Josie had stayed up late, which resulted in her waking up the next day to find Mark and Claudia already seated at the dining table. Of course, there was also Zach.
No one knew what had gotten into him, but after Josie returned, he never left the Olsen residence. No one had touched the food on the dining table. Josie stepped forward and said, “I’m sorry. I overslept.”
Zach looked at her, his face filled with dissatisfaction. “You really think very highly of yourself, don’t you?”
With a sharp glance, Mark said, “Eat up. Weren’t you just complaining about being hungry? Maybe that will finally keep your mouth shut!”
With a stern look, Zach glared at Josie, reluctantly picking up his knife and fork to stuff food into his mouth.
Understanding dawned on Josie. She said softly, “Actually, you don’t have to wait for me to start eating. You’re my elders. It’s not customary.”
“We weren’t waiting!” Mark said with a smile. “I’m not that hungry. I like to read the newspaper before I eat, only then do I start my meal.”
Claudia reached out, serving Josie a bowl of honey oatmeal, gently placing it in front of her. “Were you out last night?”
“Yes. I went to watch the competition with some friends.”
“I had instructed the housekeeper to leave the door open for you. I hope it didn’t cause you any inconvenience.”
Claudia always maintained her tender and understanding demeanor, reminiscent of the caring version of herself from the past. However, Josie could no longer reclaim the sentiments she once held.
“Do you need to revisit the hospital today?”
Josie simply nodded in response.
“Let the driver take you. If you need company, I can come along too-“
In the midst of their conversation, Josie gently interrupted, “I can manage on my own, Ms. Hadey. I’m twenty-five now.”
The underlying implication was that she was not a minor.
Claudia swallowed all her unspeakable anguish. Her movements momentarily stiffened, and she nodded. “I was overthinking it.”
Upon seeing the situation, Zach forcefully set down the spoon he was holding. “So you need to go to the hospital? I’ll take you.”
Josie raised an eyebrow. “How dare I trouble you with such a task?”
It was clear as day that he definitely had ulterior motives.
Mark was the first to object, rebuking sternly, “Don’t cause me any trouble. Stay put. Laura called me yesterday. She’ll be back in a couple of days.”
Surprisingly, whenever Laura was mentioned, Zach seemed like a startled bird, hardly resembling the domestic abuser he used to be.
He was nothing more than a coward, ferocious in appearance, but feeble in essence.
After reprimanding Zach, Mark’s tone softened. “How about this? After you’re done with the review and if everything is fine, could you deliver a set of documents for me? It’s on your way, and I don’t trust anyone else with this.”
“Dad-“
With a gentle raise of his hand, Mark halted the conversation, his gaze fixed on Josie, dispelling her doubts. “It’s nothing secretive,” he assured her. “Just a standard contract.”
After some thought, Josie agreed. Since she was already living here, helping him out would at least put his mind at ease.
Deep down, she never truly considered this place as her home.
Josie had gone to the hospital alone. Her follow-up examination showed no issues. No sooner had she stepped out of the hospital than a woman wearing a hat stepped into the office. “Hello, I’d like to review the medical records of the lady who was just here,” she said.
The doctor furrowed his brows. “This pertains to the patient’s privacy, I-“
“My last name is Hadey.”
The doctor was taken aback. It took him a while to regain his composure. The majority stakeholder in that hospital was the Olsen family, and it seemed that Claudia’s last name was Jiang.
“My apologies, Mrs. Olsen. I didn’t recognize you.”
“That was my daughter just now. Can I see the records now?”
As soon as Josie left the hospital, she rushed to the address given by Mark. It was a five-star hotel where the business partner was staying.
She was quite familiar with this hotel. Back when she was entangled with Dexter, they frequented this place often.
