When Josephine returned to the auction, Liam had already bought another diamond necklace for Claudia.
Stuart and Doris hadn't come back.
After the auction, Liam insisted on taking Claudia and Josephine to a bar.
Even if they went to the bar, Josephine and Liam had to work the next day, so they couldn't drink.
But as soon as they arrived at the bar, Claudia received an urgent call from a client and left in a hurry.
Liam ordered juice for Josephine and watched others dance. She was tired of the juice, but he didn't want to leave.
Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore. "You drink. I'm leaving."
Only then did Liam get up and said he would take her home.
Josephine could tell he was preoccupied. Sure enough, when the car arrived, he turned off the engine but didn't let her get out.
"Tell me, what's really going on?" Josephine asked. "When did you become so taciturn?"
In the bar, no matter how she asked, he wouldn't say.
Liam turned to her. "Josephine, it's been three years. Aren't you tired of it yet?"
Josephine looked out the window. "If you're fine, I'll go home."
"How long do you want to avoid it? Stuart is openly attending public events with that woman now. Has he ever considered your feelings?"
"Liam, please don't meddle in my affairs, okay?"
"Josephine!"
Josephine reached for the car door.
Liam reached out and held her, sighed deeply, and compromised, "Okay, I won't say anything."
Josephine turned to look at him.
Liam said, "My family has started to pressure me to get married."
Josephine said, "You should have found a girlfriend. At your age, many people are already married with children."
"If I have a woman I like, of course, I will date her," Liam said. "And when I see you so unhappy in your marriage, I don't want to get married at all."
"Don't let me influence you. After all, I'm in the minority," Josephine said. "Most couples are..."
"Are they unhappy or alienated?" Liam interrupted. "How many truly happy marriages are there?"
Josephine fell silent.
Inside the house, Stuart stared coldly at the black car that had been turned off for a long time but no one got out.
Finally, the car door opened. It was indeed Liam!
He opened the passenger's door and welcomed Josephine to get off the car like a princess.
They continued to chat and laugh. They talked for a while before Liam drove away.
Josephine finally cheered Liam up. She also smiled happily.
She opened the door, entered the entrance, but she was suddenly pulled over by someone.
She screamed.
The next second, she smelled his familiar scent and the smell of tobacco.
Before she could even stand firm, Stuart's breath was in her ear. Then, his kiss pressed down.
His breath enveloped her. He easily picked Josephine up, parted her legs, and wrapped them around his lean waist.
Stuart didn't even have time to go to the room, and he pressed her on the sofa directly.
His kisses and touches seemed to carry a punishing force.
Josephine resisted his intimacy with both hands on his chest.
Stuart reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to open her mouth and kiss him deeply.
Josephine closed her eyes and made up her mind. She bit him hard.
Stuart groaned; his movements paused. The next second, he became even more passionate and eager.
Josephine was ultimately unwilling to hurt him again. She stopped struggling and resisting, but she didn't respond to him as she used to.
Stuart finally had enough of the kiss. His thin lips kissed up along her lips, and he kissed her warm tears.
He looked up and saw Josephine silently crying. Her tears fell from the corners of her eyes. She didn't look as indifferent as usual; she looked a little pitiful.
Stuart couldn't help but kiss her eye corner and asked, "Why are you crying? Can't I be intimate with you?"
Josephine pushed him away.
She didn't mean to cry. It was just in that instant that she felt particularly sad.
She sat up. Her clothes slipped from her shoulders, revealing a large area of tanned skin.
Stuart's eyes were deep.
He stared at her and said, "I haven't scolded you yet, but you're already crying."
He endured the discomfort, but Josephine was crying, and he didn't want to force her.
At the auction, when he saw Josephine, with her skin peeking out of the evening gown, he got angry.
However, she came back so late. She had been in the car with Liam for so long.
Thinking about this, Stuart's voice turned colder. "Stay away from Liam in the future."
Josephine couldn't help but ask, "What about you and Doris?"
Stuart fell silent for a few seconds and said, "She's different."
Josephine chuckled and said nothing, getting up to leave.
Stuart grabbed her.
Josephine turned back; her expression icy. "What else do you want? Aren't you afraid I'll intentionally let Doris see the hickies again?"
He stood up, towering over Josephine. "You are my wife. At least for now, no one can change your status."
Josephine remained silent.
Stuart pulled her into his arms. "So, you have to fulfill your duties as my wife."
Josephine couldn't help but ask, "What duties?"
"You know what duties," Stuart pressed her down onto the couch again.
"It's marital obligations."
Josephine looked at him. "Have you slept with Doris?"
Stuart's gaze was equally cold.
After a long pause, he said, "Josephine, you don't have the right to argue with me."
Josephine and he stood in silence for a few seconds, her eyelashes trembling as she closed her eyes.
Initially, when the Kalmien family faced a financial shortfall, Todd approached the Haustia family for help. It was Cliff who agreed to the marriage.
Josephine heard that Stuart and Cliff had a big argument back then.
Stuart must have been discontented since then.
Josephine suddenly smiled, dropping her hand. "Fine, come on then."
She appeared resigned, and Stuart sneered, tossing the pillow above her head.
Josephine opened her eyes to see him standing there, unbuttoning his shirt with a displeased expression.
She didn't move, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Soon, she heard Stuart's footsteps leaving.
There was a bang as the front door closed. Then, the sound of a car engine in the yard.
Over the next few days, Josephine didn't see Stuart.
After a fall rain, the temperature dropped suddenly, signaling winter's approach.
Josephine finished the surgery, sniffing.
She felt a bit dizzy.
As she sat back in the consultation room, to her surprise, an unexpected visitor arrived. It was Doris.
"Dr. Kalmien," she said humbly, her voice soft, "Long time no see."
Josephine felt that even if they never saw each other again in their lives, it wouldn't be regrettable.
She looked at Doris. "Is there anything you need?"
"I'm here to accompany my brother for a medication change," Doris smiled, "It's not important, but Stuart insisted on coming along..."
"I ask you, is there anything wrong?" Josephine's voice turned colder. "If there's nothing, please leave. I'm busy."
Doris bit her lip. Tears filled her eyes. "Dr. Kalmien, don't blame me. Stuart doesn't like you, and it's not my fault..."
Josephine couldn't bear to listen any longer. She grabbed some lab reports and stood up to leave.
Doris followed. "Dr. Kalmien, please listen to me, okay?"
Josephine couldn't bear to listen to another word.
Seeing the crowded elevator area, she turned and headed for the fire escape.
Doris followed behind her.
When Stuart arrived, he didn't see anyone. He was about to make a phone call when he suddenly heard a girl's scream coming from the nearby stairwell.