Chapter 5

At 5 PM, I watched Iris exit the building and walk towards the parking lot.

She wasn't tall, yet surprisingly, she drove a large Jeep.

I followed her in my car, and after ten minutes, I saw her vehicle enter a neighborhood.

It was a gated community of mansions, quiet and beautiful.

I was somewhat surprised.

Iris was just a regular support staff member, but I hadn't expected her to be so secretly well-off.

I was driving a Porsche Cayenne, and the security guard didn't question my excuse of visiting a friend too deeply, raising the barrier to let me in.

I soon spotted the entrance where Iris's big Jeep was parked, and I stopped far away by the roadside, staring blankly at her house.

I didn't know what I was doing.

I hadn't even thought through why I was following Jade.

Maybe it was because of that red mark on the back of her neck.

Or perhaps it was due to her mysteriously smudged lipstick.

In any case, it was my personality, my OCD, my habit of overthinking, my body controlling my brain.

I felt somewhat dejected, guilty, and self-loathing.

After sitting for a while, I was about to leave.

Suddenly, I saw a car slowly approaching.

A car I knew all too well.

Archer's black Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

For a moment, I felt as if all the blood in my body instantly froze, leaving me unable to move. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan silently stood in front of Iris's house.

The car door remained closed, and no one stepped out.

Trembling, I picked up my phone and dialed Archer's number.

It barely rang for a second before his gentle voice came through.

"Jade, what's up?"

Struggling to control my emotions, I spoke softly:

"Archer, are you still busy at the office? If you're not feeling well, maybe you should head home early today."

Archer chuckled, "I'm out right now. Just got off work a little while ago. A big-shot executive wants to review a project proposal last minute, so I'm taking someone to meet with them."

"Who are you taking?" I asked slowly.

"Secretary Iris."

Looking through the car window, I saw Iris coming out her front door, holding a file, and hurriedly getting into Archer's car.

Archer's call hadn't ended, and he continued patiently:

"I might just be tired today, but it's nothing serious. Jade, Secretary Iris just got in the car. I'm about to head out now. Don't worry, I'll be home by 7."

After hanging up, I let out a soft, long sigh.

His attitude was open and honest, without a hint of secrecy.

So it was just a coincidence. By pure coincidence, the big boss called after work. By pure coincidence, Iris was his secretary. By pure coincidence, it happened on the day of my outrageous behavior.

Calming down, I watched as the Cullinan slowly drove away, circling around the flower bed and exiting through the main gate.

I started my car, ready to leave, when suddenly I froze.

As the Cullinan left...

The main gate automatically raised its barrier.

......

I slowly turned my head to look at Iris's villa.

It was a beautiful and elegant three-story house.

The upstairs windows were adorned with cozy pink curtains, and the balcony was lined with a row of lush potted plants, showing that the owner had put thought and care into maintaining them.

I sat stiffly in my car, like a frozen statue.

Ten minutes later, I got out of the car and walked to the front door of the villa.

The door had a keypad lock.

As if possessed, I pressed a series of numbers.

960703, my birthday.

The lock opened.