Juliette didn’t notice his unusual behavior, continuing to chat about trivial matters. However, Dexter’s phone lit up, and he immediately lowered his head to look at it.
However, it wasn’t Josie. It was a push notification for insignificant news.
Suddenly, a wave of defeat surged in his heart.
Juliette waved her hand. “Dexter, are you listening?”
Dexter’s voice turned slightly solemn. “It’s about time. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
“I brought my driver along. He’s waiting downstairs, but I’m still waiting for a friend. What’s the matter? Do you find me bothersome and want me to leave?”
Juliette cupped her chin, looking composed and relaxed, a hint of a teasing smile playing at her lips. The color of her lipstick complemented her lips perfectly.
Dexter spoke lightly, his gaze still lingering on the blinds. “Is your friend coming back?”
Unbeknownst to Juliette, as she was caught off guard, her phone conveniently buzzed. It was a message from Josie: Something unexpected came up, I’m afraid I won’t be able to provide you with the proof. I have to leave now, Juliette.
Juliette stared at the message with a sense of loss. “I wasn’t finished talking…”
Dexter observed, appearing nonchalant. “What’s the matter?”
“My friend is a woman of great talent, who happened to align perfectly with my project. I was planning on persuading her to take over, but before I had the chance to speak, she left.”
It sounded indeed unfortunate.
Dexter leisurely picked up his coffee, holding it under his nose to take a light sniff. He spoke with a hint of teasing. “Well, it seems I’ve been holding up your important matters.”
Behind the blinds, Josie leaned against the wall, a wave of guilt inexplicably rising within her.
D*mn you, Dexter.
“No.” Juliette laughed, scrutinizing the man before her. “We haven’t seen each other for more than half a year, and you’ve lost even more weight. Still having trouble with your appetite?”
“Same old, same old. Nothing much has changed.”
“I obtained herbal tonics from an experienced traditional medicine practitioner. It’s beneficial for your health. During my stay in Wavery, I’ve arranged for it to be delivered to you.”
When Juliette spoke these words, there wasn’t a hint of flattery or appeasement. Instead, she was forthright and candid, as if she was simply conversing with a perfectly normal friend.
“There’s no need for all this. I’ve troubled you.”
“I didn’t realize you were the type to neglect your medication when you’re busy,” Juliette said, rising from her seat. “Since you’re not keeping up with your medicine, we’ll have to focus more on your diet. In any case, I’ll have Mr. Peeple ensure you eat properly.”
Dexter said nothing and simply escorted her to the door. Juliette turned her head and suddenly reached out to fix his collar.
She sighed softly. “Even for the sake of us, your friends, you should take good care of your health.”
They claimed to be just friends, yet their demeanor and conversations clearly held a certain intimacy. It was as if they knew everything about each other…
Such intimacy left Josie feeling confused.
“All right. Be careful on your journey,” he said.
Juliette simply nodded, choosing not to linger.
She knew where to draw the line.
Dexter stood in the hallway, his back to the light. The polished floor reflected his stoic and indifferent expression. He remained there for a moment before turning around and heading straight for the small room, pushing the door open to enter.
The room was bathed in a cozy light, with the soft little child sound asleep in the small bed. The woman leaned on the side, one hand propping her cheek, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, utterly bored.
Her bare ankle, resting to the side, was so pale it was almost translucent, lightly tapping in an absent-minded manner.
The enticing blend of a woman’s perfume and the comforting scent of a child’s milk mingled, drawing Dexter in.
“When did you arrive?”
