A sharp glint flashed in Wayne’s eyes. “It happened just half an hour ago.”
They received the news quite promptly, yet they were still unable to prevent it. Narrowing his eyes, Wayne watched the small boat disappear into the distance. He scoffed coldly. “Dexter, you’re playing me.”
The wind whistled through the phone as Dexter let out a sigh. “I only just heard the news myself, and I’m all the way in Wavery. There’s no way I could have delivered the evidence so quickly. Wayne, you might want to check. Perhaps the news was leaked by one of our own.”
Dexter was too cunning, not someone Wayne could trust easily. Wayne lifted his gaze, sweeping it over Arnold, who stood on the deck. The morning wind whipped up his coat, obscuring his expression.
“Mr. Russell, your attempts at sowing discord were rather lackluster.” After hanging up, Wayne immediately dialed another number.
As Arnold watched Dexter gradually approach, he promptly set down his telescope and headed toward the water dungeon.
The gradually approaching footsteps seemed to tug at Josie’s nerves like a taut string. She had reached her limit, unable to even open her eyes.
“Robyn…” Josephine was the first to speak, rousing from her sorrow. She looked at the man before her in surprise, then realizing she had called him by the wrong name, she corrected herself with a bitter smile, “Arnold.”
He slightly furrowed his brows, reaching out to help her up. “The water dungeon is cold and dreary. It’s not a place you should be.”
Josephine glanced at the barely breathing Josie. “Had I not come, perhaps there would be many things I wouldn’t have known.”
Arnold seemed oblivious to the world around him. He reached out, gently arranging Josephine’s hair. “The words of the dying can’t be heard.”
He then raised his voice and commanded, “Scar, escort Ms. Yowell out.”
Scar immediately stepped forward, but Josephine remained still. She stared blankly at Arnold. “Will she die?”
“This isn’t something you need to worry about,” answered Arnold.
She should have foreseen his cold indifference and ruthlessness, but Josephine didn’t care. All she cared about was herself. “You can harm her, but don’t touch me or my father. One must never forget their roots. Remember who gave you a lifeline, who kept you, a stray dog, from starving to death. You should know this in your heart.”
Arnold frowned slightly, his face devoid of any expression.
Josephine moved closer to him and threatened, “After all, you’re not without flaws. We also have something on you.”
Arnold turned to the side. “What are you waiting for? I told you to escort Ms. Yowell out.”
Scar looked bewildered, but Josephine had already taken the lead and stepped out.
Once she had left, Arnold descended upon the water cell. Arnold slowly crouched down to one side, taking pleasure in Josie’s teetering appearance. “Is she really that fragile? Someone, keep adding water!”
Once again, a torrent of water came crashing down, the sound and impact jolting Josie awake. Instinctively, she tilted her head back, gasping for breath. Her voice had grown faint. “Arnold, just drown me!”
“Stop,” ordered Arnold.
The waterline stopped just at her chin, causing ripples to dance along the side of her lips.
“You’re quite fond of gambling, aren’t you?” Arnold began in a leisurely tone, “Did you know? Dexter is heading this way. Perhaps we should place another bet.”
Narrowing her eyes, Josie chose to selectively believe what he had said. “What bet-”
Beside the large ship, a small boat had already docked. Dexter boarded the boat alone, passing by the guard’s bodyguard. Surprisingly, he even managed to crack a joke, “Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
The bodyguard glared at him, gritting his teeth in frustration. However, there was no concrete evidence to prove that Dexter had ever been on the boat.
He was greeted with a round of applause. The one who emerged step by step from the cockpit was none other than Arnold. “What a coincidence. Wherever I go, you seem to follow. Sometimes, I really suspect you have a secret crush on me.”
