“I heard you were leaving, so I came specifically to see you off,” Nathan sighed, gazing at her with affection. “You look so thin. You’ve truly suffered these past years.”
Josie frowned. “How did you find out I was leaving?”
“I heard it from someone.”
Nathan smiled faintly. Though his expression was unreadable, Josie understood most of his implicit meaning.
I believe in Laura, so he must have heard it from Claudia. They’ve seen the letter.
Seeing the fleeting loneliness in Josie’s eyes, Nathan added, “Mark and Claudia aren’t feeling well, so they asked me to see you off. Don’t overthink it. Deep down, they care about you.”
They care about me? Yet, even now, they dare not meet me.
Josie’s thin lips curved into a slight smirk. She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings. Even if they met, she didn’t know what to say.
But she had never imagined she wouldn’t even get to see them, and they really didn’t come to the airport.
“Here is ten million. Claudia asked me to give it to you. When you’re away, you must take good care of yourself,” Nathan rummaged for a card from his bag and handed it to her sincerely.
Josie was taken aback for a moment. Then, she let out a bitter laugh. I don’t even want the Olsen family’s assets. Would I want this ten million?
“Ten million?”
“Is it not enough?” Nathan asked subconsciously. “If that’s the case, I can…”
“It’s enough,” Josie interrupted, somewhat dazed as she took the card.
“I’m glad. In truth, they’re only looking out for your best interests. Don’t take it to heart. Once you accept what they gave you, they’ll rest easier.”
A sharp glint flashed across Nathan’s eyes beneath his gold-rimmed glasses.
“How considerate of them.” Josie nodded. Then, she raised her hand and snapped the card in half before handing it back to Nathan. “Thank them for me.”
Nathan stood frozen in shock. “What does this mean?”
The flight announcement echoed through the departure lounge in the airport, reminding passengers of the departure time.
“If you have the chance, tell them on my behalf to forget I ever existed in this world.”
After Josie finished speaking, she headed straight toward the boarding bridge. She was all alone, carrying nothing with her.
The airplane took off into the night, circling over Wavery a few times. Through the window, the bustling night scene outside could be seen. It was the city where she had lived for over a decade. Once she left, there would be no turning back.
The skyscraper in the city center owned by Russell Group was particularly conspicuous. At night, it shone with the brightest lights before gradually diminishing to a mere dot in her line of sight before disappearing completely.
Perhaps it was because of her bad mood, but a sudden wave of nausea assailed Josie. She had to endure it for a while before she managed to keep from vomiting.
She closed the window shades, and her vision was instantly engulfed in darkness.
Meanwhile, at Russell Group, Dexter sat before the floor-to-ceiling window, his broad silhouette emanating profound loneliness.
A boundless solitude enveloped him, leaving vast expanses of desolation within him.
Larry pushed the door open, somewhat hesitant to speak. “Mr. Russell, the plane has taken off.”
Dexter slowly closed his eyes.
In the end, she still left. From today on, no one else in this world would understand my loneliness at the top of the ladder, and no one would be willing to give up everything to embrace my solitude.
Suddenly, there was a tremor at his wrist, followed by the sound of beads clattering onto the ground.
“Oh, no!” Larry exclaimed.
The rosary beads suddenly snapped.
It was given to Dexter by Josie to keep him safe, but it unexpectedly snapped on the night she left.
After several seconds, Dexter suddenly leaned over and picked up the beads as though possessed. Kneeling on the ground, he clutched them as though clutching onto his own life.
“Don’t go…”
