Josephine gave a self-deprecating smile. "Stuart, is this how you apologize?"
Stuart couldn't figure out why he was so mad. He just couldn't keep his cool.
He took a deep breath. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Stuart," Josephine's voice was icy. "Whether it's an apology or anything else, you need to learn to respect others. And stop using Andrew to contact me. We're done."
Stuart felt a mix of panic and anger; her words hit him hard.
He tried to mask his panic with more anger.
"Impossible!" Stuart shouted. "Whether we're done or not is up to me!"
Josephine had already hung up.
Stuart was so mad he almost crushed his phone.
After calming down, he handed the phone back to Andrew.
Andrew asked eagerly, "How did it go?"
"Grandpa," Stuart's face was grim. "Don't get your hopes up. We're done."
Andrew was furious. "How can you be so stubborn!"
Stuart got up and walked upstairs. "I won't contact her again!"
The next day, Jair called. "How's it going? I heard Josephine's visa is almost ready. If you don't hurry, she's leaving."
Stuart gritted his teeth. "There's nothing I can do. She blocked me. I can't reach her!"
Jair asked, "Can't you go find her?"
Stuart replied, "She won't see me."
Jair asked, "So what now? Just give up and watch her leave?"
Stuart took a deep breath. "It's fine if she leaves. I can live without her. I already swore I won't contact her again!"
Jair was speechless. "Alright, do whatever you want. I'm heading back to the base soon. I can't help you anymore."
He was about to hang up when Stuart quickly said, "Wait, don't hang up!"
Jair asked, "What now?"
Stuart hesitated.
Jair said impatiently, "I have a lot going on. I don't have time for this!"
Stuart finally said, "Can you call her and ask her out?"
Jair almost laughed in anger. "Who just said he wouldn't contact her again?"
"You're my friend," Stuart said angrily. "I was just venting. Besides, you're the one contacting her, not me!"
"You've got a point, but I don't know what to say." Jair sneered. "If you're so capable, handle it yourself!"
Jair hung up.
Stuart was so angry he couldn't focus on his work.
The phone on his desk rang; he picked it up, his voice cold. "What is it?"
"This isn't a place for her," he said. "Tell her to leave!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the office door burst open.
The secretary followed behind Doris, looking troubled. "Mr. Haustia, I couldn't stop her."
Stuart waved his hand, signaling her to leave.
Doris looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Stuart, you can't treat me like this."
Stuart looked at her coldly. "How should I treat you?"
Since meeting him, Doris had always felt his warmth and tenderness.
When she was hurt, he was more anxious than anyone.
When she cried, he would buy gifts to cheer her up.
When she acted spoiled, he'd do anything to please her.
But now, his face was indifferent, and his gaze was cold.
The change was too much. Doris couldn't help but cry even louder.
"I thought you understood our relationship," Stuart said. "Now that it's over, you shouldn't question me."
"Over?" Doris looked at him with tearful eyes. "You decide when it starts and ends; you never asked for my opinion."
"You don't get to decide that," Stuart sneered. "You lack a clear understanding of your own identity. I didn't need your consent to start, and you have no say in ending it."
"Stuart!" Doris's gentle facade was cracking. "You think you can just dump me? No way!"
Stuart looked at her curiously. "Then you can return the gifts I bought you and then be dumped. If you really want to do that, go to find my life assistant; he has the records."
"Stuart!" Doris was on the verge of breaking down. "You can't treat me like this; everyone knows we're together. You can't be so heartless and abandon me."
"You know what our relationship is," Stuart said. "I never kissed you, hugged you, or slept with you. From beginning to end, I never said we had any relationship."
He was clear and ruthless.
Doris finally understood that aside from the gifts, she wouldn't get anything else from Stuart.
Even so, Doris didn't want to give up. "Yes, you never slept with me. But a girl's most precious thing is her reputation! I didn't do anything wrong; you can't treat me like this."
She stepped closer, trying to pull his sleeve. "Stuart, I've been good; don't leave me, okay?"
Stuart avoided her. "What we had was a clear transaction. You traded your reputation for money and goods you could never earn in your life. You didn't lose out."
Doris didn't dare say she lost out.
Seeing Stuart like this, she was really afraid he would take back the things he gave her.
Stuart continued, "You can leave now; we have no reason to meet again. Be sensible, or else..."
Before he finished, Doris bit her lip and asked, "Are you going to remarry Josephine?"
Stuart said, "That's none of your business."
Doris said, "Josephine has a close relationship with Liam, and with that guy named William too..."
"Shut up!" Stuart glared at her. "Don't test my limits!"
"You're trying to get back with her, so..." Doris shook her head with tears in her eyes. "I get it. I wish you two the best."
After saying that, she looked back at Stuart with tearful eyes, taking one step at a time out of his office.
Stuart didn't care about her at all.
Since meeting Donna, Doris's face meant nothing to him.
What troubled him now was how to contact Josephine.
After a while, his phone rang.
He picked it up, annoyed. "You're so busy; why are you calling me?"
Jair was also annoyed. "Because we're friends! Do you want to know where Josephine is having dinner tonight?"
Stuart immediately perked up. "Sure! Where is she having dinner?"