Josephine didn't even glance back.
Stuart walked beside her, saying, "I'll walk you there. Security here isn't as good as back home, and I don't feel right letting you walk alone."
Josephine barely spoke the whole way.
Stuart, used to admiration and high status, had no experience in humbling himself.
Josephine stayed silent. Stuart tried to chat, but she didn't respond. He barely kept his anger in check.
When they reached the research institute, and she was about to go in, he grabbed her arm. "At least give me some reaction."
Josephine looked at him. "I told you, I refuse. Mr. Haustia, go home. Don't waste your time on me."
Stuart frowned, looking frustrated, but held back. "You want the thrill of being pursued. I'll indulge you.."
Josephine gave him a meaningful smile and went inside.
For the next three days, Josephine ignored Stuart's calls and stayed in the institute.
But Stuart sent over lots of stuff: flowers, jewelry, handbags. All things young women like.
Stuart, lacking experience in wooing, could only follow Robin's earlier advice and kept giving her gifts.
After three days, Stuart thought her tantrum was over.
But when he returned, he saw all the gifts piled up at the door, untouched.
Furious, he called Josephine.
This time, she answered.
Stuart, gritting his teeth, asked, "What do you mean by this?"
Josephine replied, "What's wrong?"
Her casual tone made Stuart angrier. "The things were sent back. Josephine, you're being unreasonable."
Josephine chuckled. "Mr. Haustia, I can refuse your gifts. I've heard of forced buying and selling, but never forced giving and receiving. You can give, and I can refuse."
Stuart was speechless. "You!"
Her tone was gentle, almost laughing, but to Stuart, it felt like a taunt.
"Josephine, don't be so willful. We're adults. Be more mature." His voice was cold and impatient.
Josephine lowered her eyes. "Mr. Haustia, you said it yourself, we're adults. So when I refuse you, you should understand."
Stuart said nothing.
Josephine sneered. "Don't tell me you still think I'm just playing hard to get?"
"Sorry," he took a deep breath and said softly, "I didn't mean that. I just think there's no need for us to be so hypocritical. If you want something from me, just tell me directly."
Josephine said, "Alright."
Hearing her agree, Stuart sighed in relief. "That's more like it. We should be honest with each other; it's better for both of us."
Josephine asked, "Can you promise me anything I want?"
Stuart remembered Robin's words. Robin said Josephine was throwing a tantrum because Stuart hadn't met her conditions.
Now hearing Josephine say this, it seemed Robin was right.
Stuart had thought Josephine was different, but it turned out she was just like other women.
Stuart said, "Yes, I'll agree to whatever you want."
Josephine then said, "I want you to stay away from me. Preferably, we never see each other again." She hung up.
Stuart was stunned, thinking he misheard.
'Did Josephine just say she wanted me to stay away? How dare she?' he thought.
He had sincerely apologized and expressed his desire to pursue her, yet she still didn't trust him. She shouldn't be joking like this.
He immediately called her back.
Josephine answered, "Do you still have something to say? Or did you not hear me clearly?"
"Josephine, I'm not joking," Stuart said. "I'm sincerely trying to pursue you and hope you'll give me a chance. But don't go too far. Even if I was wrong before, I won't tolerate you insulting me like this."
"Mr. Haustia, do you think I'm insulting you?" Josephine said. "If you think that way, there's nothing I can do. If you can't accept it, then don't pursue me."
Stuart said, "You!"
Josephine had a wicked smile, and Stuart didn't know what to say.
Clearly, she was in the wrong!
He had lowered himself to pursue her, yet she still acted so high and mighty!
"Josephine," Stuart said, feeling humiliated. "I'm not boasting, but my conditions aren't bad. There's no man around you better than me. If you don't choose me, it's your loss!"
"Then let it be a loss," Josephine said. "Mr. Haustia, you have such good conditions; surely you don't lack women. Why waste time on me?"
"Isn't it because I..." The words "like you" were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say them.
Josephine was clearly making things difficult for him. If he said he liked her, she would probably be even more unreasonable.
He didn't understand how his pursuit had turned into this.
Other men, especially Robin, just had to beckon, and women would throw themselves at them.
'Why is it so difficult for me? Am I not as good as Robin?' Stuart thought.
Josephine spoke, "Since we're all adults, Mr. Haustia, don't do childish things. My refusal is well thought out. I think someone as mature as you should be able to handle it."
Stuart gritted his teeth. "Josephine, don't regret it!"
Josephine said, "I've never regretted it. But Mr. Haustia, you always go back on your word. Before I went abroad, you said we had no more ties."
Stuart couldn't say a word. All the frustration and helplessness in his life came from Josephine.
He was now filled with anger, wanting to grab Josephine and punish her, to see if she would still be so stubborn!
But now, they had no official relationship.
Thinking of this, Stuart regretted it. He shouldn't have divorced her back then!
If he hadn't, they would at least have a legal relationship, and she would be his wife in name, which would make things easier for him.
But now, everything he did was restricted.
Given his status, he could still do something.
Stuart knew Josephine's temperament. If he pushed her too far, there would be no turning back.
He wanted a lifelong partner, not just her body.
However, Stuart had only ever had Josephine. His desires were strong, and not being with her for so many days was driving him crazy.