Incredulously, Josephine stared at Arnold, taking step by step toward him as if seeking an answer. “Is that really true?”
“It was merely an investigation. Whether there’s an issue or not is still up for debate. Why panic?” stated Arnold.
Seeing him dismiss the matter entirely, Josephine suddenly collapsed onto the ground. “That’s my father-“
“Indeed, there’s no need to worry. As long as your father holds you in his heart, he will rescue you,” Dexter said, his gaze as penetrating as if he were watching a fire, displaying an unexpected calmness.
Josephine looked at him.
Dexter continued, “Ms. Yowell, do you know why you were allowed on this ship? It’s because you are his safety net. As long as you’re here, your father won’t abandon him.”
Every word, every sentence, was like a dagger to the heart, words so cruel that Josephine couldn’t bear to listen. She turned her gaze toward Arnold instead.
She simply asked one question, “Is it really true?”
Arnold didn’t respond. Instead, he changed the subject. “Go get some sleep. When you wake up, I’ll take you home. Please, listen to me.”
In other words, Arnold was silently confirming it.
For a woman deeply in love, the greatest harm comes from deception and exploitation. Yet, in the world of a man like Arnold, these two concepts were not clearly distinguished.
“You can’t treat me like this.” Josephine shook her head. The entire night, she had been forced to digest too much information, more than she could bear. “Arnold, don’t forget who saved you when you were at your lowest. Without me, without my father, would you even have had the chance to meet Mr. Dalton? One should never be ungrateful!”
Ungrateful? The idea almost made Dexter laugh.
“Did I compel you to love me?” Arnold rebutted calmly, “Didn’t I tell you I can’t love you?”
Indeed, she was the one who had forced herself onto him, and it seemed she was reaping what she had sown.
Josephine’s pupils constricted. “My father cannot die.”
“I know. I will handle it.” Arnold tightened his grip on the gun, looking toward the opposite shore where the crowd had already been dispersed. “At this point, Mr. Dalton wouldn’t dare to blow up this ship.”
Ten minutes had already passed when Caleb called, “We’ve discussed it. You can leave the country. However, first, you have to release the person you’re holding.”
“Mr. Zabinski, how can I possibly trust you?” said Arnold.
For a moment, Caleb spoke with gritted teeth. “We just received news that the cargo the Vipera were transporting has already been switched. We’ve been duped.”
Gradually, a smile spread across Arnold’s face. Without that most damning piece of evidence, everything would dissolve into nothingness.
The charges against Lucas would also be dismissed.
Arnold let out a sigh of relief. “Mr. Zabinski, how should we proceed with the deal?”
“Bring him over here!”
“It’s hard for me to believe you guys.”
“I’ll send someone over to pick you up. That should be fine, right?”
Arnold didn’t object. He simply stared at the man before him, “Oh, I really don’t wish to lay by trouble for the future by releasing you, Dexter.”
Dexter simply tilted his head back, gazing at the gradually brightening sky. The first rays of dawn were slowly leaping from the horizon of the sea. Dexter let out a sigh, “Daybreak has come. It’s time for a resolution.”
“What?” For a moment, Arnold didn’t understand.
As the vessel Caleb had arranged for drew closer, it finally reached the side of the large ship. Arnold, holding Dexter hostage, suddenly changed his mind. “Once I cross the border, I’ll release him.”
After he finished speaking, he issued an order to Scar. “Set sail!”
“Arnold!” Caleb exclaimed in utter frustration.
“Apologies, but I simply couldn’t bring myself to trust you. Also, I’m now called Robyn.”
The ship’s horn blared, signaling its departure once again.
