Realizing that her daughter was quite the social butterfly, she never expected her to be so sociable.
“Speaking like that is too presumptuous, and it could upset other people,” Josie said. Grape thought for a moment and replied, “I’m sorry. He seemed a bit upset. He didn’t smile at all!”
“So, you shouldn’t say things like that again.”
Lachlan glanced at the rearview mirror. “Grape, I love to smile. Do you think I’m handsome?”
“Of course! But you’re not as handsome as that man!” Grape answered.
Children always speak without reservation, and Josie couldn’t help but laugh at her words. Josie was genuinely curious about how handsome that man must be, so she asked, “Does that man live in the courtyard we just passed?”
Grape nodded. “There were many flowers inside, butterflies, and fish.”
Josie caught a whiff of sandalwood from the child, a familiar scent, yet she couldn’t quite place where she had smelled it before.
Grape nestled in Josie’s soft embrace, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she asked, “Mommy, I liked the man I just met. Can we make him my daddy?”
Josie’s words suddenly stuck in her throat. The little girl needed a father’s love more than she had ever imagined. Josie then lifted her head, her eyes meeting Lachlan’s worried gaze head-on, and silence fell between them.
Seeing that Josie did not respond, the anticipation in Grape’s eyes gradually faded. She mumbled, “I don’t want him anymore, Mommy. Please don’t be angry.”
A wave of emotions surged through Josie. Josie held her even tighter, an image of that man surfacing in her mind. What would happen if he were here? I can’t dwell on that.
Meanwhile, in the room of the courtyard house, Dexter never turned another page of the book he had left on the table.
When Larry walked in, he happened to see the man staring intently at his palm. Lying there quietly was a piece of grape-flavored candy.
Larry paused, then carefully said, “Mr. Russell.”
For a moment, Dexter closed his palm, half of his face shrouded in gloom. “Don’t you think the child bears some resemblance to me?”
Larry was somewhat taken aback when he heard that. He had been worried and hadn’t really taken a close look at the child. “Well… Maybe her eyes? However, perhaps it was because the child was too adorable. We were all biased from the start.”
Larry thought it was impossible for a child to resemble Dexter.
Dexter paused in thought for a moment, quickly closing his eyes. Indeed, he had been influenced by the child’s innocent words. Did she make me believe I was her father? That’s absurd.
“How are things with Justin?” Dexter casually tossed the piece of candy onto the table with a flick of his hand.
“He has already settled down in La Oriele and has earned Mr. Dalton’s trust. Unaware that we are the ones calling the shots, he carries out his tasks with exceptional dedication.”
“What about his safety?”
“There won’t be any issues.”
Dexter pressed his brow lightly, relaxing slightly. Justin is the only person she still cares about. No matter what, I have to keep him safe.
“Has there been any news from Sumanthova?”
“We haven’t found anything yet…” Larry’s voice was soft. “Actually, these kinds of rumors are generally inaccurate. I can handle it. There’s no need for you to come personally. It’s too taxing on your health.”
Dexter did not respond.
Larry fell silent. Over the past two years, wherever in the world there was even the slightest hint of Josie, Dexter would personally go to investigate, all in the hope of seeing her.
Yet, every attempt ended up in vain.
One could guess that Josie had probably changed her name and erased all her past information, which would explain why she was so difficult to locate.
It would seem as though she had made up her mind, severing all ties with the past. Dexter’s voice carried a hint of fatigue as well as a touch of certainty when he uttered, “She will return.”
