A Moment in Destiny

Chapter 839 Birthday

There was a sense of sarcasm in the corner of Marcel’s mouth.

Rae felt a little upset because she did not mean anything at all. Therefore, she quickly explained, “I’m talking about the thick and big fried dough sticks!”

Who knew that it was okay not to explain. The more she explained, the more impure was her motive.

Marcel laughed a little and smiled, “I’m talking about the fried bread stick too, what are you thinking about?”

Rae was getting annoyed and remained silent. She looked outside of the car window while unfastening her seat belt to get ready to get out of the car.

“I didn’t mention about eating soymilk and fried bread stick!” There was an uncomfortable voice coming from behind. It just irritated anyone who was rushing for work in the morning.

Rae turned herself around immediately and stopped herself from getting out of the car. She turned her head around and looked directly at Marcel. His handsome face was glowing like a radiant of light.

“Captain Hopkins, what do you want to eat?” Her tone suddenly calmed down as she turned around. After all, she was a policewoman therefore her mental quality was considered as a pass.

“What do you think?” Marcel snorted while putting his hand on the steering wheel.

Rae was startled. Why would he ask her about what he wanted to eat? Was he being crazy?

“I have already eaten. I don’t know what Captain Hopkins wants to eat. I’m sorry. I can’t suggest anything to you!” Rae lowered her voice, she did not like the way he acted.

“Did you have breakfast with Raphael just now?” Marcel asked, he did not sound moody.

“Yes!” Rae nodded.

As soon as the words were spoken, Marcel stopped talking without replying. He started the car and drove towards the work place.

Rae felt a little subtle and ineffable. She sighed a little. When the car was about to arrive at the work place, she said softly, “Captain Hopkins, you won’t be able to hold on without eating!”

“It’s none of your business!” Marcel sounded cold.

Rae was held back by his words, there was a sense of self-mockery in the corner of her mouth. Oh, Rae! You were not his someone special. Why did you care so much?

In the end, she did not understand what was going on today. Marcel came to pick her up but he did not want to eat. What did he want then?

When they arrived at the work place, Marcel went to park the car. Rae stepped out from the care and replied coldly, “Thank you, Captain Hopkins for bringing me to work. Next time, I will take the public bus to work by myself!”

She walked upstairs as she finished talking.

Marcel narrowed his eyes and looked at her coldly. He was not feeling comfortable because everything was not under his control.

His colleagues who worked overtime and reported the current progress of the case during the morning meeting. Marcel started to give a new instruction.

Rae did not receive any news in the morning, she also had been following up the current progress of the case.

She was looking at the materials when Marcel called to her.

“Rae, have you checked about Joanna’s personal background?”

Rae answered honestly, “There’s no news at the moment!”

“Quick!” He replied.

“Yes!” Rae replied professionally.

Marcel hung up the phone.

Rae was startled for quite a while. She picked herself up and continued focusing on work.

There was a news coming in when it was almost noon time.

Rae went to report after she looked through the materials.

Marcel started the conversation first, “Both Joanna and Braeden are couple, right?”

Rae was startled and nodded, “Yes!”

“Both Kenzie and Braeden are couple too, right?” Marcel asked again.

Rae was speechless.

When Marcel looked at her expression, he knew that he was right!

“Captain Hopkins, how do you know?”

Marcel did not answer, instead he said, “Let’s talk about what you have found!”

“Joanna and Kenzie are always at odds. But the relationships between Piper and Joanna aren’t that bad! Kenzie was Braeden’s ex-girlfriend and Joanna is Braeden’s current girlfriend! Joanna left her home when she was nineteen years old. She was being taken care by a rich businessman. Six years ago, he passed away and left a good fortune for her. Joanna was the person who gifted the two villas to Braeden! Both worked together and opened a trading company. They moved on to the international route.”

Marcel nodded and narrowed his eyes. “Is there anything else?” Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“These are the information which my team have found!”

“You’re going to Joanna’s house tonight, you should know where she lives, right?” Marcel frowned a little. He replied as he was using his hand to press against his stomach.

Rae saw the way he moved but she chose to ignore it. She just nodded silently, “We know that she lives in Golden Apartment from Monday to Thursday. Then, she usually lives in Southern Suburb Villa during the weekend.”

Marcel asked again, “How far is it from Southern Suburb Villa to where Philippa’s body was found?”

“Less than three kilometers!”

Rae held back a little, could it be...

“Ask Easton to come in!”

“Yes!” When Rae was about to leave, she realized that Marcel’s face was getting paler. His forehead was sweating so much. She was feeling uneasy and worried therefore she walked out and came back as soon as possible. She brought a bowl of porridge for him instead. It was brought back by Tomas

who was from the Department of Physical Evidence. She did not eat it because she knew that Marcel would be hungry therefore, she brought it over for him.

Rae thought about something. If Marcel said something unreasonable again or did not want this cup of porridge, then she would never be nosy in the future. Even if he was someone whom she respected.

After Rae put the cup of porridge on the table, she looked at Marcel and said, “If you don’t eat it, your stomach will hurt even more. This isn’t how a mature man acts when you’re angry with someone and make yourself hungry. It’s up to Captain Hopkins to have it or not, you can throw it into the trash can if you don’t want to. I’ll go out to work first!”

She did not turn back and walked out as she finished talking.

Marcel looked at her back. She looked proud, stubborn and a trace of... kindness!

How did it happen?

How did he think about this sentence?

How did this word suit with Rae?

He shook his head. He pursed his lips. In the end, he still picked up the cup from the table. He inserted a straw and drank it slowly.

He felt comfortable as the cup of porridge went into his stomach. He felt warm and there no pain at all!

Marcel stood up and walked towards the blinds. He pulled down the window and he happened to see Rae.

At this moment, Rae was surrounded by everyone. A few female colleagues surrounded her while looking at the bunch of red roses.

Yes!

It was a bunch of delicate roses with fiery red color. It looked vulgar and made the women envy about her.

Rae just received it, there was a line of words on the card, the handwriting did not seem familiar.

Who sent the flowers to her, she did not know!

However, her eyes were surging with teardrops which were about to drop on the delicate petals when she saw the line of words.

Happy Birthday!

Birthday!

It was her birthday!

No, it was exactly Rae’s birthday. His birthday was almost the same as Rae’s. But when she received the flowers this year, she was feeling sad. Someone did remember her birthday, she thought that the whole world had forgotten about it!

Her colleagues gathered around her to wish her happy birthday. They began to gossip about who gave the flowers to her, it could be a handsome man!

Raphael’s name suddenly popped up in Rae’s mind.

In this world, asides from Raphael, who would really care about Rae?

Raphael!

Rae was startled. She started to envy about the friendship between Raphael and Rae. Unfortunately, she was the person who stole this warmth. Rae was mood-less when she thought about it. She put the flowers on the table and tried to send her colleagues away. When she was about the sort out about the case, she raised her head and realized that Marcel was looking at her in the corridor. The connection between their eyes, she froze in an instant. Time suddenly froze.

Marcel’s glance was wandering around and he slowly walked over.

His walking pace was very slow. Every step he took seemed like stepping on Rae’s heart. It was pattering. He was right in front of her when she slowly lowered her head.

“Rae!” It was Marcel’s voice in her ears.

“Captain Hopkins!” Rae shouted.

Marcel was not in a rush to say something but instead, he was admiring her embarrassment. She was completely embarrassed, it was awkward.

“Captain Hopkins, what’s the matter?” Rae raised her head and looked into his eyes.

Marcel’s eyes were too deep, she could not see the inside of his eyes. But her anxiety was clearly shown in his eyes. There was a sense of oppression in his eyes which froze anyone and there was nowhere to hide.

“The flowers are beautiful!” Marcel smiled. “Did your admirer send it to you?”

“I don’t know! Maybe I do but I don’t know who sent it. I...” Rae shook her head.

“It’s normal that a man’s desire for a beautiful woman. You don’t have to feel embarrassed!”

She was stuck and left speechless for a while. The way he spoke sounded gentleman as if he was complimenting her.

“A beautiful woman is real but unfortunately she wasn’t easy!” Marcel suddenly added. He suddenly took out a box from his pocket and put it on her table. She was completely shocked when he added, “Happy Birthday, Rae!”

Rae was shocked, her heart was beating fast up to her throat. All kinds of emotions suddenly poured out for a while.

Marcel turned around gracefully and left.

She was worried that someone might see it so she quickly put the box into her drawer.

She did not know what it was. She was too shocked. She felt a little guilty because she was afraid someone would see it.

It was too shocking.

Marcel literally gave her a present!

He did know that it was her birthday!

While she was feeling astonished, it was Rae’s birthday but not hers. She stole another blessing from another person.

Suddenly, she picked up a call and it was showing Raphael’s name.

Rae answered, “Raphael, yes?”

“Have you received the flower?”

“Did you send it?”

“Yes, do you like it?” Raphael did not deny it. “It’s a surprise for you. Happy Birthday, Rae!”

Rae paused for a while. She replied, “Raphael, thank you! It’s not suitable to receive flowers in this kind of working environment. It’s not easy for me to act when I receive flowers at work, don’t send it anymore!”

“Okay!” Raphael promised. “Let’s have a dinner tonight, I’ve ordered a cake for you!”

“I need to work overtime tonight!”

“So busy?” Raphael sounded suspicious but he did not say it. He was doubting about her. “Rae, are you working overtime to avoid me?”

“Do you think that you’re the kind of person should be avoided?” Rae asked back.

Raphael was checkmated. He laughed, “I don’t think so but I think that you’re trying to avoid me. You must feel annoyed by me, right?”

“No! Just to be clear, I’m not fully annoyed yet!” Rae smiled, “Raphael, I’m annoyed about the roses. Although I’m twenty-five years old, I’m considered as a leftover woman. You don’t have to send a bouquet of roses for me to remind my colleagues that someone was chasing after me. You’re perfect. I, I would misunderstand that you really do admire me! Who would chase after me next time?”

“Rae!” Raphael sounded serious.

“Raphael!” Rae interrupted him. “I do appreciate that. Please give the roses to your future wife. I don’t need your help to take care of this matter for me!”

Raphael was speechless when he was holding the phone for quite a while. This was Rae Baxter, she was smart and direct. She could reject someone without hurting the person.

Raphael sighed a little. He laughed again, “Fine, I will not play around anymore!”