Chapter 185 This Isn't the Way To Treat a Loved One.
Stuart was in the hospital, still unable to sleep.
He had many reasons for his insomnia, but a full-body checkup showed no major issues.
He asked the doctor for sleeping pills.
He needed to be in good shape to meet Josephine.
He couldn't let her see him looking rough.
The meds helped him sleep, but he didn't feel refreshed when he woke up.
His heart felt weighed down by a heavy stone, making it hard for him to breathe.
When he was discharged, the doctor advised him to keep a regular schedule, exercise, and relax.
He could handle the first two, but relaxing? That seemed impossible.
In the two days he was in the hospital, no one called with news about Josephine.
He even wondered if his phone was broken.
But when he called, his subordinate's hesitation made him realize it wasn't that simple.
Two days without news was unacceptable to Stuart.
He said, "Focus on Liam, Claudia, and Laura, and keep an eye on Todd too."
His subordinate replied, "We've been doing that. We tracked their every move, but nothing links to Mrs. Haustia."
Maybe Josephine knew they'd look for her through her friends and family.
Stuart said, "Stay sharp and don't miss any details. People don't just vanish."
He was still confident.
Robin and Jair hadn't contacted him either.
He wasn't care about Robin, but Jair was always thorough and wouldn't just forget.
Could Jair not find her either?
Stuart didn't want to think that, but the facts left no other answer.
Under Andrew's supervision, Stuart's routine got more regular, but his insomnia persisted.
The lack of sleep took a toll; he looked thinner and more haggard in just a few days.
He couldn't wait any longer and called Jair.
Jair answered, "I was just about to call you."
Stuart's heart leaped. "Do you have news about her?"
Jair said, "No."
Stuart felt a wave of disappointment.
Jair continued, "In today's world, everything's tied to real names. If there's no news about Josephine, she either left the city privately or changed her identity to hide from you."
Stuart said, "My team is looking into that, but no news. I think she might still be around Auroravale City. With her looks and demeanor, she can't hide easily."
"But finding her won't be easy," Jair sighed. "I thought she just left Auroravale City to avoid you. Now it seems she wants to cut ties completely. Stuart, what did you do to push her this far?"
Stuart said, "I didn't expect this either, I..."
"Alright, it's too late for that," Jair said. "If she's gone and we can't find her, she clearly doesn't want to see you. Stuart, maybe you should just let it go."
"No way!" Stuart snapped. "Let it go? If your wife left and you couldn't find her, would you just let it go?"
Jair replied, "Don't forget, you drove Josephine away. I'm single now, but if I had a wife, I'd treat her well!"
"Now's not the time for this," Stuart shouted. "I know how to treat her right from now on."
Jair asked, "What if she doesn't want to reconcile? Are you going to force her? You've done it before."
Stuart said, "You're my friend; you should be on my side."
Jair sighed, "I am looking out for you, but I can't watch you make mistakes. I'll help you find her, but if she doesn't want to come back, you have to let go. Got it?"
Stuart gritted his teeth. "I don't need you to tell me how to handle things!"
Jair said, "With that attitude, it's no wonder she left. Even though I'm single, I know this isn't how you treat someone you love."
Stuart finally quieted down.
Jair continued, "You said you wouldn't look for her, and now you're desperate. What are your true feelings for Josephine?"
Stuart was too ashamed to admit he only now realized how important she was to him.
He even suspected his insomnia worsened because she left.
Jair sighed, "Yeah, sometimes men are foolish. They only realize what they had after losing it. Stuart, if you have someone else in your heart and don't plan to spend your life with Josephine, letting her go might be best for both of you."
"No way!" Stuart cursed. "Easy for you to say! It's not your wife who's missing! If I didn't want to spend my life with her, why would I go to such lengths to find her? Do I have nothing better to do?"
Jair said, "It's good you have the intention. I'll get more friends to help. If that doesn't work, try broadcasting a missing person notice on TV in remote areas."
Stuart hung up, but his frustration didn't lessen.
With no progress from Jair, there was even less hope from Robin.
Stuart went to the office but couldn't focus.
He felt drained, unable to concentrate on the documents in front of him.
He knew he couldn't handle anything in this state.
So he went back to the Haustia Manor to be with Andrew, listening to him talk about Josephine. Only then did he feel some peace.
Following Andrew, his routine was normal, but after Andrew went to his room at night, Stuart would go upstairs and face his painful insomnia.
The doctor warned that sleeping pills could have adverse effects and advised against them unless absolutely necessary.
Besides, Stuart believed that he could adjust his sleep or mindset.
He had always been in control and couldn't let a small pill control him.
If he had to rely on medication to sleep, he'd look down on himself.
But goals are often broken. For a long time, Stuart couldn't do without that small white pill.
