Morgan was not in Wavery, and Josie couldnât think of a better ally than Dexter at the moment. If she didnât return tonight, he would probably turn Wavery upside down to search for her.
And so, she nodded.
Before leaving, she wanted to say goodbye to Mallory, but she was nowhere to be found. The waiter said, âAre you asking about our lady boss? The boss has taken her away.â
Josie parted her lips. It seems that Mallory has not lived a tough life in vain all these years, as she has gained the approval of a subordinate. But does all this matter to her?
Dexter believed that he had arranged everything perfectly, all for her benefit. However, these were not what she truly desired.
The barâs restroom was always crowded. Josie waited outside while fiddling with her phone. As expected, a message from Dexter popped up: Do you love running away from home that much?
Josie didnât respond. Her fingertips gently caressed the screen as her eyes looked blank.
Laura was unusually slow. As Josie lowered her gaze, a pair of large hands suddenly appeared out of nowhere, landing in her line of sight. âMs. Warren,â he exclaimed, âYo, what a surprise to run into you here.â
Josie looked up, only to find a carefree young man who seemed to be a spoiled rich brat.
She searched her memory but found no connection. âWho are you?â
âYou donât know who I am?â The young man smirked sarcastically. âBut I know you. Ah, youâre so beautiful. No wonder Dexter canât let you go.â
A few of his companions trailed behind him as they moved forward, cornering Josie. âEver since I saw you gracefully dancing in Wavery, Iâve wanted to get to know you,â he said.
âAll these years, youâve been relying on Dexterâs support, offending so many people. Yet, you still managed to come out unscathed. Ms. Warren, youâre truly formidable!â
With gritted teeth, he jabbed a finger into Josieâs shoulder, exerting a great deal of force.
She endured it for a while; then, impatiently, she looked up. âWhat exactly are you trying to say?â
âLook. This is what a smart woman looks like.â The man laughed heartily at his companion, full of enthusiasm. âThe whole of Wavery knows that Dexter is about to get married while youâve fallen to such a state. You might as well follow me. I want to see what youâre capable of!â
His words were filled with vulgarity.
Josieâs brows furrowed deeply as she thought. If Laura didnât show up, would it be difficult to handle things if she decided to take matters into her own hands and give these people a good beating?
After all, this person appeared to be a spoiled brat from Wavery who seemed to be quite influential.
While she was thinking, these people had already taken action. âSpeak up! Have you gone mute?â
Josie was pushed, and her snow-white shoulder instantly reddened. Her eyes welled up, and in her anger, she looked up, only to find herself locked in someoneâs gaze.
The hallway had been cleared at some point. Dexter stood with his back to the light, his silhouette slender and strong, exuding an aura of both languid ease and sharp intensity.
Although she wasnât deliberately hiding, she didnât expect him to arrive so quickly.
The person in front of her continued to push and shove her. âDo you really think that staying silent will solve everything? Dexter might be able to protect you for now, but can he protect you forever?â
Josieâs gaze was distant as she finally spoke, âI canât guarantee it.â
They laughed, âAt least thereâs some self-awareness.â
Josieâs face remained calm. âWho are you venting for? Iâve never met you before. There arenât many people in my social circle who are around your age and have a grudge against me. Let me guess, could it be⦠Liana?â
The words hit the young man right where it hurt, instantly making him impatient. âIf I want to hit you, Iâll hit you. You donât have Dexter to back you up now, so just take it!â
After he finished speaking, he raised his hand and wanted to slap her across the face.
However, a hand appeared out of nowhere, blocking all his actions.