You Hit My Heart
Chapter 1708: Seems To Like You

Chapter 1708: Seems to Like You

Joyce and Darrin left the Ballard Group mansion together.

Darrin started the car, and Joyce sat in the passenger seat as theysped away.

Inside the car, Joyce leaned her head against the window, gazingoutside.

The night was pitch black, stretching endlessly into the distance. Themoon was unusually large, radiating an eerie yellow glow, while thebrilliance of the stars remained hidden. The howling wind whistledthrough the car windows, creating a hissing sound.

Darrin drove on a small road, and there were a few places withoutstreetlights. Even with the high beams on, they could only illuminate ashort distance ahead.

The boundless darkness plunged Joyce into deep thought.Unconsciously, she rubbed her pointed chin, her profile hidden in thedarkness, making it difficult to discern her expression.

Darrin glanced at Joyce occasionally while driving.

Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Warner hasn't returned for almosta week. Don't you know where he went?"

Joyce shook her head, "I didn't ask.”

"Why? It wouldn't be hard to replace out. I can inquire for you," Darrintightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"No reason. What do you think about what Christian said just now?"Joyce suddenly turned her head, looking at Darrin's handsome profile.Darrin was taken aback. He had his own thoughts on the matter."General, what do you think?"

Knowing abruptly about her husband's past relationship, he couldn't besure of Joyce's current state of mind. Any normal woman wouldprobably replace it difficult to accept.

Joyce pointed out the doubts, "Did you notice that everything Christiansaid was either relayed to him by his sister Athena or his ownspeculation? He never witnessed any of it firsthand.”

"Yes, you're right. He never had a proper conversation with Mr. Warnerabout his sister," Darrin said seriously. “General, although I haven'tknown Mr. Warner for long, I believe he is an open-minded person whowouldn't deliberately hide anything, nor does he have any reason to.What does he want? Moreover, Mr. Warner is decisive in his actions. Ifhe likes someone, he won't let go. If he dislikes someone, he wouldn'tspare them a second glance. That's how I see it."

Joyce nodded slightly.

“Yes. What we can be certain of is that Athena's cliff jump did happen,as Christian personally experienced it. But the key question is what ledher to make that choice, something even Christian may not be clearabout. And that's the crucial point in this whole matter.”

Darrin glanced at Joyce again. "General, if Mr. Warner really had sucha past, what do you plan to do?"

Joyce pondered for a moment before replying, “I don't want to assumeanything. First, we need to determine the degree of credibility. Youshould know Karl; he implanted the idea in me, and it has had a deepimpact. We need evidence for everything. Without evidence, I won'tmake any judgments.”

“I've heard of him. He's the director of the Special InvestigationDepartment and now the dean of the House of Inspection, right? Iheard you have a good relationship with him," Darrin said. "General,should we involve Mr. Gregory in the investigation?"

Joyce shook her head, "Not for now. He's about to become a father,and I want him to have some peaceful days. He has helped me toomuch before, and I owe him so much. I don't want to trouble himanymore."

Darrin smiled slightly, “General, now you have me. I know a thing ortwo about criminal investigation and counterintelligence.”

Joyce waved her hand, "Not for now. Christian's words, I replace themunreasonable. It's clear that Christian has strong feelings for Athena,likely beyond a sibling relationship. And they aren't blood-related. Theygrew up together, with a deep bond. So, whatever Athena says,Christian will naturally believe without any doubt.”

Darrin affirmed, "Because of deep love, one is willing to believe. I alsothink that Mr. Ballard's words are illogical and heavily influenced by hispersonal emotions, which hinders his ability to accurately judge thesituation.”

"But those aren't the main points,” Joyce narrowed her eyes, showing ahint of sharpness. "Athena has been gone for ten years, and yet, whycan't I see overwhelming grief in Christian's eyes?"

"Perhaps the passage of time has made the emotions fade?" Darrinquestioned.

“It shouldn't. When I first met Christian over four years ago, hisemotions were even more intense than they are now. He had a face-to-face confrontation with Luther, and the situation was extremely tense,”Joyce rubbed her temples. “I've been thinking about this since I got inthecar. What is the reason that allows Christian to speak of the past socalmly, without showing too much sadness in his expression, or eventhe expected excitement?"

"Cough cough." Darrin discreetly coughed a few times, stealing aglance. "Well, as a man, I feel... Christian seems to like you."

"What nonsense," Joyce rolled her eyes and playfully slapped Darrin'sarm.

“That's not nonsense, I genuinely feel that way. Think about it, hissister's matter happened ten years ago. If he has moved on and nowlikes you, mentioning the past wouldn't cause him the same heart-wrenching pain. That's the only way it makes sense," Darrinemphasized.

He genuinely had this feeling. Christian's gaze toward Joyce wasn't assimple as a friendship.

Christian's gaze contained complexity, joy, heartache, andhelplessness. As a man, Darrin could understand. After all, Joyce wasalready married with a child, so for Christian, he could only let go.

“I'm not referring to that. I mean, I feel like Christian is hiding somethingfrom me. He didn't finish what he wanted to say," Joyce saidindignantly.

"Oh, that. I didn't sense that," Darrin admitted.

"General, why do you have that feeling? And why does Mr. Ballardremind you to be cautious and watch out for someone targeting you?Does he already know something?" Darrin pondered, "But if he doesknow, why doesn't he clearly tell you? Instead, he indirectly hints at it.What is he concerned about?"

Joyce let out a long sigh. "That's why I said he's hiding something fromme."

"General, what should we do next?" Darrin asked. "Mr. Warner hasn'treturned home in a week, and we can't ask him right now.”

“Let's wait and see. I feel like the truth will come to light soon," Joycesuddenly sat up straight, her lips curving slightly.

Having experienced many storms, it was difficult for anything to affecther state of mind.

Take one step at a time, consider the situation, and then come up witha plan.

That seemed to be the most appropriate approach for now.