“Yes,” Larry said, “The Golden Key Awards competition has already been fully launched. Would you like to monitor the entire process?”
When it came to news about the construction industry, Dexter never missed a thing. He nodded in acknowledgment. “Let me take a look at the list.”
There were too many people involved, from judges to contestants. Going through each one of them individually would be time-consuming and laborious, so Larry was hesitant. “The doctor has advised you to rest for at least ten hours a day. You shouldn’t be engaging in mentally and physically draining activities.”
Upon hearing this, Dexter sneered from the shadows. “You really think I’m useless, huh?”
Larry immediately bowed apologetically. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just concerned about your health, which hasn’t improved since the car accident two years ago.”
Speaking of this, a hint of sadness flashed across Dexter’s face.
Two years ago, on a rainy night, Josie’s plane took off. Dexter was speeding along the Second Highway in his car. Countless planes were taking off and landing overhead, but he had no way of knowing which one was hers. He drove dozens of kilometers just to see her off.
The last thing he could do for her was to set her free.
As dawn broke, Josie’s flight had already departed from Wavery. On his way back, Dexter suddenly felt a self-destructive resolve.
He let go of the steering wheel and closed his eyes. The car crashed directly into the tree lawn. The severity of that accident wounded his heart and left him confined to a hospital bed for nearly half a year, almost devoid of any vitality.
After Josie left, he felt like a fish removed from water, unable to survive any longer. By the time he realized that he loved and needed her far more than he had ever imagined, it was already too late.
Dexter spent countless nights regretting not keeping her by his side. Yet he would ponder, perhaps if given another chance, he would still let her go, as long as she could be happy.
When he snapped out of his series of flashbacks, Larry had already obtained the list. There were a total of ten judges and hundreds of contestants, each with a distinct countenance.
Dexter’s gaze was immediately drawn to a woman. Her face was unfamiliar to him, yet he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“Who is this?” he asked, pointing at an avatar named Alice.
Larry glanced at it and recited smoothly, “This is a very young rising star in the industry. She is in her early twenties and is very talented. She’s Clusian, but the person in this picture… I don’t recognize her.”
The words that followed were spoken with utmost caution.
After all, it wasn’t Josie’s face. To support his claim, Larry hastily added, “There are many Clusians among the judges, and this one named Lily is one of them.”
The age indicated that she was already in her thirties. Dexter closed his eyes upon hearing that. He had experienced this feeling of disappointment far too many times.
Larry studied his expression. “Was it necessary to be present at the scene when the selection process began? Russell Group has invested in this competition, and the other partners are all in Sumanthova, so there was bound to be some overlap.”
“We’ll see.”
After playing all day, Grape quickly fell asleep.
Engrossed in the documents on her computer, Josie turned to Lachlan and asked, “Are we returning to the country tomorrow?”
Lachlan, dressed in a white sweater, calmly replied, “After the team clinched the championship, there are numerous matters that need to be dealt with. We’ll be swamped for a while, so we really can’t stay in Sumanthova for long.”
Josie remarked that it was a good thing.
Lachlan looked at her and added, “However, there’s still time to take you to the venue. The flight is in the afternoon, so I can help take care of the child for half a day.”
Josie couldn’t help but exclaim, “Aren’t you considerate?” This was crucial for a mother with a child. “You’re not just a capitalist, Lachlan. You’re a lifesaver!”
