Stuart was quiet for a few seconds before speaking coldly, "Say that again? You want to divorce me over something so trivial?"
To Stuart, everything he did seemed insignificant.
Buying gifts for Doris, never defending Josephine in front of friends, and even telling Robin she was just a tool for his desires.
But for Josephine, it felt like her heart was being squeezed dry.
She watched the blood drip from her heart, powerless to stop it.
This pain would stay with her forever.
No one could truly understand.
Josephine's face was calm. "Stuart, you may never get how I feel. Even if there's no love between us, we should at least part on good terms."
"I've said it before, the decision to divorce is mine," Stuart's voice grew colder. "I will divorce you, but not now."
"Stuart," Josephine closed her eyes, exhausted. "I know you're waiting for her to come back. But I'm begging you, let's get divorced. We can't keep doing this."
Stuart snapped, "Don't project your thoughts onto others!"
"Am I wrong?" Josephine opened her eyes to look at him. "You don't want a divorce because I satisfy your desires. When she comes back, she'll take my place. Stuart, you're truly despicable."
Stuart shouted, "Josephine!"
Something she said hit a nerve, and his eyes darkened. "I'll say it again. It's not up to you!"
"Maybe not, since you have more money and power," Josephine said, "But starting tomorrow, we won't see each other anymore. I'll move out of the Haustia Manor; from then on, we're done."
"Don't you dare!" Stuart grabbed her chin. "I won't allow it!"
Josephine said, "With your status, there are countless women who'd sleep with you. Stuart, I won't let you sleep with me anymore, so I can't satisfy your desires."
Stuart asked, "In your eyes, I'm just driven by desire?"
"Of course you are." Josephine sneered. "When I refused you, did you ever respect my wishes?"
Stuart retorted, "If I remember correctly, you enjoyed it too. You turn your back on me as soon as you get out of bed, and you have the nerve to criticize me?"
"Say what you want," Josephine said, "But it won't happen again. I hope you'll seriously consider the divorce."
Stuart asked, "Are you really not afraid of the Kalmien family business going bankrupt?"
Josephine said, "I've said it before, if that happens, it just means my dad wasn't capable."
Stuart shouted, "You!"
With nothing to threaten Josephine with, Stuart felt powerless.
"Josephine, it's not up to you." Stuart released her. "Don't say a word to Grandpa. If anything happens to him, you won't be able to atone for it with your life!"
Josephine said nothing.
Stuart slammed on the gas pedal.
He sped all the way, with police sirens blaring behind him, following him to the Haustia Manor.
His speed was so fast that Josephine's face turned pale.
Regardless of how Stuart would be punished, Josephine was the first to enter the Haustia Manor.
Andrew didn't expect her to return so soon, and alone at that.
Josephine gave a brief explanation, said nothing more, and went straight upstairs.
She changed her clothes, went into the bathroom, and sent a message to William.
He replied quickly.
Josephine had contacted him that afternoon, asking just one question: [Are you afraid of offending Stuart?]
William didn't hesitate at all and replied: [No.]
After confirming a few more things, Josephine finally took a shower.
When she came out, she found Stuart in the bedroom.
Earlier downstairs, Andrew had scolded him. He had told him to take Josephine out for dinner and make her happy, but they had returned without even eating.
Stuart was already angry, and Andrew's scolding only made it worse. He stormed upstairs, and seeing the pile of unopened gifts, he was even more furious.
Josephine acted like he didn't exist, grabbed her clothes, and headed out.
"Where are you going?" Stuart tried to suppress his anger and blocked her way.
"I'm sleeping in the guest room tonight," Josephine said, "Tomorrow, I'll tell Grandpa that I'm moving out."
"Don't you dare!" Stuart's face turned ashen. "If you say a word to Grandpa, I..."
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Josephine's neck. "Do you believe I'll strangle you?"
Josephine's chin was forced up, her long, graceful neck looking so fragile. She closed her eyes, her eyelashes still, her face expressionless, saying, "Go ahead."
"You!" Stuart gritted his teeth, but his hand had no strength. "You think I won't dare?"
"Stuart, don't be so childish." Josephine opened her eyes to look at him, her gaze cold and calm. "I admit, physically, I'm no match for you. If you want to do something to me, I can't resist. But I never go back on my word!"
"You've got some nerve!" Stuart looked at her, his gaze growing colder. "You don't care about the Kalmien family's business, so you probably don't care about the Clement family and the Collins family. How about they going bankrupt like the Howard family?"
"You!" Josephine trembled with anger. "Stuart, you're despicable!"
"In your eyes, I'm a beast, driven only by desire," Stuart's hand shifted to grip her chin. "Being despicable is only natural, isn't it?"
Josephine said, "Stuart, I'll hate you! Don't push me!"
"Hate?" Stuart sneered. "What's that? I won't be afraid. Your love or hate means nothing to me."
Stuart could never have imagined that every word he said at this moment would, for a long time in the future, break his heart. It would feel like his heart was soaked in the most corrosive liquid, eroding it beyond recognition.
However, now, he just wanted to vent his dissatisfaction. He didn't even know what he was saying, as if his mind had been clouded ever since he heard Josephine say she wanted a divorce and that they would never see each other again.
Stuart lightly patted her cheek. "Josephine, you really have no self-awareness. It's your good fortune that I'm willing to buy you gifts and pamper you. Who do you think you are to talk to me about divorce?"
Josephine, unable to bear it any longer, raised her hand to slap him. He grabbed her wrist, his eyes filled with a colder smile. "You want to hit me? In bed, I could consider it a kind of kink. But now, it's impossible, you're not worthy."
Josephine was trembling all over.
Stuart said, "Every time we make love, your body responds to me; don't you know that? Josephine, are you naturally promiscuous, or do you like me so much that no matter how I treat you, you still enjoy it?"
His voice made it almost impossible for Josephine to breathe.
Stuart leaned close to her ear and said, "You have no right to leave. Unless I get tired of your body. Josephine, even if you can only be my slave, a tool for my desires, you'll just have to endure it."