Surprised, Josie exclaimed, âI mentioned that I wouldnât be taking on any projects for a while after returning to the country, didnât I?â
âWhat if I told you itâs related to Robyn?â Lachlan replied.
âRobyn? Tell me more!â Her spirits immediately lifted.
âLa Oriele was burned down and now needs to be rebuilt,â Lachlan explained in one breath, as if delivering a mission. âThe implication is that it should be renovated as well. Currently, several companies are preparing to bid. The companyâs investors specifically requested your involvement.â
As soon as those words were spoken, Josie almost understood. âIs it Dexter?â
Lachlan gave a bitter smile. âHe is very persistent.â
No wonder. So this was the opportunity he was talking about, Josie pondered carefully. âPrepare the materials for me. Iâll take on this project.â
Lachlan was taken aback. âIt seems that Dexter knows you very well. He knew you would definitely accept. However, I must tell you, the La Oriele project is tricky. Itâs entangled with influences from many quarters. Choosing this as your first project after returning to the country might not be the safest move.â
The hospital was nearly in sight. Josie looked at the logo, took a deep breath, and said, âItâs okay, Iâll take it.â
Paulâs health was stable. The only issue was his memory. He couldnât recognize people. Justin sat beside him, to whom he had said countless times, âYoung man, you should go home now.â
Justin scratched his head in frustration. Josie carried a bag of fruit, crouching down to ask, âPop, would you like a banana or an apple?â
Paul hesitated for a long time, looking at her as if she were a stranger. âMy daughter instructed me not to eat anything given by strangers.â
He remembered even that, but he just couldnât recall who she was. Josie took out an apple and peeled it. âHave an apple then.â
Leaning on his cane, Justin hobbled along, speaking passive-aggressively. âYouâre quite resilient under pressure.â
She ignored him. âThe doctor said thereâs essentially no issue now. Iâll pick him up in the afternoon.â
Immediately, Justin reacted. âWhere to?â
âCurrently, only Dexterâs place can give me peace of mind. Rest assured, Paul wonât get lost again this time.â Josie wasnât sure how to make him believe her. Frowning, she suggested, âHow about this? Come with me.â
Justinâs eyes widened in shock, his face bearing an expression of disbelief. âYouâre bringing the whole family along, huh? I just canât swallow my pride.â
In the past, Josie might have thought the same way, but not anymore. At that moment, Dexter was a resource that could be utilized. As long as her goals could be achieved, nothing else mattered. Absolutely nothing. âA little neglect may lead to great mischief. Do you understand that great sacrifices are necessary to achieve oneâs goals?â
âYou told me this, but Iâve been doing that for two years!â He held up two fingers. âA full two years!â
âVery impressive,â Josie said with a smile, cutting a piece of apple and feeding it to Paul. Despite Paulâs protests, he still ate it. âOnce youâre discharged from the hospital, do you have a place to go?â
âWhat kind of joke is this? I have a boss above me. Of course, I have a place to go.â Justin was adamant about not wanting to meet Dexter, and Josie was not inclined to force him.
By the afternoon, she had completed Paulâs discharge procedures. Moses came to pick her up in his car, ensuring her safety. Paul was completely confused. âWhere are you taking me? I refuse to go⦠I want to stay here!â
In a calm and comforting tone, Josie reassured, âIâll bring you back home, to see Jo. Do you remember Jo?â
âYou know my daughter?â
âOf course.â
After a lot of convincing, they eventually got into the car. However, shortly after they started driving, they were suddenly halted.
A number of black cars pulled up, creating quite a dramatic scene.
Josie and Moses exchanged a glance.