A man wearing a mask entered. Despite the mask, his tall stature and noble demeanor were unmistakable. It was Stuart.
William noticed him, too. His gaze lingered on Stuart for a moment before he smiled and said, "Mr. Haustia."
Stuart's tone was cool and indifferent as he replied, "Mr. Campbell."
He then embraced Josephine and asked, "What brings you here, Mr. Campbell? Do you have some business with my wife?"
"I have a matter to discuss with Josie. I was planning to take her out for a meal. Would you like to join us, Mr. Haustia?"
"Did Grandfather call you?" Stuart turned to Josephine. "We're going back to the Haustia Manor tonight."
"I know," Josephine gently pushed his hand away. But in front of others, she still maintained her composure. "I'm in my work clothes; don't touch me."
Stuart held her a bit tighter and said, "I'll come to pick you up later. Can you get off work now?"
Seeing that Stuart was ignoring him, William looked at Josephine and said with a wry smile, "Josie, since you're busy, we can reschedule."
"Mr. Campbell," Stuart's voice turned icy, "I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to address my wife in such a manner. Please don't invite my wife privately."
William looked bewildered. "It's a new era; Josie can have her friends. Mr. Haustia, you're being unreasonable."
He then turned to Josephine and said, "Josie, I remember you mentioned that your husband doesn't interfere with your friendships. But..."
Josephine interrupted, "Mr. Campbell, strictly speaking, we've only met a few times. We can't be considered friends. I've already given you Claudia's phone number. If you need anything, you can contact her directly."
After speaking, she turned to Stuart and said, "Let's go."
Before leaving, Stuart gave William a cold glare.
William watched them walk away, his expression turning increasingly grim. He raised his hand and threw the exquisite gift box he had just been holding into the trash can.
Josephine turned a corner and stopped in her tracks. "Why do you come to the hospital?"
Stuart had only come to the hospital before for Doris.
Stuart's face grew even colder when he saw that she was keeping her distance from him. "If I hadn't come, how would I have known that another man was inviting you to dinner in the hospital?"
Josephine was speechless at Stuart's deliberate insinuations.
As Liam had said, how had she been so blind as to fall for someone like him?
Josephine remained silent, and Stuart's tone became even more unpleasant. "Are you feeling guilty?"
"I'm not. Say what you want," Josephine felt exhausted. "If you have nothing else to say, I'll leave."
"Wait!" Stuart grabbed her. "You answered Grandpa's call; why didn't you answer mine?"
"I was in surgery."
"After your surgery, didn't you see my missed calls? Why didn't you call me back?"
Josephine looked at him strangely. "How can you ask me to do something you can't even do yourself?"
Josephine didn't know how many times she had called Stuart in the past, and he never answered or replied.
"I..."
Only then did Stuart remember that he had often ignored Josephine's calls before.
He looked a bit uneasy. "It was because I was busy with work!"
"I've been busy too," Josephine said, "I still have rounds to do later. So, if you have nothing else, I'll be on my way."
"Even if you're busy, you still need to eat, right?" Stuart frowned. "And haven't you noticed that I have a cold?"
Josephine used to pay special attention to his health. If he showed any signs of illness, she would be very concerned.
Now he was wearing a mask, and his voice was hoarse, but she didn't seem to care at all!
"It's the peak season for colds," Josephine said, "So it's not surprising that you caught a cold."
"Josephine!" Stuart was angry. "Don't you care about me at all?"
He looked both angry and hurt like a child denied a treat.
"And when have you ever cared about me?" Josephine retorted, feeling the futility of such arguments.
She cared about him, which was why she was bothered in the first place.
She needed to learn to let go of her feelings for him so she wouldn't be bothered anymore.
"So, you called Grandfather and said you're going back?" she quickly changed the subject.
If she remembered correctly, the last time they had a cold war, they ended up at the Haustia Manor, sleeping in the same bed.
Was it a coincidence this time, or did Stuart plan it?
She had witnessed something so repulsive. Did he think she would be fine having an intimate relationship with him?
She genuinely found him dirty.
Stuart said, "It's what Grandfather wants. Let's eat. We can talk while we eat."
"I told you, I'm not going." Josephine distanced herself from him. "I'll go and get busy if you don’t have anything else."
"I do have something." Stuart held her back. "I'm sick. Can you take a look at me?"
"You..." Josephine looked at Stuart, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.
Stuart had always been cold and indifferent to her. They rarely interacted.
What had gotten into him lately?
Josephine glanced at him. Then she compromised, "There are some medicines in the duty room. I'll get them for you."
They went to the duty room, one after the other.
The duty room wasn't Josephine's exclusive office. Whoever was on duty would come here to rest.
There was no one here now. Josephine opened her locker. She asked him a few questions, and then she took two suitable medicines for him.
"I've written the dosage on the box." Josephine handed it to him. "Can you go now?"
Stuart didn't take the medicine. Instead, he approached her and pressed her against the cabinet. "Tonight, we'll sleep at the Haustia Manor."
He lowered his head, his face filled with familiar desire.
"What are you doing?" Josephine pushed him. "Someone will come soon. We'll be seen!"
"You're my wife. What are we afraid of?" Stuart took off his mask. "You..."
Josephine suddenly saw his swollen face and bruised lip. She couldn't help but laugh.
Stuart's face turned dark, and he glared at her. "You reminded me. Is this bruise from Liam's punch?"
"If it weren't for Liam punching you, do you know what you were doing at that time..."
Josephine didn't finish her sentence because she suddenly thought that Stuart might not need anyone to interrupt him and Doris.
He was angry now, maybe because they disturbed him and Doris.
Josephine suddenly felt extremely disgusted.
Stuart saw Josephine's instant change of expression, and he didn't know what was going on.
But when he thought about the situation at that time, he was also a little scared. "You obviously had a better way. Why did you let him hit me? And he even splashed cold water on me."
Josephine looked at him with a cold expression. "Then we really shouldn't have disturbed Mr. Haustia and Ms. Kelly. We should have let you..."
"Shut up!" Stuart was very angry. "I promised you. Am I so untrustworthy in your eyes? I said I wouldn't touch her, and I will definitely keep my word!"
"You're doing great. Should I give you a medal?" Josephine sneered. "Do you know that emotional infidelity is more disgusting than physical?"