Naivety was clearly useless in this scenario.
During the few minutes in the car, Dexter answered several phone calls. He seemed extremely busy, having to juggle and resolve various issues.
Josie sat by his side, listening to his weary responses as guilt grew in her heart.
Several men and women were escorted out of the villa, but it wasn't long before professionals arrived to handle the situation, clearing up the mess for them.
Despite the extensive search, it seemed like further details were kept hidden, and Morgan didn't show himself either.
Jasper sent her a message, asking how she was doing while grumbling: I'm doomed. If anything happens to you, Morgan is going to kill me.
For a moment, Josie didn't know how to respond. She turned to look at Dexter, who was still on the phone. He noticed her gaze and asked her what was wrong with his eyes.
His eyes were jet-black, so dark that even when he looked right at her, it was impossible for her to decipher what he was thinking.
Josie mouthed the words, "My legs have gone numb."
"Let's go with that," Dexter responded to the person on the phone while extending a hand to lend her support.
Josie shifted her position but lost her balance, falling into his arms, her hands gripping his waist amidst her panic.
Dexter frowned and looked down at her, seemingly asking her what she was doing.: text © owner.
Josie didn't feel like letting go anymore and mouthed, "Let me hug you for a bit."
Her body temperature began to rise.
Today, Dexter donned a black overcoat, made of a soft material. As Josie pressed her face against it, she could feel his body warmth. This simple act brought a sense of calm to her heart. His chest vibrated as he talked, but she couldn't hear what was said on the other end of the phone. Curling up, she lay on his lap motionlessly.
Two minutes later, the call ended.
Dexter's large hand caressed her sun-kissed hair. "Morgan escaped in time. They didn't find anything."
Josie breathed a sigh of relief. That means I won't get in trouble either.
"You've timed everything perfectly, haven't you? You let Ryan receive the news on purpose and came just in time."
"I could've stayed out of this." Dexter caressed her face.
"I know you did it for me," she mumbled.
This isn't fair. He seems flawlessly handsome from this angle. How is he real?
Josie's gaze was pure as she blinked. "I'm sorry for losing my temper with you that day."
"You've become more empathetic ever since you became a mother. It was my oversight. I should've told you about Grape first thing," he said, relaxing as she nestled in his arms.
She seemed off, but he didn't want to ask how much she had found out. All he needed was to know that at that moment, she had compromised and acknowledged her mistake for his sake.
As Josie matured, she gradually
gained insight into the complexities of life. She came to understand that life wasn't easy for anyone and that everyone bore burdens that sometimes not even those closest to them would understand.
"When I watched TV shows when I was young, I always thought those misunderstandings between the male and female leads were unnecessary. I'd get anxious and wonder why they wouldn't just talk things through. However, as grew older, I came to understand that it's hard to talk about some things and that some goodbyes are simply inevitable."
Her voice remained steady as a multitude of faces flashed through her mind. Whether it was Morgan, Arnold, or Dexter, they all seemed to be the same. Sometimes there was just nothing she could do.
It was at this very moment, as
Dexter gazed into Josie's eyes, that he truly realized she had blossomed into a woman. She was no longer the girl who once relied on him for everything.
The phone rang once again, this time from Larry. His voice was laced with urgency. "The investigation team has arrived, Mr. Russell, you need to return immediately." Josie sat up, looking at him with concern.