“It could be set aside.”
At this point in the conversation, Josie was left speechless. Even for her, Wavery, with its friends and colleagues, not to mention the familiar sense of belonging, was indeed a better place.
Yet, she was unwilling to admit it.
Dexter didn’t wait for her response. Hearing her slightly hurried breath on the other end, he said, “All reasons lead back to you being here.”
He also knew that Wavery was the perfect place for her, which was why he returned.
Holding her phone, her palm began to sweat. Josie gave a soft scoff, and without thinking, she said, “You’re too opinionated.”
After Dexter heard that, he let it pass, asking. “Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”
As they chatted, it occurred to Josie that she had to inform him about the situation in Wavery. She briefly described the Olsen family’s attitude toward her and the prejudices she faced within their social circle. “As for the police, it seems they plan to keep the matter about Arnold under wraps. You should be aware of this, so I won’t elaborate further.”
Dexter paused thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, “Has Laura returned?”
“Yes. A few hours ago. The itinerary should have been synchronized with yours.”
He seemed lost in thought, not speaking for a moment. Josie asked, “When can I see Grape?”
“Anytime. Does Mark know about the child’s existence?”
Josie paused, her tone somewhat icy. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you? You took it upon yourself to reveal my itinerary. I thought you had already revealed it.”
She wasn’t naive. She naturally understood that Dexter was involved in this series of plans.
He didn’t deny it. “I’m sorry. I had no other choice at the time.”
He was indeed very intelligent. If it hadn’t been for Mark’s intervention, there was a high chance that he would have died. Therefore, Josie couldn’t bring herself to hate him.
She let out a sigh. “I didn’t mention anything about Grape.”
“Me neither.”
That was for the best. Josie had no intention of letting them know. However, this meant she couldn’t see Grape whenever she wished. It would be somewhat troublesome. “Please, take good care of Grape for me. As soon as I leave the Olsen residence, I’ll come to see her.”
At that moment, Grape was in Dexter’s hands, and she was finally at ease.
“I’m afraid it won’t work. You’d better stay with the Olsen family.”
Josie furrowed her brows. “Why?”
She had expected him to cite reasons related to personal gain, but instead, he said, “Don’t you find it odd? When you were in Rivodia, Laura was there too. However long you stayed, she stayed just as long. Now that you’re back, she’s followed suit. Leaving aside whether these are mere coincidences, consider this. Every time you’ve faced danger, she’s been present. Does that seem logical to you?”
Josie opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to explain. But as she thought about it, something seemed off. Two years had passed, and her understanding of Laura was no longer what it used to be. Earlier in the car, she seemed a bit off, too.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not wise to jump to conclusions without evidence, but my suggestion is that even if it’s for these inconsistencies, you should stay.”
Josie’s steps became hesitant after she ended the call.
In the courtyard, Laura, who accompanied Mark, seemed like a perfect daughter. As she reported on her work, Mark would often nod in affirmation. The atmosphere was harmonious, filled with a profound sense of trust.
“Leanne?” Mark’s gaze caught sight of Josie, immediately interrupting Laura. He waved his hand. “Come over here.”
“Laura, I had Leanne deliver a contract for collaboration with Juliette today. Have you received any feedback? She did a good job, didn’t she?”
With a warm and respectful smile, Mark spoke, his excitement palpable. It was a blatant display of his pride.
Laura’s natural smile froze momentarily. She glanced at Josie, then lowered her head to continue pouring tea. “Of course, there’s no doubt about Leanne’s abilities,” she said.
“How about this? Let her join the company for some hands-on experience. What do you think?”
