Chapter 232 I Don't Need It Anymore
It hit Robin like a ton of bricks—if Stuart ever found out about this, he was screwed.
He'd thought about getting caught before, but he always figured he could keep it under wraps. He'd been playing it cool, hoping for the best.
What really kept him calm was Stuart's cocky attitude. He was sure Stuart wouldn't give a damn about this stuff, especially not about Josephine.
Boy, was he wrong.
Looking back, Robin was freaked out by how Stuart acted after Josephine left five years ago.
Stuart had changed. He'd really fallen for Josephine and was genuinely sorry for his past mistakes.
If Robin came clean, he couldn't even imagine the fallout.
So, he snapped back, "What are you talking about? We've been tight for over twenty years, and now you're doubting me?"
Stuart gave him a look, then grabbed a wet wipe to clean his hands.
"When did you start liking her? High school?" Stuart's voice was casual, but Robin could hear the ice in it.
He knew how tough Stuart was; getting the Haustia Family's business to where it was took serious skill.
But business wasn't just about smarts.
You had to be ruthless, and Stuart was a master at that.
Robin never thought Stuart would actually fall for someone.
Even if he had feelings for Angela before, it was only because she saved his life.
But now Stuart was in love with Josephine, and he knew about Robin's feelings for her.
"Not gonna admit it?" Stuart sneered. "Doesn't matter. Just remember, you and the whole Bailey Family will pay for this!"
"Stuart!" Robin was livid. "For Josephine, for an uncertain accusation, you're willing to disregard our twenty-plus years of brotherhood? What about our families' ties?"
Stuart looked at him. "When you did those things, did you think about our friendship or our families' ties? Robin, from now on, watch yourself."
Stuart wasn't just angry; he was hurt.
He'd really thought of Robin as a brother.
But Robin had stabbed him in the back.
Stuart had to face it—Robin was a lowlife.
He'd been blind to think of Robin as a brother.
Robin knew Stuart too well. Seeing his face and hearing his words, he knew it was over. Everything was over.
As Stuart was about to leave, Robin shouted, "You always talk about brotherhood, but did you ever really see me as a brother?"
Stuart turned, his eyes cold as ice.
Robin knew nothing he said would change anything now.
Since it was all going down, he decided to let it all out.
"My whole life, I've been in your shadow! Your sidekick! Everyone only sees you. No one sees me, Robin!"
"You say you see me as a brother, but look how you treat me, bossing me around. You never respect me!"
"Remember the first time I told you I liked a girl? Do you remember what you said?"
Stuart's eyes got colder with every word.
Robin kept going, "You told me to look in the mirror and not ruin that girl!"
"I thought of you as a brother, and you humiliated me like that? Do you know how much I hated you then?"
"You ruined my entire adolescence!"
"At an age when I should've been carefree, you made me suspicious, insecure, and timid!"
Stuart couldn't take it anymore. "Robin, after more than twenty years, I'm just now seeing who you really are."
Robin had been holding onto these grudges for a long time. Whether it was family background or talent, he couldn't measure up to Stuart, and that was fine.
But why did Stuart get Josephine so easily?
He married her but didn't appreciate her. Their divorce was normal. What did it have to do with Robin?
"Let me give you a piece of advice," Stuart said coldly, "Don't worry about the Bailey Family's future. With your despicable behavior, Josephine will never like you!"
That pushed Robin over the edge.
"She won't like you either! Stop dreaming! Stuart, she'll never forgive you for what you did!"
Those words hit Stuart hard.
Two men, now enemies because of Josephine, tearing each other apart.
Josephine didn't care what their relationship turned into.
After the divorce, she just wanted to live her life and stay far away from Stuart.
As for Robin, she never wanted to see him again.
Later that evening, Otis drove Josephine home.
On the way, he said, "Stuart's really unreliable. He can't even do his job as a driver properly."
Josephine smiled but didn't say anything.
Not long after she got home, there was a knock on the door.
Seeing it was Stuart, Josephine had no intention of opening it.
"Josephine," Stuart called from outside, "I need to talk to you about Robin."
Josephine didn't want to hear Robin's name. "There's nothing to talk about. His issues have nothing to do with me."
Stuart insisted. "There is. Let me in, okay?"
Josephine opened the door. "What?"
Stuart sounded a bit agitated. "I had someone look into it and found out what he did. Josephine, if it weren't for his meddling, we wouldn't have divorced!"
Josephine, once Stuart's wife, knew him somewhat.
Seeing his expression, she knew Stuart felt bad.
Because of that despicable man Robin? That was what he deserved!
"Stuart, it's not like that." Josephine smiled. "Our divorce had nothing to do with anyone else."
Stuart retorted, "It did."
Josephine didn't let him continue. "If you cared for me, you wouldn't have given others the chance to hurt me. If you trusted me, no one could slander me in front of you. No matter what others did, ultimately, it was because of your attitude towards me. Even without Robin, there would've been someone else."
"It was my fault." Stuart's eyes were full of regret, red with emotion. "Josephine, I know I was wrong. From now on, I won't let anyone hurt you again!"
Josephine shook her head. "It's late. You should go rest. Good night."
She tried to close the door, but Stuart stopped her.
"I know what he did before. Don't worry, I'll make him pay." Stuart looked down at her. "From now on, tell me if anything happens. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known Robin was so despicable."
"I told you, but you didn't believe me." Josephine looked at him. "Don't put all the blame on others. Stuart, your lack of trust in me is the root cause of everything."
Stuart promised. "I won't do it again."
"Yes, you won't do it again," Josephine said, "Because I don't need your protection or your trust anymore."
"Josephine!" Stuart looked at her in pain. "Tell me, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?"
