Chapter 238 - 238: Twisted Logical Reasoning

Since it was Monday, things in Falcon Cafe were very hectic because of the pool of customers who kept coming back and forth.

Fortunately, Elle went back to work. Lu and Yu were also there to assist them. Elena was a little bit sad since she was already missing Charles.

He called her to say goodbye that day when he left the city Z. Charles and Antoine dropped by the Falcon Cafe but Charles chose not to see her personally. He just watched her from a distance. 

She would surely ask him what happened if she saw his appearance. His bruises were still visible on his face and his arm was still wrapped in a sling.

Dr. Clara visited them today at the Cafe. Elle introduced her to Elena. It looked like Elena and Dr. Clara got along really well for their first meeting. It was a good thing since Elena would transfer and live with her for the coming months.

A few minutes after Dr. Clara left, another person arrived and entered the Falcon Cafe. Elle was surprised to see Bryan. He had a grim expression on his face, indicating that he was not in a good mood.

'What is he doing here?' Elle asked herself. She thought Erick came along with him that's why she expected to see him but to her disappointment, there was no sign of Erick.

"Yosh!" Bryan said as he waved at Elle, greeting her.

Elle returned his greetings with a nod. Bryan sat in the corner. She walked to approach him.

"Why are you here? Where's Erick?" she asked him.

Just a mere mention of Erick's name Bryan couldn't hide the unhappiness he felt as of this moment.

Instead of answering her question, Bryan peered around the Cafe, searching for someone. A deep frown formed into his face when he saw the two unfamiliar faces.

"Where's my buddy?" He was looking for Charles.

"He went on vacation. He won't be back for a while." Elle responded to him as she sat down on the seat from the other side, facing Bryan.

Bryan took a heavy sigh after hearing that. After walking out of the headquarters, he came there to see Charles and had a talk with him. He wanted to burst his frustration out with him but unfortunately, he was not there.

"Do you sell beer or liquor here? Can I have some?" 

Elle raised her brows hearing his words. She could sense that something was troubling him.

"Are you allowed to do that? Drinking while on duty? It's just three o'clock in the afternoon. Are you not planning to return to the headquarters today?"

"No! I don't. I came here to cool myself down. If I go back there then I will just feel more upset." Bryan said to her stubbornly.

Elle just looked at him helplessly. "We don't sell liquor here but if you really want to drink you can do that here, I will just ask someone to buy it for you."

Bryan suddenly flashed his cheerful smile because of Elle's thoughtfulness. But he didn't know that Elle allowed him to stay because she was planning to interrogate him. Her curiosity was piqued. 

She wanted to know what's happening in the headquarters that made him upset. She wanted to make sure that her hubby was not having a hard time too.

She asked Lu to buy the beer for Bryan. After a while, he came back with dozen of canned beer. Then Bryan started to drink while Elle was just there watching him. 

"Hey, Bryan… what's wrong with you today? What happened in the headquarters that caused you to be upset?" Elle simply asked him.

Bryan just stayed quiet but the grip on his beer tightened.

"Since Charles is not here. You can tell me anything. I am willing to listen. Just think of me as your substitute buddy for today." she was urging him to talk.

Since Bryan was really eager to vent his frustration he eventually gave in and started to talk with Elle.

"It's your hubby's fault!" Bryan said to her blatantly, not hiding his unhappiness.

Elle was a little bit surprised. Bryan already knew that she and Erick were already married. 

Then she furrowed her brows as she realized his main point. Bryan was upset because of Erick. 

'So it's related to Erick.'

"What did he do?" 

Elle also picked one beer and opened it. Seeing Bryan enjoying his beer she was tempted to also have a taste of the beer.

"He talked to our Unit Chief asking him to relieve him from Catseye's case. Who would be happy with that?! He didn't even talk to us, his team!" Bryan said to her through gritted teeth.

"He didn't even give us a sensible reason for doing that! He even threatened our Unit Chief that he would hand over his resignation if ever he would refuse his request!"

Due to his rage, Bryan gulped his beer in one go. 

Meanwhile, Elle was dumbfounded. She also didn't expect Erick to do that. Should she feel happy about it or not? Erick was trying his best to sort this kind of problem.

But it looked like his team was greatly affected by his sudden decision. Without knowing the real reason, it would be hard for them to accept his decision.

"Do you know that I also heard his most ridiculous reason? He said that he is having a hard time and just wanted to give up this time. That's bullsh*t! He is not the only one who is having a hard time. All of us too! After Marie's incident, we felt like losers who couldn't even do something. We failed to catch Black Shadow and Catseye. And our colleague is lying in the hospital right now, in a coma!"

"I hate him! I hate Erick for doing this to us! I felt like he was abandoning his team! This is not the usual attitude of our Chief. He never gives up no matter how difficult our case is. Instead, he is very eager to solve it. Why now? That's why I couldn't believe it!"

Elle could also feel Bryan's frustration and disappointment. She was just quietly listening to him as he burst out. She could understand Bryan's feelings. 

She felt sorry for him. This happened because of her.

Then she heard Bryan heaved a deep sigh.

"I just want him to explain it to me, for him to tell me the true reason. I got mad because I knew he was hiding something." Bryan said in a low voice.

"What if he decided to hide his true reason because he thought it was the best thing for both of you." This time Elle spoke up for Erick's behalf.

Bryan raised his head to meet her gaze. "But I am not only his colleague. I am also his friend, his best friend! Why does he can't tell me? Does it mean that he doesn't trust me that much?"

'Because it's very complicated. I don't know what will be your reaction if ever you learn the truth. Will you be able to handle it, Bryan?' Elle thought to herself as she looked at Bryan intently.

"How about you? Do you trust him?" Elle asked Bryan seriously.

"Of course! I trust him a lot to the extent that I can even entrust my life to him." Bryan responded to her with so much conviction in his words.

A faint smile flashed on Elle's face.

"If you do then why are you acting this way?" 

Elle paused as she saw the confused look coming from Bryan. She decided to elaborate on her statement.

"I know Erick won't do something without considering the pros and cons. He had a reason for doing this but it doesn't mean that he is abandoning you. He is not the kind of person who will abandon his team. He cares about you a lot. That's why he said he was having a hard time. I know it was also hard for him to come up with that decision."

Bryan was rendered speechless. Elle's words seemed like a wake-up call for him. It meant a lot to him.

'Why is it I didn't think about that? What she said is very true.'

Bryan looked down. "You are right. You have a point. It appears that you really understand him a lot." Bryan smiled at her. He finally calmed down after he vented his frustration to her. 

"Hehe. I think I overreacted today." Bryan scratched the back of his head. Now he was back to his usual self.

Then he frowned again. "But I am really curious. I wouldn't have a peaceful day if I wouldn't learn his true reason."

Elle just rolled her eyes at him. 'He just loves to gossip and stick his nose to other's matters.'

He suddenly grabbed Elle's hand and faced her with his pitiful look. "Hmm. Elle, please tell me. I know you knew something."

"Tell me honestly, Elle. Is Chief Lee being blackmailed by Catseye?"

Elle: "..."

His out-of-the-blue question made Elle speechless. Bryan was all eyes on her, anticipating her answer.

'Blackmailed my a*s?! I didn't ask him nor threatened him to do that! Bryan Velasquez! Why are you accusing me?' Elle shot Bryan a cold stare.

Bryan pouted upon meeting her sharp eyes which were looking daggers at him. He could feel the chilly aura emanating from her. 'Why is it, suddenly Elle becomes frightening?'

"Do you really want to know his true reason?" Elle said to him in a very serious tone.

Bryan ignored her dangerous aura as he bobbed his head frantically. He wanted to know it badly.

Elle's lips twitched into a sly smile before she bent down and whispered something to him.

"Erick did that because... I am Catseye."

Elle was testing him, carefully observing his reaction.

Bryan fell silent after hearing that. His eyes widened and his mouth gaped in shock. Then minutes later, the realization came to him.

A burst of loud laughter bubbled up in the entire Cafe.

"Hahaha! I knew it! I knew it!" Bryan said in between his laughter.

Elle looked at him with confusion. 'Did he already know that I am Catseye?'

"You knew what?" Elle asked him curiously.

"His decision might be related to you. Hmm… Elle, you are the reason why Chief Lee wanted to be excluded in this case. Thinking about it, Erick changed a lot because of you. Why is it I didn't figure this out as early as before?"

Elle didn't know what to feel right now. She wondered if Bryan had also connected the dots and learned her true identity already. 

'If that's the case, I should commend Bryan for that. I think I misjudged him.'

This time it was Bryan who leaned over to whisper something to her.

"You… you asked Erick to stop investigating this case because you are worried about his safety am I right? After what happened to him before and to agent Marie, you became afraid for the safety of your hubby. If that's the case then I don't need to be mad at him. Don't worry Elle, I fully understand his decision now."

Elle:"..."

She was tongue-tied at this moment while looking at Bryan with disbelief.

Bryan stood up and patted her shoulder. He was now smiling from ear to ear.

"Hehe. Oh, by the way, you don't need to pretend that you are Catseye just for the sake of covering up your true motive. I understand you are just a worried wife to your husband." Bryan winked at her.

"You really frightened me with your joke. Hahaha! If I am not smart then I should have fallen already with your lie. D*mn, I almost believe you, Elle!" he added.

Bryan was really back to his usual self. His overbearing self-confidence and blabbering mouth were now activated.

"Thank you for listening to me today. Because of that, I am now okay. I should go now." He gave her a grateful look before he left the Cafe.

Elle just watched his retreating back.

"D*mn! SMART MY A*S! I am the one who is almost fooled by him. I thought I misjudged him. I take back my words. He is still Bryan. He is the only person I know who has a weird, unique, and twisted logical reasoning." 

"I think I should ask Erick to teach and train him well," Elle mumbled to herself as she shook her head.