Josephine thanked him, and Stuart pulled out a chair for her.
She glanced at him.
Stuart raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you wanted respect? How's this for respect?"
Josephine shook her head with a smile and sat down.
Both were hungry and didn't feel like talking, so they ate quietly.
Once they were full, they moved to the living room.
"Let's talk," Josephine said. "When are you going back home?"
Stuart replied, "I told you, I'm not going back for now."
Josephine asked, "Then why are you here?"
Stuart said, "I thought you knew."
Josephine stayed silent.
Stuart moved closer. "Josephine, I know you're still mad. I messed up before. I'm sorry, and I hope you can forgive me."
"I don't want to rehash it," Josephine said. "You've apologized, and I've accepted it. We're even."
Stuart said, "Then I can start pursuing you again."
Josephine thought she misheard. "What?"
"I want to pursue you," Stuart said with a smile. "I want to show you my sincerity and become your husband again."
Josephine was silent.
In any relationship, someone had to take the first step. They'd gone from marriage to divorce, the most intimate to strangers.
Despite their past, both were still inexperienced in love. Neither had dated anyone seriously.
They were used to being pursued since both were exceptional.
Josephine had once hoped they'd go from acquaintances to lovers. But they became enemies instead.
Even after marriage, things didn't improve. Now, he wanted to pursue her.
If he'd said this six months ago, she would've been thrilled. But now, it felt out of place and useless.
Her heart, already wounded, couldn't love again, especially not Stuart, who had broken it.
She wasn't a masochist; she had finally let go and couldn't get tangled up with Stuart again.
Plus, Angela, as Stuart's first love, had always been in his heart, which disgusted Josephine.
She should've distanced herself from Stuart long ago. But she had been foolish, causing herself years of pain.
Josephine smiled. "Mr. Haustia, do you even know how to pursue someone?"
"I don't, but I can learn," Stuart said. "Will you give me a chance?"
"Sure," Josephine said. "Come find me when you've learned how, Mr. Haustia."
She got up to leave, but Stuart grabbed her. "Josephine, we were once married, the closest of people. We came together for family interests before, but now, we like each other. This could be the strongest alliance. Aren't you moved?"
Josephine pulled her hand away. "I've tried a marriage of convenience. If I marry again, I want true love. Sorry, Mr. Haustia, we're not suitable."
Stuart was furious. "Josephine!"
She turned to look at him. "By the way, Mr. Haustia, since you're pursuing me, you should know that pursuing someone means you might get rejected, right?"
"Of course I know!" Stuart said, a bit anxious. "But I haven't even started, and you're already rejecting me?"
Josephine replied, "Then go ahead and start."
Stuart was stunned, left speechless by her unexpected response.
He finally managed, "Then, tomorrow we..."
"I refuse," Josephine said with a smile. "Mr. Haustia, can I leave now?"
Stuart gritted his teeth. "Josephine!"
It was clear she was toying with him.
Stuart was quite angry. "You're too much!"
Josephine looked at him. "If you're pursuing someone, you must have perseverance. If you get upset over a little setback, Mr. Haustia, your so-called affection isn't much."
Stuart knew Josephine was sharp-tongued, and today he felt it again.
Seeing her lips move, he wanted to silence her with his own, leaving her unable to utter anything but moans.
But he knew he couldn't provoke her now.
Even if he wanted to kiss her, he had to hold back. He thought to himself, 'Just wait. I'll kiss you a lot in the future!'
He took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his face. "I'm angry because you dismiss my pursuit. Josephine, I'm serious; please don't joke around."
Josephine said, "I'm serious too. Your pursuit is your business. I can reject it.; that's normal."
Stuart didn't expect to succeed right away. Girls usually had a bit of a temper. That was normal.
He continued to smile. "Alright, that's normal. Are you going to the research institute now? How about lunch together?"
Josephine said, "I'll eat at the cafeteria."
Stuart nodded. "Okay."
Surprised at how agreeable Stuart was, Josephine couldn't help but glance at him.
Stuart continued, "What about dinner?"
Before Josephine could respond, he added, "We've both survived a lot; we should celebrate. Robin is also here; let's have dinner together tonight."
Josephine was puzzled. "Robin is here? What's he doing here?"
"He seems to have a project," Stuart said. "He's been in this country for several months, just not in this city."
Josephine didn't want to see Stuart, let alone Robin. She said, "You guys go celebrate. I'm not going."
"Why not?" Stuart said. "It's a good opportunity for him to apologize to you."
Josephine thought she was hearing things. "Apologize to me?"
Stuart said, "I know you've been wronged over the years. Because of my attitude, Robin and the others haven't been kind to you."
"So you knew all along," Josephine sneered. "They were more than unkind."
Thinking about how Robin and the others treated her in the past, Josephine only felt it was ironic. But she also felt that talking about it now was meaningless.
She added, "I don't want to see him. He doesn't need to apologize to me. We'll be strangers from now on."
Stuart said, "In the future, if we're together, he's my friend. It would be awkward if things are tense. Just give me some face and have a meal together, okay?"
Josephine looked at him. "You're pursuing me; you have no face. Stuart, I don't even give you face, let alone him."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
Stuart chased after her. "Josephine!"