Chapter 88 Stuart Liked Her When He Was a Kid?
Stuart looked at her. He said condescendingly, "You and her? What do you think you have to compare with her? Josephine, you're not worthy."
"What to compare? In what way is Josephine not worthy?" a voice repeated.
Both of them were startled and turned around to see Andrew walking over.
"What are you talking about?" Andrew only heard Stuart's last sentence and couldn't help but be curious. "Stuart, did you upset Josephine again?"
Stuart's expression was quite awkward.
Josephine quickly spoke up, "Mr. Haustia, we were just discussing a game. He said I couldn't beat him. Isn't that annoying?"
Andrew glared at Stuart. He scolded, "You don't even know how to let Josephine win! When you were little, you knew to save the good food for Josephine. If you weren't allowed to save it, you would cry!"
Stuart was embarrassed. He quickly said, "Don't make things up. When did I ever cry?"
Josephine was curious. She asked, "Save good food for me? How come I don't know about this?"
Andrew laughed. He explained, "You were too young to remember. He was also young. The first time he saw you, he said he wanted you to be his wife and followed you around. When he saw good food at home, he wanted to save it for you, but he fell and cried."
Josephine burst out laughing.
Stuart was both embarrassed and annoyed. He said, "Grandpa, why are you making things up!"
"I'm not making things up," Andrew said, "You really liked Josephine when you were little. Now that you've got your wish and made Josephine your wife, you still often upset her. No progress at all!"
From as far back as Stuart could remember, Josephine and Liam had always been close.
He had no memory of liking Josephine so much when he was little, or even saying he wanted her to be his wife.
However, for some reason, when Andrew said it, he did feel a vague sense of familiarity.
He had done those things and said those words.
However, the memories didn't bring him any sweetness or joy.
He just felt his face heat up, even a bit guilty. He quickly glanced at Josephine and said irritably, "What are you laughing at?!"
Josephine walked over and took Andrew's arm. She sweetly coaxed, "Mr. Haustia, have a seat."
Andrew patted her hand. He asked worriedly, "Feeling better? Fever gone?"
Josephine said, "I'm fine now."
Seeing them chatting and completely ignoring him, Stuart's face turned cold. He said, "I'm going to the office."
Andrew said, "Josephine is sick. Come back early if you can."
Stuart walked to the entrance, then turned back. He said irritably, "Grandpa, don't say things that ruin my image."
Andrew laughed. He teased, "What image do you have? I think you were more obedient and well-behaved when you were little."
Stuart left angrily.
Josephine asked, "Mr. Haustia, did he really like me when he was little?"
"Yes." Andrew recalled. "When he saw you, he kept talking about giving you his favorite toys and snacks."
Josephine brought over Stuart's childhood photo album. She asked, "How old was he then?"
Andrew flipped through it and pointed to a chubby little boy. He said, "About this age. Look how cute he was when he was little."
Josephine had seen this photo before.
She loved Stuart deeply. When they first got married, she was interested in everything about him.
However, she didn't know that Stuart had liked her since he was so young.
When did their relationship start to go bad?
Josephine vaguely remembered things from when she was four or five. From as far back as she could remember, her relationship with Stuart had been bad.
Stuart often fought with Liam.
Andrew said, "He really liked you then. I've never seen him like anyone so much. Even when he got older, he often talked about you."
Stuart was raised by Andrew.
His words could be trusted.
"And later?" Josephine asked, "After he started school, did he still talk about me?"
Andrew smiled. He remarked gently, "Stuart was chubby and cute when he was little. He started growing taller and got thinner around five or six, and became less talkative. But even though he didn't say it, I knew he still liked you."
Josephine was puzzled. She asked curiously, "How did you know?"
Andrew said, "Every year for your birthday, he would make you a gift well in advance. Don't you remember?"
Josephine was shocked. She asked in disbelief, "Gifts? What gifts?"
Andrew said, "Drawings he made, assembled blocks, even wood carvings. I saw him make them with my own eyes. He never said a word, even when he hurt his hand."
Josephine couldn't believe it. She probed further, "Are you sure they were for me?"
Andrew nodded. He replied, "Of course they were for you."
"But." Josephine thought hard but couldn't remember ever receiving a gift from Stuart.
She asked, "How old was he then?"
Andrew said, "He was in elementary school. He made you something every year. I remember clearly the wood carving he made when he was ten."
Ten years old.
Josephine definitely had memories from when she was ten.
However, she had never received a gift from Stuart.
Besides, by that age, her relationship with Stuart had already soured.
Stuart hung out with Robin and others, while she was with Liam and their group. They were practically enemies, irreconcilable.
Stuart couldn't possibly have given her a gift.
Josephine thought Andrew must have been mistaken.
Stuart's gifts were probably not for her.
She smiled and said nothing more.
Andrew continued to recall, "I saw him carve your name on the wood carving. I even..."
"Mr. Haustia!" Josephine was stunned. She exclaimed, "He carved my name on it?"
Andrew, puzzled by her reaction, said, "Yes. Of course, he carved your name on a gift for you."
Josephine asked unbelievably, "Are you sure? Was it really my name?"
Andrew said, "Josephine, I was clear-headed and had good eyesight back then, over ten years ago."
Josephine felt there must be some misunderstanding or mistake.
Not to mention receiving gifts, she couldn't even get a smile from Stuart when she was ten.
Seeing she was tired, Andrew didn't say more and let her go upstairs to rest.
Lying in bed, Josephine thought for a while and called Liam.
Liam took a moment to answer. He asked, "How are you? Has the fever gone down?"
She had messaged Liam early in the morning to ask him to help her take a sick day.
She said, "It's gone. Liam, when we were ten, didn't we often fight with Stuart?"
She even wondered if her memory was faulty.
Liam laughed. He replied, "Why bring that up suddenly? Of course, we did. None of them were any good. We didn't hit them hard enough."
Josephine responded with an "oh."
Liam asked, "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Josephine said, "On my birthday back then, do you think Stuart could have given me a gift?"
Liam said, "What are you thinking? He treated you like an enemy and despised you. No way he would give you a gift."
Josephine thought the same.
But Andrew said otherwise.
What was going on?
Should she ask Stuart?
