Chapter 1270

Soon, the police arrived and escorted Colby to their car. Before leaving, he glanced back at Roxanne, holding her gaze for a moment before she looked away. She didn't know how to face him.

Seeing her avoid his eyes, Colby chuckled bitterly, then cooperatively entered the police car. It sped away. Cayden departed after saying goodbye to Lucian, leaving Roxanne and Lucian alone at the research institute's entrance.

Lucian looked at Roxanne with concern. "What are you thinking? Are you still unwilling to believe Colby would do such a thing?"

Roxanne met his gaze, her silence speaking volumes. Overturning her long-held perception of him wouldn't happen overnight. Gazing in the direction of the departing police car, she asked, "What will happen to him?"

Lucian frowned. "Even now, you still care about him?"

Roxanne's expression turned somber. "You don't understand. He worked with me for years. Besides, I can't shake the feeling I was partly responsible for everything he did. If I'd been less obtuse about matters of the heart, and realized his feelings sooner, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. My thinking was too simple. He's an outstanding doctor, my deputy for years, yet I took it for granted."

As guilt consumed her, Lucian's arms enveloped her in a comforting embrace. His large hand stroked her hair. His baritone voice soothed her. "This isn't your fault. He strayed from the path. No one expresses love that way."

Roxanne's heart fluttered. She stared at his profile, wanting to hear more.

"If he truly loved you, he wouldn't hurt you. He sabotaged you, and he alone bears the consequences. Blaming you was just self-justification."

Roxanne thought Colby realized his mistakes upon being caught, but it was too late. He could only console himself by believing he'd done nothing wrong.

Lucian's analysis eased the weight on Roxanne's heart. "But why did he do all that?" she asked, still struggling to understand his motivations. She believed his earlier words, believing he genuinely felt for her, yet couldn't grasp his reasons for hurting her. As Lucian said, if he truly liked her, he wouldn't hurt her…

The surveillance footage flashed in Lucian's mind, darkening his gaze. When the gas was released, Colby was calling out to Jack—Jack was his real target, and Roxanne had inadvertently thwarted his plan. Stopping him then would have alerted Jack, so he could only watch as she placed herself in danger. However, Lucian wouldn't tell Roxanne. She seemed deeply affected by Colby's words, and he didn't want another man to occupy her heart.

Roxanne hadn't expected an answer. When he remained silent, she muttered, "He said this wasn't the only thing he did. What else?"

Lucian stroked her hair. "I'll investigate. Don't dwell on it. You've just recovered; rest more."