“There’s no otherwise.” Xavier shot up and stared at Winnie, totally preventing her from saying anything that he might not want to hear. “Ask away, and I will not tell a single lie.”

Winnie also stared at him, the frown on her face still as deep as before. “That would be best!”

With that, she raised her leg and kicked the door close.

She rarely threw tantrums on other people’s turf. Given how hard she had kicked on the door, it was evident to all that she was utterly furious.

Thus, Josiah quietly huddled on his chair, whereas Xavier strode in Winnie’s direction.

“Winnie, you can talk to me about anything. I don’t wish to see you fuming like this.”

“Glad that you noticed my anger, Xavier,” Winnie retorted sternly. “I will have you know that I hate being lied to, especially when it’s a repeated offense.”

“All right.” Xavier actively reached for Winnie’s hand. “I get it now. You must be furious because you feel that I have lied to you about something. Can you tip me off as to what that might be?”

Before the issue was dealt with, Winnie couldn’t bring herself to be nice to Xavier.

She cast his hand away before explaining in a stern tone, “I can understand that we all have our privacy, and I admit that I do also keep my own secrets from you. However, I will come clean if you ask me about it instead of covering it up by lying to you. Although we’re a married couple, we’re also, at the same time, two different individuals. While I respect your privacy, you are not to lie to me. I wish you will prioritize this matter.”

“I will make sure to prioritize it!” Xavier promised. “Josiah can testify for everything I said today. You can punish me as you wish if I lie to you.”

“Good!” Seeing that the terms had been laid out, Winnie cut to the chase. “I’ve repeatedly asked you about this, but I will ask you once more. Have you ever found in your car a black badge etched with a rose at the front and a scepter at the back?”

Xavier immediately knew where the conversation would lead the moment he heard her mention a black badge.

Frowning, he pursed his lips and only opened up after a two-second silence.

“Yes, I did find a badge that matches your description. I also lied to you. I’m sorry. Allow me to offer my sincerest apologies.”

“Oh?” Winnie didn’t know if she should praise him or beat him to death given how quickly he admitted to his past deeds. “Go on. I sure like to know how you repeatedly lied to me.”

Xavier pinched in between his brows during the momentary silence. “I did find the badge, but I had no idea it belongs to you. It just so happened that I was being an idiot and brought Yulissa to Lagune Mansion. However, I did not show her that badge beforehand. Right after that, she proceeded to have me help her pick out a gown because she had to attend Grandpa’s birthday banquet the next day. I didn’t pick out her gown, but I clearly remember her picking one that hugs her figure. After that, she went on to choose herself a brooch. Then, she told me that one of her brooches was missing from her jewelry box and described its appearance to me, which matched the black badge you mentioned. She also told me she might have left it on the back seat of my car when she was hitching a ride a few days ago. She got it all correct, be it the appearance of the badge or where I found it. I ended up believing in her and handed it to her and only came to know that it was yours later on. Back then, Yulissa was intent on causing you harm, so I didn’t tell you the truth. I was planning on getting that badge back and personally returning it to you. However, I didn’t expect so much to happen after that, including Yulissa’s death and my losing my memories. If you hadn’t mentioned it just now, I probably wouldn’t have recalled this on my own. I’m sorry, Winnie. I admit that I’ve lied to you, but it wasn’t intentional. I thought I could retrieve that badge soon, but I have underestimated the severity of the matter!”

Xavier offered a thorough explanation for everything that had happened, and Winnie wasn’t someone who would ignore circumstances surrounding issues indiscriminately.

Yulissa came prepared, so Xavier, who didn’t recognize the badge at all, couldn’t have prevented what had happened.

Afterward, it was true that he lost his memories, which caused a delay in him returning the badge to her.

Under such circumstances, Winnie couldn’t bring herself to blame Xavier.

She rubbed in between her brows. “You should’ve told me the truth back then, but it’s no use blaming you now. However, you will remember what you said today, that you will never lie to me ever again.”

reached out to grab Winnie’s hand

hand tightly, he asked, “Did the call you pick up just now have something to

That badge is a token of the Speiser family. Every important member of the family holds one each, and I happened to have one. The black badge symbolizes power in the underground. I utilized it for the first time ever when I was in Avenport to purchase from the black market firearms that weren’t circulated in the market. That was also where I first saw Yulissa using drugs. Back when the badge was presented, it stirred up a ruckus within the black

snuck into it and accidentally left the badge in your car at that time. I suppose Yulissa must’ve also heard some news about that black badge that night, so she conned you to get it from you out of greed after seeing it in your car. You should never underestimate the power that the black badge represents, especially in the shadows. Given that a drug addict like Yulissa has gotten a hold of it, there might be dire consequences if she abused the power it bestowed her. So, I need to

person who contacted

member of the Speiser family and also one of my brothers. He holds much power in the underground of Yartran. To be more specific, he was the one who gifted that black badge to me. A few days ago, he received news that the badge was spotted on someone at Jipsdale. He thought I was the one holding on

interject, “So I suppose it is most likely that Yulissa is still alive, then. Not only are the saliva and DNA found on the cigarette butt proof of that, but that family badge of yours has also directly exposed her trajectory! Did your brother tell you her exact location? If he has his men over there, could

Jipsdale twice in different locations that are geographically

holding on to the badge, and we have her photo, so we won’t need to worry about not being able to identify her. It’s just a matter of time before we get her,”

after a

our circumstances, that’s our

her pocket rang

phone before asking in jealousy, “Is it

took out her phone, ignoring Xavier for the time

the caller ID yourself. If my

glance in silence,

First Institute of Applied Toxicology. There might be new progress regarding the analysis of the venom.

picked up the

phone call, both Xavier and Josiah understood what she

sigh before continuing her conversation. “Sure. Thank

call and proceeded to explain the

to carry out research, it might take five to ten years to find out what it is. While they might have the time to do that, we don’t. Thus, their

this still lies on Yulissa. Only by finding her can we possibly find out who developed that venom in

I will have to go on that

to her idea almost as soon as she voiced it. “It’s

if you leave? Besides, you aren’t familiar with that place either. If we want to find Yulissa, we should have locals do the job. It’s more convenient

right, Winnie. Please listen to us.” Upon noticing Winnie’s hesitation, Xavier decided to strike while the iron was hot. “Your granny is also here. Nobody knows how long it will take to

go on a search! We must find Yulissa no

not.” Xavier was relieved when Winnie yielded. “I will make sure to return that badge to its rightful

“It’s one thing to find the badge, but your health comes first. We have to find the person who developed that

the urge to kiss her. “We will find

in the presence of a bachelor? Do reach out if

“Of course. I will make the most of all means that are

“Get lost!”

Winnie drove

I’m wondering if you could

passenger seat. She didn’t even spare a glance at him when she agreed to

have the

question. “First of all, do you know the

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