Upon returning to her residence, Josie hadn’t anticipated encountering Zach in the courtyard.
Leaning against the magnolia tree, he idly scrolled through his phone, bored. Upon hearing footsteps, he glanced up abruptly.
“You’ve got some nerve showing your face here,” Zach remarked bluntly.
Josie turned to face him, closing the distance between them with deliberate steps. “This is my home. Leave.”
Her assertion carried an undertone of authority, and Zach immediately bristled. His agitation palpable, he retorted, “Yours? I’ve lived here for over twenty years. Who do you think you are?”
Josie’s patience wore thin. “When I resided here, you weren’t even born.”
Zach lost it and lunged forward, seizing her by the throat, his anger evident in his clenched teeth. “If you dare to stay,” he threatened, “I’ll show you the consequences of messing with a local!”
Josie felt a twinge of discomfort, but she refused to let it surface. Instead, she offered a smile. “Zach, you haven’t changed a bit in these two years.”
Zach remained silent.
“I haven’t even done anything yet, just stayed at your place for a few days, and you’re already so worked up. Aren’t you a bit too impatient?” Josie’s tone was calm, almost teasing.
Zach wished he could kill her on the spot. “You think you’re high and mighty, don’t you? Why don’t you just leave? If you hate the Olsen family so much, why did you come back?”
“I had intended to leave,” Josie replied, her grip firm on his wrist as she slowly loosened his fingers one by one. “But seeing you in this state now, I find it rather amusing. Suddenly, I don’t feel like leaving anymore.”
“You!” Zach’s voice cracked with frustration.
Josie brushed Zach off, striding toward the door. “Emily, please escort our guest out.”
Emily appeared troubled as she glanced at Zach, lowering her head. “Mr. Olsen, I…”
“Go away!” Having no outlet for his anger, Zach kicked the tree trunk forcefully before storming off, consumed by rage.
Returning to her room, Josie checked the time -already eight in the morning. Grape should be awake by now. She dialed Justin’s number, but no one answered.
Is he still asleep?
Josie couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding, though she couldn’t quite explain why. Her apprehension grew, and she decided to call Dexter.
Knowing he had returned to Rivodia to attend to some affairs, she hoped he would return home to check on Grape.
Meanwhile, in a remote village to the east of Rivodia, a group of individuals stood in disciplined formation, each gripping a weapon tightly, their eyes trained on the horizon.
In the distance, a pack of hungry wolves prowled, their presence ominous and menacing, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
Dexter stood in the formation. His subordinates
informed him that Grape’s location was nearby. However, they faced a predicament-they had to confront the menacing wolves before they could reach her.
“Mr. Russell, it might startle Grape if she hears the gunshots,” one of his subordinates cautioned.
Dexter’s expression darkened. “I don’t think that’s what we should be worried about now,” he snapped in a hushed tone, his eyes narrowed with concern. The dilapidated house behind the wolves likely held Grape, and the eerie silence from within only heightened his worry for her safety.
Just as the tension peaked, Dexter’s phone buzzed in his hand. Justin, noticing the interruption, glanced over and was surprised to see Josie’s name flashing on the screen.
“Are you going to answer that?” Justin asked.
Dexter hesitated, his grip on the phone tightening momentarily. Ultimately, he chose to decline the call but swiftly composed a message: Currently occupied, will return your call soon.
His team members awaited his directives. In such critical moments, even the slightest error could prove costly.
“I’ll enter from the back, where there aren’t many wolves, to see if Grape’s in there. If all’s clear, you can proceed with gunfire,” Dexter directed, his tone firm.
If Grape was indeed inside, he could at least ensure her well-being.
Dexter’s decisiveness scared Larry out of his wits. “Those wolves are ruthless. It’s too risky!”
