Afterlife Department

Chapter 212 - Blame

"It's not that there's nothing…" Harry Walter said as he patted Jiang Ce's back to comfort him.

"Then – " Jiang Ce said as he sat on the chair and stared at Harry Walter with his eyes full of hope.

"Not to mention I, but Gerard's and Lewis' position aren't low. Instead, they are very powerful, added to the fact their family background." Harry Walter said. "Then, there's Huo Jinghua…"

Jiang Ce nodded in understanding.

"Us four, to investigate and end up with nothing in our hands, that means that the enemy's work is too clean." Harry Walter explained. "If us four would remain like this, wouldn't we feel ashamed facing Howee?" he asked.

Jiang Ce's lips curled up into a smile. He then served his husband their dinner

Harry Walter continued. "Although it was revealed in the news that Howee's death is an accident, but us, of course, knows what's the truth in our heart." He said as his lips became a thin line. "The enemy's name, appearance, age and origin, also his objective, is unknown. Yet, he could kill Howee and stage his death as an accident. If he could do it to Howee, then he could also do it to an ordinary citizen. Yet, why is it Howee? Why should it be him?" he asked.

"So, his objective is only xiao Ling?" Jiang Ce asked.

Harry Walter nodded his head, but he also shook it. "This enemy is too obscure." He said.

"If it isn't xiao Ling his objective, then, could it be xiao Ling was implicated? Or worse, a part of a plan?" Jiang Ce was mad.

Harry Walter immediately reached out to hold his hand to placate him. "Don't think too much. I am here, as well as those three." He told him. "Our insignia isn't just for a show. It is still the initial investigation. We will find a breakthrough and expose who dared to murder our family, as well as a member of the royal family." he said with a dark expression on his face.

Jiang Ce smiled as he held Harry Walter's hand. Although Harry Walter doesn't have a family backing him unlike Huo Jinghua, Gerard Jackson and Lewis Johnson, but Harry Walter is a hardworking man. He reached his current position through his efforts, thus also winning Jiang Ce's heart.

Jiang Ce knows Harry Walter, along with Huo Jinghua, Gerard Jackson and Lewis Johnson, would find Huo Ling's murderer and seek justice for Huo Ling. He is reassured with them, and so he slept that night in peace.

Huo Residence.

Huo Jinghua sighed in pain as he wiped the tears that streamed down Mary Jackson's closed eyes as she sleeps. Not only Mary Jackson, but he also disappointed Huo Ling. However, he wouldn't give up. For the sake of his wife, and the late adopted son, he will strive to find that shameless murderer.

He was about to get off the bed to go back to the study room after he coaxed Mary Jackson to sleep when he felt a tug of his clothes. He turned and saw Mary Jackson's face flushed red from crying, as well as her swollen, reddened eyes.

"Meiying…" he called as he went back to their bed. "Can't sleep?" he asked, though the answer is obvious. Mary Jackson was just acting she had fallen asleep due to his coaxing.

"No." she answered. "I can still remember his helpless smile as he told me to listen to you, and so I acted I am asleep." She explained.

Huo Jinghua felt helpless and he sat beside her, leaning his back on the headboard of their bed. "Then why didn't you continue acting asleep?" he asked.

"I don't want to listen to him anymore." She answered, her voice stubborn like a child.

Huo Jinghua fell silent. "I'm sorry." He told her.

"I don't blame you, since I know you won't give up." She told him.

Huo Jinghua smiled as he held her hand. "You learned how to coax people now?" he asked.

"I have to." She answered. "Even if it's just in my dreams, I can coax him again." She said.

Huo Jinghua chuckled, but a pained smile was on his face. He continued accompanying her until she finally fell asleep, then left to go to the study room.

…

Lewis Johnson helplessly sighed in frustration as he looked at Gerard Jackson's back on him as they lie down the bed. Earlier, Gerard Jackson was angry, and so he wanted to have sex with him. When he refused, Gerard Jackson cried, acting pitiful just to have sex with him.

Yet he hardened his heart and refused. Thus, Gerard Jackson was angry again and refused to look at him. Lewis Johnson knew what bothers him, thus he remained silent.

Gerard Jackson was blaming himself since he felt he neglected Huo Ling, thus the misfortune befell on Huo Ling. He wanted to exhaust himself until his death just to catch the enemy and kill him to avenge his son, as well as to punish himself out of guilt.

"He doesn't blame you." Lewis Johnson said as he stared at Gerard Jackson's back. "You may not have raised him, but he still acknowledges you as his father. Do you know why?" he asked.

"I didn't give him any good memories." Gerard Jackson said, his voice hoarse. "Every time we meet, I scold him or nitpick on him. I am not a good father. I don't even look after him even if he's under my jurisdiction. How can he not blame me?" he asked.

"It's because you are important in his heart." Lewis Johnson answered. "And, being a parent isn't limited to raising a child. Instead, even just giving him a shelter during a storm, he can consider you as his parent." He said. "I'm not saying Mary isn't a good parent. What I want to say is that you are also a good parent." He told him as he wrapped his arm around the other and pulled him into his embrace when he heard a sob coming from him. "Howee isn't unhappy of his broken family. Instead, he is happy since he gained two more parents out of it. You may not have raised him, but you have watched him grow up so you should know how he is." he smiled as he kissed Gerard Jackson's temple. "Howee doesn't blame you, since you've given him a life – and a fulfilling life at that."