Chapter 322 I'll Give You My Life
Stuart was still on his knees. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Then stay there."
Seeing Josephine getting pissed, Stuart quickly added, "Josephine, I'm not kneeling to make you agree to anything."
"Then get up."
"Kneeling just makes me feel a bit better."
"Jeffery can see you. Aren't you embarrassed?" Josephine snapped. "Get up now!"
"What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm not kneeling for anyone else," Stuart said. "He should learn early that if you mess up, you face the consequences."
"My son doesn't need your lessons." Josephine glared at him. "Are you getting up or not?"
Stuart had no choice but to stand up.
Josephine was right next to him. As he stood, his leg buckled, and he started to fall sideways.
Josephine instinctively caught him.
Stuart took the chance to hug her and said pitifully, "My leg's numb."
Josephine wanted to push him away but couldn't bring herself to do it, so she kept supporting him.
"Can I crash outside?" Stuart asked while hugging her. "I'll sleep on the couch."
Josephine didn't answer but instead asked, "Did you tell Grandpa about Jeffery?"
Stuart knew he was in the wrong and was silent for a few seconds before mumbling a response. He quickly let go of her and explained, "Grandpa's been hoping for a long time for us to have a kid."
Josephine looked at him. "Even if Jeffery has brown eyes, does that necessarily mean he's your kid?"
Stuart clenched his jaw. "Regardless of whether he's mine, I'll embrace him! If he's yours, he's mine too!"
Josephine chuckled, hiding her smile with her hand, then composed herself.
"You laughed," Stuart finally felt a bit relieved. "Does that mean you're not mad anymore?"
"No." Josephine kept a straight face. "You should leave now."
"Then I'll keep kneeling," he said and was about to kneel again.
Josephine grabbed his arms. "Are you done? Do you think I'll forgive you just because you kneel?"
"No!" Stuart quickly explained. "It's just that I keep making you unhappy."
"And you think I'll be happy if you kneel?"
"What's it gonna take to put a smile on your face?"
"You hitting the road."
"I'm not leaving." Stuart looked at her. "If I leave, you'll be even more unhappy."
"Don't flatter yourself." Josephine shot him a look. "If you leave, I'll have some peace and quiet!"
"I don't believe you," Stuart whispered. "You just laughed."
Josephine sighed. "Why stay? The couch isn't even long enough for your legs. How you gonna catch some Z's?"
"You care about me, don't you?"
"I'm worried you'll break the couch!" Josephine said. "Just leave already!"
"If I break it, I'll pay for it!"
"What's the deal?" Josephine was so mad she felt like giving him a piece of her mind. "You bouncing or what?"
"Do you really want me to go?" Stuart gave her a pleading look. "I don't wanna split.
"If you stick around, I'm out."
Seeing her genuine anger, Stuart reluctantly conceded, "Alright, I'll jet later, cool?"
"Hurry up!" Josephine was furious. "Jeffery is waiting for me!"
Stuart asked, "Jeffery doesn't still sleep with you at night, does he? He's already four."
"He doesn't sleep with me." Josephine said. "Are you leaving or not?"
"I'm out." Stuart reluctantly made his way to the door.
Josephine followed to see him out.
At the door, Stuart didn't want to go out.
Josephine opened the door, and Stuart closed it again.
Josephine glared at him.Stuart finally spoke up, a bit hesitant, "Can I get a hug?"
Josephine was about to say something when Stuart held up one finger. "Just one!"
Josephine sighed and closed her eyes. "Make it quick!"
Stuart reached out and hugged her.
Everything around them seemed to quiet down, not a sound to be heard.
They could only hear their own heartbeats. Or maybe, each other's heartbeats.
"Josephine," Stuart whispered in her ear, "give me a chance. As long as you want it, I'll give you everything I have, even if it means my life."
Josephine pushed him away. "What would I do with your life?"
Stuart held her tightly. "If I ever make you angry again, you can just kill me with a knife!"
"Then I'd have to pay with my life too!" Josephine said. "Weren't you just asking for a hug? Let go!"
"Oh." Stuart knew when to stop and reluctantly let her go. But his downcast eyes were filled with deep affection, as if they could form a tangible thread.
Josephine didn't dare look into his eyes. She opened the door and pushed him out. "Just go!"
"Then I'll come over first thing in the morning." Stuart held onto the door, not letting her close it. "What do you want to eat?"
"Anything."
"Anything and whatever are equally difficult." Stuart scrunched up his face. "I'll whip up a variety then."
"Keep it simple." Josephine tried to close the door. "Just go."
"Josephine, good night."
"Good night." Josephine was about to close the door when a hand suddenly reached in through the gap. She was furious, opened the door, and snapped, "What do you want now?"
"I just want to see you one more time." Stuart said. "Okay, okay, don't be mad. I'm leaving, I'm leaving!"
He said, and without waiting for Josephine to close the door, he quickly turned and left.
Josephine watched his back for a few seconds and couldn't help but smile.
Stuart seemed to sense it and turned to look.
Josephine immediately closed the door.
Stuart smiled and finally left.
Josephine leaned against the door, closed her eyes, and was silent for a while before going to Jeffery's room.
After coaxing Jeffery to sleep, Josephine heard her phone beep. She picked it up and saw a message from an unmarked number.
She read it a few times, smiled, didn't reply, and put the phone under her pillow.
The next morning, Stuart indeed came, bringing a variety of breakfast items.
While Josephine was washing up, Stuart quietly said to Jeffery, "Jeffery, I took care of that lady from yesterday. Don't worry."
Jeffery asked, "There won't be any more ladies, right?"
Stuart said, "Don't worry, there won't be!"
After breakfast, Josephine mentioned the gift from Andrew and asked Stuart if he had returned it.
Stuart said, "You know Grandpa's temper. Once he gives something, he won't take it back."
Josephine thought for a moment and said, "In that case, we'll have to give him a more valuable gift for his birthday."
"Don't," Stuart said. "Grandpa wouldn't want you to spend too much money."
"Then just leave it to me," said Josephine.
After breakfast, Stuart figured he should touch base with Andrew and attend to some business matters at the company. He headed out, promising to swing back around noon with lunch.
Stuart had just left when someone came to the ward.
It was Donna.
Josephine was surprised. She and Donna had almost no interaction. Why would Donna visit? Or was she here because of Stuart?
Donna asked her, "Can we talk?"
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