Chapter 320 False Promises
Josephine never thought she'd see Stuart again.
After chatting with Angela, Stuart headed back to Haustia Manor to check on Andrew. By the time he got back to the hospital, it was pretty late, and Jeffery was already asleep.
When Josephine heard a soft knock on the door, she assumed it was the nurse. But when she opened it, she was taken aback. "What are you doing here again?" she asked.
Stuart replied, "I need to talk to you."
Josephine stepped aside, "Come in."
With Jeffery asleep in the bedroom, it was okay to have Stuart in the living room.
Josephine handed him a glass of water, "What do you need?"
Stuart could sense Josephine's polite but distant vibe. It felt like they were back to square one.
Stuart felt a bit hurt, but he knew it was his fault for not keeping Angela at bay, giving her the chance to mess things up.
He took a deep breath and started, "Josephine, I need to explain about Angela and me."
Josephine shot back, "Why do you need to explain anything about you and Angela to me?"
"Because you're mad."
Josephine turned away, "No, I'm not."
Feeling uneasy inside, she believed she had no reason to be angry.
"I never liked her," Stuart clarified, "and there was never anything between us. If she said otherwise, don't believe it."
"Then why should I believe you?" Josephine's face was blank, "You were good to her before, everyone knows that."
"I was good to her for one reason," Stuart paused, "She helped me out a lot before, and I owed her. So I did some things for her."
Stuart's explanation surprisingly soothed Josephine's feelings.
On one hand, she felt she was easy to appease, and Stuart didn't even try to appease her; he just laid out the facts.
Moreover, she appreciated Stuart's straightforwardness. She liked this kind of open communication.
Unlike before, when they kept everything bottled up, which eventually led to their divorce.
Thinking about it, she realized she needed to change her ways. She had been sulking all afternoon and didn't take the initiative to talk to Stuart about it. That was her mistake.
"I get it," she said softly, "I hope you're not lying to me."
Stuart was quiet for a few seconds and then said, "In the past, whether it was Doris or anyone else—I might have wanted to see you get jealous. But I didn't know how to express it, and I didn't even understand my own feelings."
Josephine didn't expect him to bring up the past.
Stuart continued, "Whenever I was hanging out with those folks, you were on my mind. But when I got back home and saw you looking so indifferent, it really got under my skin."
Josephine grinned, "Regardless, I just can't let it slide."
"I know," Stuart felt particularly sad seeing her smile, "I let you down, and even now, you probably don't find my words very credible."
Josephine said, "Ultimately, it's because we didn't communicate well."
"In the past, Liam and Jair both chewed me out, saying that cheating is cheating, whether it's emotional or physical, and it's unforgivable. I couldn't argue; I had to own up to what I did. Josephine, I can't change the past, but I can promise I won't mess up like that again."
Thinking back, Stuart wished he could punch himself. Sometimes the things he said were just asking for trouble and totally unforgivable.
But he was genuinely sorry and was determined to spend his life proving he wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Angela was just the first person he dealt with, and hopefully the last one From now on, there would only be one Josephine by his side Other women should stay five miles away from him.
" stop talking, Josephine didn't need his promises, "I know everything."
Promises could be empty Before they were fulfilled, who could guarantee they were kept?
The two sat on separate sofas, but not far apart Stuart said again, "After I left the hospital, I went to see Angela."
Josephine looked up at him, and Stuart continued, "I made it clear to her that there was nothing between us and told her not to bother you anymore."
Josephine didn't expect him to talk to Angela directly, "Isn't that a bit rude? She's pursuing you, and if she messes it up, what should I do?"
Josephine turned her face away, "It's late, you should go back."
Stuart wanted to hold her hand but was a bit hesitant He moved closer and asked, "Josephine, can I sleep on the sofa tonight?"
"The sofa isn't for sleeping Josephine said, "You don't need to, just go back."
"Woah, I want to stay with you," Stuart said, "Until Jeffery is discharged, I'm not going anywhere What if Angela comes again and says something crazy?"
"Wait," Josephine asked him, "How do you know what Angela said?"
Stuart was stunned for a moment and then said, "I saw your expression. Later I found out Angela came, so it must have been something she said."
Josephine felt a bit uneasy, "What's wrong with my expression? There's nothing wrong."
"Whatever she says, you can't believe it, "Stuart said, staring at her hand, "Can I hold your hand?"
Josephine's fingers curled slightly Stuart said again, "You used to say I didn't respect you enough I was a jerk back then, not considering your feelings Josephine, it won't happen again."
"So, you need my permission to hold hands?"
"Yes," Stuart sneaked a glance at her, "I know I have a long way to go, but I'll work hard to show you that I'm different from before."
"Aren't you tired," Josephine asked him, "Many changes can be painful."
Stuart said, "Nope, when you left, I realized what the most painful thing was Compared to that feeling, everything else is nothing."
Josephine's pinky finger twitched Stuart slowly reached out and hooked her pinky. She didn't pull away.
Stuart felt happy but didn't dare to be too forward. He gradually moved his fingers until his whole hand covered Josephine's. He interlocked his fingers with hers. Then, he gently held her hand.
"Josephine," he said with gratitude and excitement, "Thank you.
Josephine looked down and asked him, "Do you really not mind Jeffery's existence?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
