Josie had been in the shower for a long time. She was almost numb to her emotions. She didn’t know why she had returned to Waverly.
Heather was still downstairs, hesitant to leave without giving a proper explanation. Moses walked up to her with his arms crossed. “Ms. Olsen, we’ve met a few times,” he noted in a deep, cold voice. Heather turned to look at him with her doe eyes. “You are…?”
“I’m Moses, Mrs. Russell’s driver.” Moses lowered his voice and emphasized the words “Mrs. Russell.”
Heather was quick to understand what he was implying. “You’re blaming me too.”
“When we first met, you weren’t the precious daughter of the Olsen family. I believe I still have the right to say this.” Moses looked into her eyes and added, “It’s not right to spoil someone else’s marriage.”
His words were direct and full of contempt. Heather’s face pinched in anger. She took a deep breath and said, “I didn’t.”
“Then why did you come here today?”
“My relationship with Dex is something no one else understands. Can’t I share my worries with him?” Heather spoke with determination. “I was in his life first,” she continued. “Mrs. Russell came much later. And now my life is a mess.”
Her voice was aloof, but it was layered with deep sadness. Moses smirked. “I’ve been through the best and the worst that life has to offer, but I would never do anything to hurt someone else.”
Heather gripped her skirt as she listened to what Moses had to say. “I have faith that the things that belong to me will always be mine.”
She then glanced toward Moses with a solemn gaze before walking away. Moses didn’t spare a glance at her. The lines on his forehead deepened as he stared up the stairs. A heavy silence hung in the air upstairs.
Josie opened the door and peered outside but couldn’t see anyone. Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. A voice whispered in her ear, “It’s my fault.” Josie took a deep breath. “It’s not your fault.”
His lips were almost touching her neck. “Don’t be mad at me.”
Josie moved away from him without saying a word. He cupped her face in his hands and leaned his forehead against hers. “I underestimated Wayne and didn’t care about your safety. Jo, I was going to head to Rivodia tonight to save you.”
Josie’s mind reeled. “Aren’t you a little too late? I ended up back here on my own.”
“Dexter, I can still return without you. Why do you have to do this?” Josie felt a painful wave swell in her heart as she recalled his intimate interaction with Heather.
Dexter pulled her closer into his embrace. “I wanted to find you as soon as possible, but there were too many things going on in Wavery.”
Josie interrupted him. “I need some time to myself.” Dexter’s grip on her waist tightened like a vice, and she cried out in pain. “Let go of me!” Dexter held her hands tightly. “Will slapping me make you feel better?”
Before Josie could even process what he was saying, he grabbed her hand and slapped himself across the face. Her hands turned sore from the impact. Josie immediately pulled her hands away. “Dexter!” she cried.
“What about the second time?” he asked, grabbing her hands and raising them to slap. himself again. Josie’s eyes widened in fear, and she clenched her fists tightly, resisting his force. Dexter loosened his grip on her hands and hugged her tightly.
“Jo, I only dared to let you and Arnold head to Rivodia because I knew you’d be safe with him.”
