Chapter 44
Seeing the clear dissatisfaction in David’s eyes, Josie didn’t feel disappointed at all. In fact, there was a strange sense of relief, as if a burden had finally been lifted. She couldn’t care less about whether David approved of her. She was no longer his student.
“You have no business being here, let alone paying your respects to Leo. Don’t make a fool of yourself—just leave!” David snapped, his voice cold and sharp.
Josie suppressed the anger building inside her, her expression calm as she met his gaze. “This is the Reedshaw family’s home, Professor. It seems you don’t have the right to tell me what to do here. I’m a student of Professor Wilcourt now, and I’m here to pay my respects to my teacher’s father. I don’t see how that’s shameful.”
David looked stunned by her defiance, and the coldness in her voice only made his displeasure grow.
“I could see it from the start—you’re nothing but trouble. Always dressing poorly, playing the pity card in front of your seniors to get them to protect and pamper you. Now you’ve set your sights on the Reedshaw family, thinking you’re clever enough to fool everyone. Do you really believe that you can manipulate everyone around you? Josie, I’m warning you—stop scheming and start focusing on your studies. You’ll never succeed in medicine by playing games!”
Is my choice of clothes really a crime? Josie was speechless. David’s words made no sense. When have I ever played the helpless girl in front of my seniors? When have they ever pampered me?
She took a deep breath and looked at him with an unreadable expression. “Well then, I wish you success in your future research and hope the senior students achieve even greater things.”
In her previous life, if not for her, the seniors’ research would have stalled long ago, and they never would have reached the level of success they did later on. She wasn’t the type to play political games or be smooth-talking. After entering the workforce, while Aiden was busy with his family business, Vincent desperately tried to stay in Aloville, Gavin sold his research papers to pay off debts, and Kyle played both sides to make connections, Jaden drowned in alcohol—she was the one who stayed in the lab day after day, tirelessly working on experiments and breaking through medical challenges. And yet, David had either been blind to it, or perhaps he intentionally ignored it because of his biases.
Now, he had the nerve to lecture her with such self-righteousness. What was he really trying to achieve?
As he saw that Josie showed no signs of leaving and had even positioned herself at the back of the line to pay her respects, David’s face darkened even further. His gaze grew colder with every passing second. “Josie, you really don’t know your place. People like you have no business associating with the Reedshaw family. Do you think that just by showing up here to pay your respects, the Reedshaw family will accept you as one of their own? Do you think you’ll graduate smoothly or achieve more than anyone in my team?”
Josie finally seemed to understand. “Professor Lawson, could it be that you’re afraid? Afraid that a former member of your team, someone who left, might end up being more successful than anyone in your team?”
Before David could respond, Sean stepped forward. “David, my family doesn’t want you here, and neither does my grandfather. You’d better leave!”
Josie stared at Sean in shock, her gaze drifting between him and David, almost as if saying: See? The one who’s not welcome here is you, not me. So, why don’t you just leave already?
David shook with fury. “Since when does a child get to decide who’s welcome in the Reedshaw family? I came here to pay my respects to my mentor, and I don’t need anyone’s approval!”
Sean raised his hand. “Well then, I’ll just have someone escort you out.” As he gestured, two men in black suits started making their way toward David, and his face turned bright red with embarrassment.
It was often said that the deceased deserved respect, and although he had wronged the Reedshaw family in the past, he hadn’t approached them in years. Now, he was here to pay his respects. Surely, this shouldn’t be the way he was treated. David thought. But only someone like Sean—this reckless brat—can pull something like this off. This kid once wanted to join my team. What a joke!