Joseph's gaze fixed on Chloe with profound intensity, sparing any unnecessary explanations. "Victor will be here shortly. By now, he lacks the audacity to fabricate lies."
Ten minutes later, Victor entered, clutching a plastic bag. His face bore wounds, and weariness exuded from him as if he had endured a rough time over the past few days.
"M-Mr. Joseph..." Victor stuttered.
Joseph did not even raise his eyes, calmly slicing through the steak on his plate. "Where are the recorders?"
"Here." Victor emptied the entire contents of the plastic bag onto the table, revealing a minimum of thirty recording devices that closely resembled the one Hazel had brought that day.
Chloe furrowed her brows deeply, selecting one of the recorders to listen to. She pressed the play button, only to be greeted by static noise. She patiently continued listening, but the static persisted for three minutes without any additional content.
Undeterred, she picked up another recorder. Emily joined in the inspection, and together they listened to all the recorders present, yet their efforts failed to yield any useful clues.
Victor spoke up, "Hazel has always taken pleasure in deceiving others. She envies you for marrying Mr. Joseph and holds deep resentment toward you. Her intention was to deceive you for money, and you fell for her trap."
Chloe expressed her displeasure, dismantling his words mercilessly. "But that's not what you said back at the station."
"I was coerced by my father into saying those things. I made a grave mistake without fully understanding the situation, but I have now come to my senses," Victor explained.
Emily sneered. "Did you come to your senses, or are you just desperate?"
Victor was just like Benjamin. They were cut from the same cloth—sweet-talkers when they required something but would disregard the person once they were no longer needed. They were the epitome of selfishness and self-interest.
Victor failed to recognize Emily as he had never encountered her in Aesper before. Sporting an air of arrogance, he retorted, "What do you know? Our family affairs don't call for your meddling."
"I wasn't meddling. I was simply mocking you."
"You're utterly ignorant!"
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