Hearing this, Shemaine paused briefly.

The reason she had never considered human cloning was that, back then, technology and regulations were just too limited for any real breakthroughs. Besides, not long after Ruth left the biological research institute, the government ordered all related research to stop. It was possible they kept doing illegal research in secret.

“Why would you think that?” Shermaine questioned. Cloning a human body alone was already extremely challenging, let alone transplanting neurons into a brain. That was practically impossible.

She had looked into that biochemist. While he was somewhat capable, this kind of research was way beyond his expertise.

Joshua chuckled, “Shermaine, sometimes the possibility you deny most vehemently is exactly what comes to pass.”

Shermaine fell silent for a moment, choosing not to argue.

He raised his hand, holding up a book. “This is what I found under the old woman’s mattress, a primer on cloning. She studied it meticulously, even marking the parts she didn’t understand. Back then, she probably planned to ask Madeline about these questions, and after getting her answers, she hid the book away.

As for why she chose to hide it instead of throwing it out–maybe she simply forgot, or perhaps there was another reason.

Joshua continued, “Why would an elderly woman with little education read such a complicated book? Just out of curiosity? I doubt it. There must be more to it.”

Shermaine flipped through the book and quickly agreed with Joshua’s reasoning. Madeline must have told Freya something. That was why Freya went to research human cloning.

That scientist might not have figured it out, but Shermaine’s mother was also involved in the research. After all, she gave birth to an incredibly talented daughter, which clearly showed she was exceptionally intelligent herself. She simply kept a low profile in those days, never revealing her true abilities.

However, Madeline, having stayed by her biological mother’s side, had witnessed that hidden brilliance. If the current Ruth was indeed Madeline, a woman so vain and ambitious, it was highly probable she orchestrated such a scheme back then.

So that was why Zack had a real motive to run over and kill Madeline. It was all part of the scheme. What a brilliant switcheroo!

Everything clicked for Shermaine, her face lighting up. “Turns out bringing you along was the right call.”

Joshua fixed his deep, intense gaze on Shermaine and said, “Didn’t I tell you? I’m very useful.”

“Yeah, I get it now,” Shermaine responded.

There was no point in staying in Zack’s room any longer. What Shermaine needed to do now was either track down Freya and her son to get the truth out of this so-called “Ruth.”

But clearly, the latter would be much harder. After all, she didn’t have a shred of evidence yet.

Zack’s room was an absolute mess, almost unbearable to look at.

“Let’s get out of here,” Shermaine said.

As Shermaine turned around, her hand knocked a manga off the table, sending it clattering to the floor where it lay open.

Chapter 116.

She bent down to pick it up, only to find Joshua reaching for it at the same time, each grasping opposite corners of the cover.

What was truly awkward wasn’t the situation itself, but the manga’s content: its pages showed a man and woman in a scene so steamy and explicit that they’d send anyone’s pulse racing. The posters on the wall paled in comparison to this.

As for her, she didn’t really care; she just worried she might have “corrupted” Joshua, who always seemed ascetic and detached.

Joshua glanced at the pages, his eyes darkening slightly but his composure unshaken. He said evenly, “I’ll take care of it.”

Shermaine released her grip and straightened up. “I’ll wait outside,” she said.

“Okay.”

Joshua had seen things far more explicit than the manga. Still, nothing could faze him, and he prided himself on his composure. Yet somehow, the scenes in this comic brought back those erotic dreams he’d been having—dreams where he indulged without restraint…

“You’re done for, Joshua,” he thought with a wry smile, yet found himself relishing the feeling.