Chapter 198

Sean could not help but narrow his eyes. His gaze was filled with a chill of revulsion as he looked at Aiden. “Is this really a matter of whether or not someone goes to a bar? The real issue is that, in the middle of the night, they left a young woman alone by the side of a main road. Did they not consider that Josie could very likely have encountered danger?”

Sean’s emotions surged. He wished he could skin those scumbags alive. To reach the level of hypocrisy Aiden displayed, one would probably need to practice for months. “These sick bastards!”

“Well said!” Before they could refute Aiden, a voice sounded from behind the group.

Delilah walked over and reached out to take Josie’s hand. “Josie is still young and indeed not suited to going to bars. With her innocent nature, isn’t it also too early for her to fall in love?

“Let me clear the air. As her teacher, I will not allow anyone to take her to a bar, and I won’t tolerate anyone who wants to harm her.

“Secondly, she is already mature enough to develop independent thinking skills and is capable of making sound judgments of her actions. She understands which friends are appropriate to associate with and which individuals should be avoided.

“As for you, Aiden, could you please excuse us? We’re trying to have a pleasant night here.”

“Exactly!” Claire crossed her arms and walked toward the private room. “Even just going out for a meal, I end up running into a few lunatics preaching at me. I’ve had enough. Who do they think they are? Even the director of the Department of Student Affairs doesn’t meddle as much as they do. If they were so concerned, why didn’t they do something earlier?”

Josie smiled with a bitter, sarcastic expression and remarked, “Perhaps they simply cannot bear to see me doing well.”

Only then would it occasionally resurface, reminding her of the kind of life she once had, so that she would not forget her hatred towards them.

Jaden clenched his fists, watching as Josie walked away on her own, without caring about them or looking back. His anger and resentment reached their peak, and he almost couldn’t hold himself back, nearly rushing forward again.

It was only because Delilah was present and Aiden grabbed his arm that he finally suppressed his impulse.

“My sincere apologies. We were unaware that Delilah was also present just now and nearly misunderstood. I offer my apologies.” Aiden gave a slight smile, his gaze sweeping over Sean and the others.

“Although Josie has left our team, she is still our junior. No matter what she does, we will continue to be tolerant of her, to understand her, to care for her, and to love and protect her.

“I kindly ask everyone not to make things difficult for her, and to offer her your support and assistance. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all.”

Even Ian, who was usually the most even-tempered, found his breathing growing heavier. He wanted to punch that hypocritical face. What is he planning to achieve?

Sean had just taken half a step forward and was about to speak when Delilah held his arm.

“Aiden,” Delilah’s smile deepened. “It’s pointless to lie blatantly. Josie knows very well what kind of treatment she received in your team, and others can see it too.

“The implication is that your insincere concern is unnecessary. Rest assured, she will only get better and better after leaving you.”

After Delilah finished speaking, she invited Sean and the others into the private room.

“Are we just going to let them leave like this?” Jaden was unwilling to accept it. “Josie can’t possibly have truly fallen for that bastard.

“Besides, what kind of judgment does she have? In what way am I inferior to Ian? On what grounds does she reject me?”

“Jaden!” his voice was interrupted by a female voice. The girl who spoke was petite and exceptionally adorable. Just now, she had been present the entire time. This was her first time attending one of their dinners with Jaden, and she had not expected to witness, with her own eyes, Josie in a dispute.

Previously, Natalie told her that Josie had a considerable influence on these individuals, but she did not believe it. It seemed that Josie was indeed quite remarkable.

The woman wrapped both arms around Jaden’s arm and, in a coquettish manner, nuzzled against him. She said, “I’m the one for you. How can you look at other girls? I will get jealous!”

Her voice was coquettishly soft, gently coaxing, and made Jaden’s temper disappear completely. “I wasn’t interested in any other girls. It’s just that, as fellow disciples, I can’t stand by and watch her make foolish mistakes!”

The girl’s name was Tina Walker. She met Jaden at a bar on the night when Jaden, upset by Josie and Ian, went out drinking.