Josie smiled faintly. “There will be.”
Laura looked ahead. “From your phone call, it sounded like you’ve made up with Dexter?”
That was indeed a difficult question to answer. After thinking for a moment, Josie responded, “No. We are only together because of the child.”
Laura gave her a gentle smile and asked, “Do you want me to tell Mom and Dad that I ran into you? You can’t keep hiding like this forever.”
Unconsciously, Josie tightened her grip on her phone. Hearing how Laura referred to Mark and Claudia, Josie felt that Laura sounded more familiar and affectionate than she ever had when addressing the couple. It made her feel even more like a stranger.
“No need. I’ll let things take their course.”
Laura pursed her lips, choosing not to say more.
The gathering took place at the finest restaurant in Rivodia. Laura had secured the best spot, offering a panoramic view of the river.
During the banquet, she stepped out to take a call. Josie chatted with Alice, Jade, and the others for a while. Then she asked, “Where is Angel? Didn’t she come this time?”
Jade’s expression subtly changed when she heard that name. Alice gave a bitter smile. “She has already resigned.”
“Resigned?”
“Yes. She got married. Didn’t she tell you?”
Josie was taken aback. As far as she remembered, Angel had recently graduated from university. She got married so quickly? “Who did she marry?”
Jade’s expression shifted from relaxed to grim, even carrying a hint of resentment. “Ryan.”
Josie fell silent.
For a moment, she almost laughed out of frustration. Before leaving, Angel had assured her so confidently that they would separate, but not only did they not break up, they even got married.
Helplessly, Alice said, “Don’t blame her. She might have been too afraid to tell you.”
Josie shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it anymore. Just then, her phone rang. It was a return call from Dexter. She walked to the balcony and answered, “What’s up?”
“You’re at a gathering?”
In the video call, Dexter wore a serious expression.
“Yes.”
“How did the bidding go?”
Subconsciously, Josie shielded her phone, not wanting others to see Dexter, which resulted in her adopting a somewhat awkward posture.
“Do I really need to tell you? Shouldn’t your informant at the scene have immediately reported the results to you?” Josie’s tone was aggressive and tinged with a hint of resentment.
Dexter fell silent for a moment on the other end of the call. Indeed, he already knew.
He had asked that question just to hear her response.
After a pause, he rephrased his question, “Who’s at the gathering?”
After thinking for a moment, Josie asked, “Are you checking up on me?”
Dexter fell silent once again. “Grape misses you.”
Josie didn’t reply.
“Forget it,” he said. “The kid is at home, so don’t drink.”
What’s with his tone? Josie rolled her eyes and hung up the phone. She didn’t appreciate being bossed around at that moment.
A second before she ended the video call, Laura happened to step into her camera view, and Dexter caught sight of her.
He stared at the darkened screen while lightly tapping his finger.
After finishing her call, Laura returned and apologized, “Sorry, I was a bit busy.”
Josie also laughed, unsure if it was just her imagination. After two years of not seeing each other, she felt even more distant from Laura. It wasn’t a physical distance that separated them, but rather a gap in their beliefs and social status.
In the past, they had never experienced such a sense of unfamiliarity.
During the dinner conversation, the topic shifted to the La Oriele project. Laura expressed her thoughts, saying, “I have thoroughly researched it, and I must say, this project presents a wonderful opportunity for our studio. I am delighted that all of you can collaborate once again. However, Alice, considering your reputation, what made you decide to take on this project?”
Josie carefully removed a fishbone from her meal and replied, “You’re a capitalist now. Naturally, you wouldn’t understand the challenges we office workers face, having to comply with every command from our superiors.”
Laura wore a half-smile, but she didn’t believe Josie’s words.
She had barely been seated for five minutes when another call came in. The moment she answered, Josie recognized the voice on the other end.
