Chapter 115 Does He Have an Agenda?
When they stepped outside, Liam had already settled the bill. Laura remarked, "Why do I feel like Stuart's acting different lately?"
Claudia rolled her eyes. "Different how? He's always been a jerk."
Laura shook her head. "He used to ignore Josephine completely. Now..."
Liam chimed in, "Just because he's not ignoring her doesn't mean he cares."
"Regarding Doris, Stuart was really annoying!" Claudia fumed.
Laura chuckled. "Only they know what's really going on in their marriage. I wonder if Josephine will finally make a decision this time."
Liam glanced inside. "Why are they taking so long?"
Laura looked at him. "Can't you be brave for once?"
Liam frowned. "Stop talking nonsense."
Claudia tugged on Laura's arm. "Cut it out, Laura. What if Josephine hears you?"
"You have to fight for what you want. If you don't try, how will you know if you'll succeed?" Laura raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to be a coward?"
Liam stayed silent.
Claudia added, "Liam's just scared that if he gets rejected, they won't even be friends anymore."
Laura sighed. "Whatever, I don't care. If Josephine gets divorced, there'll be plenty of guys lining up for her."
Just then, Josephine and Stuart walked over.
"Let's go," Laura said, "Josephine, ride with me. Mr. Haustia, see ya!"
"Laura," Josephine said, a bit embarrassed, "Can I bring Stuart to your place?"
Liam immediately noticed the kiss mark behind Josephine's ear. It wasn't there during dinner. Clearly, it was fresh.
Liam shot a look at Stuart and met his smug gaze.
Stuart was flaunting, marking his territory.
Liam's eyes turned cold.
Laura asked bluntly, "He's not leaving? He wants to come too?"
Seeing Liam's sour expression, Stuart felt even better.
He smirked. "Ms. Collins, am I not welcome?"
Laura didn't mince words. "Not welcome. My place is small, can't fit you."
Stuart turned to Josephine. "What now? They don't want me."
Josephine saw his malicious look, thought for a moment, and said, "Laura, why don't you guys go first? I'll catch up another day."
"No." Laura frowned. "Since Mr. Haustia wants to go, let's all go."
Stuart, having achieved his goal, drove off with Josephine.
Josephine was exhausted, unsure of what he wanted by tagging along.
None of them liked him, but Stuart enjoyed seeing their failed resistance.
Moreover, Stuart had always been uneasy around Liam but didn't know how to put him down.
He was pleased to see the disappointment and dejection in Liam's eyes.
On the way, Stuart asked, "What do you call Laura?"
Josephine replied, "Little Laura."
Stuart scoffed. "What's with 'Little Laura'?"
Josephine explained, "It's her nickname."
"Just call her by her name. Why use a nickname?" Stuart said. "She's an adult, still using a nickname."
Josephine didn't want to engage.
Stuart's mood was erratic and unreasonable.
Stuart said again, "From now on, don't call her that."
Josephine couldn't take it anymore. "Do you have that many opinions about a name?"
Stuart retorted, "You never called me that."
"Do you want to be called Little Stuart?" Josephine chuckled. "Do you even have a nickname?"
Stuart muttered, "You could call me something else. It's a term of endearment; couples and spouses all have them."
Josephine sneered. "Those are for real couples, loving spouses. Did you forget? We don't have feelings for each other."
Stuart's face darkened immediately.
They didn't speak after that.
At Laura's house, everyone else was comfortable, but Stuart sat on the couch with a stern face, ignored by everyone.
Liam went to the kitchen to cook, while Laura took Josephine and Claudia to tour her bedroom.
"What's gotten into Stuart?" Laura finally asked. "What's he doing here?"
Josephine shook her head. "I have no idea."
Claudia added, "He never used to hang out with us."
"Who wants to hang out with him?" Laura said. "I think he has an agenda."
"Agenda for what?" Josephine was puzzled. "Is there something he wants?"
"No idea," Laura said. "Josephine, has he been acting strange lately?"
Josephine sighed. "I think he's got a problem with his brain."
Laura and Claudia laughed, thinking she was joking.
Josephine quickly added, "I'm serious! He's been acting really weird lately, like his brain is broken."
She recounted a few recent events. After she finished, Laura looked at Josephine. "Why do I feel like Stuart doesn't dislike you?"
Claudia, lacking experience, couldn't offer any advice.
Josephine asked, "He can't possibly like me. Where did you get that idea?"
"Men wouldn't cling to you if they didn't like you," Laura said. "They're very practical; they wouldn't make pointless efforts."
Josephine shook her head. "He told me that he can't like me. "
Seeing Josephine's unhappy face, Claudia quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let's not talk about this! Laura, your lamp is so pretty; where did you get it?"
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Stuart stood at the door, coldly watching Liam skillfully busy.
Stuart could cook, but only to the extent of making food edible.
Back when he was on the military base, during field missions, he wouldn't have survived without survival skills.
However, watching Liam's actions, it was clear he was a good cook.
Stuart felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
"Is this how you usually win her favor?" Stuart said. "Too bad, Josephine won't be interested in a cook."
"You will never experience the joy of cooking for the one you love." Liam smiled. "Seeing her eat the food I make, she's happy and I'm even happier."
Stuart sneered. "We eat just to fill our stomachs. Why do we feel happy then?"
Liam said, "Josephine loves to eat. When she eats something delicious, her eyes squint with happiness, like a satisfied cat."
"Shut up!" Stuart roared. "You really like her!"
Liam glanced at him. "She won't be your wife soon."
Stuart wanted to hit him. "Don't even think about it!"
"Want to hit me?" Liam smiled. "Go ahead. Let Josephine see how you behave as a guest in someone else's home."
The opportunity to come here was hard-won for Stuart.
He swallowed his anger and sneered. "Do you think you're the only one who can cook? Is it hard?"
