Chapter 328 She Is Also a Normal Person
As expected, he told Josephine about it, and she was floored.
"So, we all blamed Elbert for nothing?"
She used to call him Dad too, even though she barely saw him. Her impression of Elbert was pretty decent.
Elbert and Stuart had a bit of a resemblance, but Elbert had this scholarly vibe that made him seem super classy.
Stuart said, "Looks like it. First off, William isn't my dad and Melissa's kid, which means they might not have had a thing going on at all. And that guy hanging around William and his mom? Totally sketchy."
"How could this be?" Josephine was really upset. "If we got it all wrong, Elbert must've been through hell all these years."
"The worst part is, he doesn't even know he was set up," Stuart said. "We all thought he cheated, and my mom still hasn't forgiven him. He knows he didn't cheat, but he thought he had something with Melissa."
Josephine sighed. "Elbert and Carol missed out on so many years. They clearly loved each other but got torn apart by a misunderstanding."
"Josephine, thinking about my old man got me reflecting on us. It wasn't until you split that I clocked my feelings. If I hadn't found you, I might've ended up like my dad, lonely and miserable."
"Don't say that," Josephine cut him off. "We're not the same as them. Besides, Elbert and Carol aren't that old; there's still time for them."
"Right!" Stuart said. "Once I figure this out, I'll tell them everything! Josephine, will you be with me then?"
"No, I don't think so," Josephine said. "They might feel weird talking about this in front of me."
"Oh." Stuart looked a bit down. "Josephine, you know, because of their misunderstanding, I never got to experience fatherly or motherly love. I don't even know what a normal family is like."
Josephine knew all about Stuart's family situation.
Elbert and Carol barely saw each other, and Elbert never got a warm welcome.
If they found out Elbert was misunderstood, who knew how much it would hurt Carol.
If that was the case, then William and his mom were truly awful.
"Actually, we're in the same boat," Josephine said with a bitter smile. "My parents might as well not exist."
Hearing this, Stuart felt sorry for her. "Josephine, are you really their biological daughter? My parents had their reasons, but what about yours? When did they ever treat you like a daughter? Even when we argued, your dad called and said things I didn't like."
It was easy to imagine that Todd wouldn't have anything nice to say. Josephine was used to it. She said, "My parents always resented that I wasn't a boy. They always wanted a son, but it seems my mom couldn't have one. They didn't raise me when I was little; I grew up with my grandparents. As I got older, our relationship didn't get any better. It feels like we were never meant to get along."
"Josephine," Stuart held her hand, "we've been through so much. Looking back, it feels like it all happened a long time ago."
Josephine didn't say anything. Indeed, thinking back on those past events, it really felt like they happened in another lifetime.
Maybe it was because of Jeffery that she focused most of her energy on raising him. Plus, with her busy work schedule, she had no time to think about relationships.
They said time healed all wounds. There was some truth to that.
Stuart was spilling his guts, partly to explain things to her, but also to show his vulnerable side.
Josephine could tell Stuart was treading carefully around her. She knew the lack of affection from his parents might've made him a bit introverted. No one taught him how to express his feelings, so he was kinda clueless about how to show his love for her.
Josephine was in the same boat. In a way, they were both kinda tragic.
"Stuart," she looked up at him, "no matter what happens to us in the future, whether we reconcile or part ways..."
"We won't part ways," Stuart cut her off.
"Stuart." Josephine quietly said his name. "You gotta understand where I'm coming from. I can't reciprocate your feelings. My heart, I don't know what's wrong with it. Maybe it just doesn't see love as that important."
"I know, Josephine." Stuart held her hand and said softly, "Don't feel pressured; let's just go with the flow, okay?"
"I might kiss you, hug you, or even do more intimate things, but I still can't love you. Can you handle that?"
Stuart was taken aback. After a moment, he asked, "Are you saying you want me to be your lover?"
Josephine pulled her hand back. "That's not what I meant! I just..." She was at a loss for words.
Stuart's mind was a whirlwind, and he realized his words were out of line.
Josephine surely didn't intend that; he was overanalyzing. He couldn't help it; he was at an age where his urges were intense, and he hadn't satisfied them in years.
Josephine didn't even have to do much; just a few words could set his imagination on fire.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he held Josephine's hand again. "I get it. Josephine, whatever you want, whether it's my heart, my body, or anything else, as long as you want it, it's yours."
"I don't." Josephine felt her cheeks burning. "Stop talking."
"Why can't I talk about it?" Stuart looked at her, his gaze intense. "It's just like eating and sleeping; people have needs."
"Stop talking." Josephine couldn't take it anymore and reached out to cover his mouth. "Please!"
Stuart grabbed her wrist. "Okay, I won't talk."
He stopped talking, but his eyes were still burning as he stared at Josephine, as if all his words were in his eyes.
If looks could undress, Josephine felt like her clothes would be stripped off. She couldn't help but move to the side. "You must be busy investigating Elbert's matter. You should go."
"I've already given the orders; I don't need to do anything myself." Stuart scooted closer to her. "I'm not leaving; I'll stay with you."
Josephine stood up. "I'm going to check on Jeffery." Her face was red, and she was afraid Stuart might do something if she didn't leave.
Jeffery was engrossed in his book, while Josephine grabbed one to read by the bedside. She spent a long time with the book, yet didn't flip a single page, her thoughts in disarray.
A lover? She thought of the sweet times she had with Stuart and felt her face flush.
Josephine suddenly stood up and went straight to the bathroom. She splashed her face with cold water and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a bit incredulous.
But then again, she was just a regular person, and having desires was perfectly normal.
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