Chapter 114 Kiss Until You Agree
Liam stepped out of the restroom and spotted Stuart puffing on a cigarette.
Liam washed his hands and dried them with a paper towel.
Stuart glanced at him and asked, "Think you know Josephine well?"
Liam paused, tossed the paper towel, and grinned. "Well, I know she hates carrots."
Stuart scoffed. "That's just surface-level stuff. How much do you really know about her personality and her real interests?"
"What she likes, what she doesn't, her favorite color, her style—maybe that's trivial to you, Mr. Haustia. But not to me." Liam walked over, standing beside him.
They were about the same height, and their eyes met.
Liam continued, "Josephine is a real person, made up of these 'trivial' details. If you don't care about them, maybe you don't care about her feelings either."
"She's my wife. Everything about her is mine," Stuart said coldly, "You better keep your thoughts to yourself!"
Liam smiled. "Josephine is her own person. She doesn't belong to anyone. I'm her best friend, always have been. After the divorce, you'll be nothing."
With that, Liam walked away.
A few steps later, he turned back, seeing Stuart's furious face, feeling quite satisfied.
He added, "By the way, Josephine hates the smell of smoke."
When Liam returned, Josephine asked, "Did you see Stuart?"
Liam replied, "He's smoking."
Laura chimed in, "Who cares. Josephine, Stuart's just a pretty face. You should hurry up and divorce him. I have several..."
"Drink your soup," Liam cut her off. "Josephine isn't like you. Stop filling her head with nonsense."
Laura knew Liam liked Josephine. Actually, everyone except Josephine knew.
Laura smirked. "What's wrong with that? Men can have lovers, so can women. Once Josephine's single, she can find any man she wants. You should start buttering me up; I might put you on the list."
Josephine sighed. "Alright, you two, knock it off."
Just then, the door opened, and Stuart walked in.
Stuart sat down, noticing Josephine's frown at the smell of smoke on him. She quietly moved closer to Claudia.
The room had been filled with laughter, but it went silent as soon as Stuart entered.
Stuart didn't eat much, sitting there with a stern face.
With Stuart around, the meal ended quickly.
As they were leaving, the other three left first. Stuart was the last to go; he pulled Josephine back and closed the door.
Josephine, pulled back, asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Stuart said, "You're not going anywhere later. Come home with me."
"No way," Josephine said. "We already planned to go to Laura's this afternoon. She moved to a new place; we're going to celebrate."
Stuart said, "Then come home for dinner."
Josephine replied, "We're having dinner at her place tonight."
"No!" Stuart looked at her. "During the Starlight Festival, you're always out. Have you considered my feelings?"
Josephine smiled. "During past Starlight Festivals, from the 2nd to the 15th, I barely saw you at home, Stuart. Did I ever complain?"
Back then, Stuart had tons of social events and never thought about Josephine's feelings.
This year, for some reason, he always wanted to be with her, even if there was nothing to do.
But Stuart himself didn't realize this.
"That was then," Stuart said, "This year is different. Plus, I think Grandpa would want us to stay home with him."
"We already made plans. We can't change them," Josephine said. "The day after tomorrow, I'm off. We can stay home with Grandpa then."
Stuart asked, "You really have to go?"
Seeing his unhappy face, Josephine had no choice. "No backing out."
"Fine," Stuart said, "I'll go too."
Josephine was incredulous. "Why would you go? It's a friends' gathering at her place. Didn't you notice how awkward dinner was?"
Stuart said, "Then come home with me."
"Are you being unreasonable?" Josephine felt a deep sense of helplessness. "We're going to her place. It's not convenient for you to go."
Stuart asked, "Liam can go, but I can't?"
"They're close friends, but you and Laura don't get along," Josephine said. "Go hang out with your friends! Why are you following me?"
"Do you think I want to follow you?" Stuart's face darkened. "I'm afraid you'll do something to disgrace me!"
"All you care about is dignity!" Josephine was also angry. "In your eyes, am I such an unprincipled woman?"
Stuart didn't know how to describe his feelings. He wanted to be with Josephine but didn't want to admit it.
It felt like admitting it would make him inferior, unable to hold his head high in front of Josephine, losing his dignity.
"I didn't say that," Stuart said, "Anyway, either you come home with me, or I go with you."
Josephine asked, "Is there a third option?"
Stuart said coldly, "No."
Josephine couldn't go home with him, but she also couldn't ruin her friends' plans.
She couldn't let Stuart go to Laura's in the afternoon.
Josephine suggested, "Call Robin; go hang out with them. After dinner, we can go home together. How about that?"
Stuart's eyes were cold. "No way!"
Josephine couldn't take it anymore. "You know Laura won't welcome you! What do you really want?"
"To kiss you." Stuart suddenly hugged her. "Don't move. Let me kiss you for a while."
Josephine never expected him to act on his thoughts so suddenly, wanting to kiss her out of nowhere.
She wanted to struggle; Liam and the others were waiting outside. If she didn't go out soon, they'd get anxious.
Besides, this wasn't the place for kissing; someone could come in at any moment.
However, Stuart pressed her against the door. "Will you let me go? If not, I'll kiss you until you agree!"
Josephine shouted, "Stuart!"
Seeing Stuart about to kiss her, Josephine quickly said, "I agree."
However, Stuart still kissed her, a quick peck on the lips. "See, that wasn't so hard."
Just as Josephine sighed in relief, Stuart pressed down again, sucking hard behind her ear, leaving a noticeable hickey.
