Dexter met her gaze directly. âHave I done anything to you?â
She was taken aback by his question.
It seems like he hasnât done anything to me. There hasnât even been any physical contact.
âIt seems youâve forgotten that Mason Garden is listed under your name in the divorce agreement,â
Dexter leaned in, whispering in her ear.
Josie remembered their last meeting before their divorce was at Mason Garden. She had found the divorce agreement he had signed, along with a few additional clauses he had added besides the typical content.
He had been quite generous.
However, Josie didnât appreciate his generosity and never returned to the house. She never touched the money or the property he had given her.
Even if the media caught them, Dexter could still come up with an excuse to absolve himself of responsibility.
Josie finally realized his scheme and glared fiercely at the man. âWhat on earth are you trying to do?â
âStay here.â
Dexter moved past her and sat on the couch, retrieving a first aid kit from under the table.
Josie looked over her shoulder at him, suddenly asking, âIs the wedding still on the fifteenth?â
The manâs movement didnât cease and appeared smooth and natural under the dim lighting, making his expression even more inscrutable.
Josie took a deep breath and repeated her question once more.
He finally raised his head, holding a bottle of iodine in one hand. âApply this for me,â he demanded.
Josie furrowed her brows, only then noticing that the bandage wrapped around his palm was seeping with blood. It looks serious. Did he not get the wound properly dressed at the police station?
Seeing that she didnât move, Dexter questioned, âShouldnât you take responsibility for the injury you sustained while trying to save you?â
This is moral manipulation!
Josie fumed with anger as she stepped forward and impatiently unwrapped the bandage. As expected, the wound had torn again, and blood was pooling in his palm.
She paused and instinctively dabbed more gently with the cotton swab.
âArnold has fled. Do you think Mark will let you off easily?â
Dexter remained silent, leaning against the couch, his eyes half-open, staring at her soft black hair. Her side profile looked slightly puffed. A picture that depicted vibrancy and stubbornness.
Josie turned around, meeting his gaze. It felt as if something had gripped her heart.
âWhy are you staring at me?â Dexter asked.
âWere you with Arnold all night yesterday?â
âKind of. We didnât separate for even a moment since he kidnapped me.â
âHas there been any suspicious person around during that time?â
The question was odd. Josie pursed her lips in thought before responding, âNo.â
âWhat about suspicious phone calls?â
That question hit the nail on the head. Josieâs brows furrowed tightly as she recalled a memory.
Heather⦠No, Rachel called last night. That was the only call yesterday.
She lowered her head. âWhy are you asking this?â
âWas there a call or not?â Dexter asked in a deep voice.
âThere was, but I donât know who the caller was.â Josie lied without changing her expression. âHe avoided me when he took the call.â
Dexter stared at her silently. After a while, he lifted her chin with his other hand, forcing her to look at him. âLook at me and repeat what you just said.â
His eyes were unfathomably deep to the extent that Josie could see her own reflection in them. Feeling guilty, she pushed his hand away. âI told you I donât know. Are you deaf or something?â
For some reason, Josie didnât want to reveal Heatherâs identity to Dexter so soon because she didnât know what choices he would make once he learned that information and didnât dare to confront that uncertainty.
After tending to his wound, Josie stood up and asked, âMay I leave now, Mr. Russell?â
âYouâll stay here and not be allowed anywhere before the fifteenth.â
His single decisive statement left Josie frozen in place. Then, with a hint of disbelief, she whispered, âDexter, donât tell me youâre scared that Iâll disrupt your wedding.â