called a few more times that “Xavier” finally answered.

Over the phone, “Xavier” mentioned that he was busy but confirmed that he would return to Lagune Mansion for dinner.

Hence, Winnie waited for him.

Unfortunately, there was still no sign of “Xavier” even when the food had turned cold.

When Winnie called again to check, she found out that Benjamin had returned to the country. Therefore, “Xavier” had gone back to the Fairchild residence together with his father.

The sudden turn of events baffled Winnie. “Why didn't you tell me earlier? I've been waiting for you the whole time.”

Paying no heed to Winnie's complaint, Harold cooked up a random lie. “My dad was speaking to me the entire time, so I didn't have the opportunity. I remember asking Louis to inform you. Did he not do it?”

“No. If he did, I wouldn't be waiting at home like a fool!”

“What?” Noticing the anger in Winnie's tone, Harold relished in schadenfreude. “Looks like he has forgotten my instructions. I'll deduct his pay, then. Anyway, my dad told me a lot today and expressed his intense dissatisfaction with you. I wanted to pick you up so we could all have dinner together at the Fairchild residence, but that doesn't seem like a good idea.”

“Yes. That's why I should avoid going there for the time being.”

“Okay, I'm hanging up now. I probably won't be back tonight, so don't wait up.”

“Sure.” Winnie, too, didn't have much to say when she sensed “Xavier's” lack of desire to chat.

Nevertheless, this was the first time he didn't return for the night.

Sensing something amiss in the back of her mind, she dialed a string of numbers.

It was a number she never saved on her phone because this was the first time she ever called its owner—the spy whom she implanted in Fairchild Corporation.

Back when Xavier found out about it, he gave his tacit approval. In fact, he didn't even question who that person was.

In other words, apart from Winnie, no one else knew that the person was acting as Winnie's spy while working for Xavier.

“Ms. Garland.” The lady was clearly shocked when she received Winnie's call. “What can I do for you?”

Winnie replied flatly, “There's something I want to ask you.”

Even though Louis was the one who knew everything “Xavier” did, Winnie didn't fully trust him since he was Xavier's subordinate.

As a result, she sought someone on her side. “Have you noticed anything strange with Mr. Fairchild's behavior over the last two days, be it at work or his usual routine? Tell me everything you know.”

Although Winnie hadn't called her up in a long time, the lady was still on Winnie's payroll all this while. Thus, she continued to diligently make notes every day, just in case Winnie needed them out of the blue.

The lady chose her words carefully as she replied, “I have noticed some minute differences, but I'm not sure if I'm just being too sensitive.”

“It's fine. Just give me what you have. I'll make my own judgment.”

“All right.” The lady continued, “Perhaps because of the injuries in his throat, Mr. Fairchild hardly speaks recently and seldom makes any decisions. Instead, he lets Mr. Tanser do all the talking in his place. Also, Mr. Fairchild has been making mistakes with minor details and needs Mr. Tanser to remind him about things. This is something that has never happened before.”

“Is that so?” Winnie knitted her brows. “What sort of details? Tell me about them.”

“Names. Mr. Fairchild addressed two members of senior management wrongly. In fact, he even got a major client's name wrong.”

“What?” The words caused the frown on Winnie's face to deepen.

It doesn't seem like he has any problems with his memory at all. Messing up the names of senior management and a major client is a serious matter.

“Anything else?” Winnie asked.

“Yes. Over the last two days, he has been using his stamp instead of his signature while signing documents. Ever since he returned, he has not signed his name at all. This is probably because both his hands were injured, but it's something unprecedented.”

At that moment, Winnie fell into deep thought.

Although the reason sounds logical, are the injuries on his hand really that serious? Given that contracts worth tens of billions pass through his hands, can he really make do with just a stamp instead of his signature? Were the documents due to be signed over the last two days coincidentally trivial?