Iris' frown deepened. "Do you believe that?"
"I think it's a load of bullsh*t," Ashandra Knightson said, unable to hide her anger. "My curator and docent aren't even rich nor are they immigrants. They're French locals. They don't belong to the target profiles of those criminals. But the police say that maybe this is also a case of mistaken identities, that the criminals wrongfully identified them as targets and attacked them. Or worse, that the criminals still went ahead and attacked the two despite knowing that they didn't fit their usual target profiles."
"I'm so sorry about what happened, Ashandra," Iris could only say.
"We're all sorry," Ashandra replied. "I feel sorry for the victims' families. I also feel partly responsible."
"Why?" Iris didn't like to hear that her friend was blaming herself. "This isn't sothing that you can control. It's those criminals who are 100% responsible for their cris, not you. In fact, I think that their families should thank you for raising the alarm so early. I heard that they hadn't even felt concerned yet but you insisted on escalating the matter to the police. If not for you, two lives might have been lost. There's still hope that the curator would survive."
Ashandra sighed. "I understand what you're saying, but I can't help feeling a little guilty. It's because of my art exhibition that the gallery decided to extend its hours late into the evening. If not for it, then maybe my curator and docent wouldn't have to walk in the streets so late at night."
"It's not your fault that your art exhibition is so popular, Ashandra. Please stop blaming yourself. Nobody wants this terrible incident to happen
," Iris continued trying to console her friend.
"Thank you, Xiulan," Ashandra said. "I feel bad that this has to happen when you're on vacation with your family. I originally didn't plan on telling you about it because I didn't want to disturb you, but I guess Sir Lu couldn't help but tell you all about it."
Once again, Iris didn't correct her friend. Ashandra Knightson might begin thinking that the old man couldn't keep his mouth shut from here on. Iris ntally apologized to Grandpa Lu for taking the bla.
"I'll return to Paris to be with you," Iris said all of a sudden.
She glanced at her husband. Jin Liwei nodded, fully supporting her decision. She sighed in relief and smiled at him, her expression filled with gratitude.
"No, Xiulan. Please don't cut your family trip short because of my own problem. I'm already cooperating with the French police. Sir Lu has also promised to ask his friends to continue pressuring the police so that the investigations will not stall. There's nothing you and I could do to help except in trying to provide emotional comfort and financial support to the victims' families. Let the police do their jobs. And hopefully, they'll be able to catch the real suspects soon."
Iris didn't reply right away. She pondered about whether to go with her decision to cut her family trip short and return to Paris or to follow Ashandra's wish and stay here with her family.
Jin Liwei took her hand and kissed it. Even without saying anything, she understood what his actions ant. Whatever she decided, he would follow and support her.
Ashandra continued, "It's better to spend more ti with your family, especially with your babies. I know that your husband has been looking forward to spending quality ti with you. I don't want to take that precious ti away from you, Xiulan.
"Besides, I've already decided to end my art exhibition here in Paris earlier than planned. I just can't find it in to continue while all this is happening. Worse, the dia is having a field day. They've already surrounded the gallery. Even if I have nothing to do with what happened, I know that the dia will spin false narratives just to make sensational headlines."
As a celebrity, Iris knew about this firsthand. "I'll send so bodyguards for you. Please don't reject this ti, Ashandra. I don't want any reporters or paparazzi harrassing you because of sothing that you obviously didn't do. Liwei made sure to bring many bodyguards for our family. We can spare a few for my friends' protection. Chen Fei also got two bodyguards after her engagent with my brother-in-law."
"Alright, Xiulan. I won't reject your offer, then. Thank you very much. I feel exhausted."
"Anyone would be exhausted if sothing like that happened," Iris comforted her. "I won't disturb you any longer, then. I know that you must be busy dealing with the aftermath of what happened. Just let know if you need any help."
"Okay, Xiulan. Thanks again. Please kiss Mochi and Matcha for ."
"Will do."
The friends bid each other goodbye.
After the phone call, Iris still felt worried about her friend. However, she also understood why Ashandra didn't want her to co.
First, the victims weren't directly related to them.
Second, the dia was already feasting on Ashandra Knightson's connection to the tragic incident. If Iris Long stepped in and involved herself, then the dia would definitely weave more outlandish false narratives.
This was the kind of publicity that Iris didn't need especially with the upcoming launch of Orchidia's foreign bases.
Anything involving deadly cris and the police was sothing that Iris wanted to avoid if possible.
"So are we returning to Paris?" Dom asked, interrupting Iris' thoughts.
Jin Liwei also looked at her, waiting for her final decision.
She sighed. "Ashandra is right. We won't be of any help if we all return there. It's better to stay out of Paris while the investigations are heating up there. Ketchup."
"Yes, Mommy? ow~"
"Please help investigate. We'll respect your Auntie Ashandra's wish and stay out of it, but it doesn't hurt to secretly help the progress of the investigations."
"Aye aye, Mommy! The cute and mighty Ketchup will help investigate. ow~"
"I think we should also ask Bacon's help," Jin Liwei suggested. "He should have more resources to investigate deadly cris like this."
Iris nodded. "Ketchup, please call your younger brother, Bacon."
"Okey do—oh, you're here?! So fast?! owowow!"
"Greetings, Mother, Father, and Uncle Dominic." A pure black cat with golden eyes appeared beside Ketchup.
"How about the cute and mighty Ketchup? Why didn't Bacon greet your super-duper to the highest level adorable big sister?! Bacon, you big anie! ow!"
Bacon ignored his yapping sister. His fluffy tail swayed behind him. "Mother, do you need sothing?"
Iris shared a quick summary of what happened to her cat AI son. "Please assist in the investigations, Bacon. Your Auntie Ashandra must be stressing out right now."
"Understood, Mother. Bacon will do my best to find sothing to help the progress of the investigations."
"Don't forget Ketchup! The cute and mighty Ketchup will also do my super-duper to the highest level best! ow~"
Iris felt more reassured with her cat AI children's involvent.
Jin Liwei then took over and gave important reminders to both Ketchup and Bacon to always be careful and to prioritize their safety in avoiding detection.
After the two AI cats left to start their own investigations, Iris released a heavy sigh.
"Let's help out the victims' families," she said.
"En, I'll take care of it," Jin Liwei replied.
Dom stood up. "Boss, sir boss, please excuse . I want to call Sis Fei and ask her if she knew what happened at Ashandra's art exhibition."
Iris nodded. "Okay, go ahead."
Dom left the husband and wife alone in the sitting room.
Jin Liwei pulled her into his embrace. "Don't think too much about it. I know that you're worried about Ashandra and also sympathize with the victims, but I don't want you stressing because of them."
"I know." She rested her head on his chest and inhaled his masculine scent, drawing warm comfort from him. "I just hope that the attackers get arrested soon."
"En."
###
Ivy Lau clicked her seatbelt into place. The business class cabin in this comrcial flight was full. She glanced at the other seats from the corner of her eyes and saw her "bodyguards" in strategic locations. They were disguised and looked like other regular passengers.
She knew that although they were technically her "bodyguards", they were more like her jailors. They were tasked with keeping an eye on her and reporting all her actions to her lover.
The plane took off.
Once the flight stabilized in the sky, so of the passengers began removing their seatbelts.
Ivy stayed in her seat. She wore a mask, covering half of her face. Only her cold eyes were visible.
Half a day later, Ivy was picked up at the airport back in China. Her "bodyguards" that she flew with had other transportation arrangents. It wasn't her problem. They could all die for all she cared.
Unfortunately, she would never be truly free in this lifeti. There was another set of "bodyguards" assigned to her as soon as she left the airport.
It didn't matter.
As long as she could achieve her goals, then she would happily remain as soone's pet. This was the life that she chose for herself.
She removed the mask, revealing her face that resembled Iris Long.
"Is it taken care of?" she asked.
The man in the front passenger seat beside the driver glanced at her. "Your registration form at the art exhibition has been destroyed by one of our n disguised as a cleaner. The docent is dead but the curator managed to survive. We're working on making his death in the ICU look like a cardiac arrest."
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