Robin put the call on speaker. "Stuart's here with me. What happened?"
Donna went silent.
Stuart snapped, "Talk!"
Donna sobbed, "I was just upset. Mr. Haustia was so good to Josephine, but she didn't appreciate it. I wanted someone to bring her over to talk. Who knew she'd react like that..."
"Bring her?" Stuart's face darkened. "How did you bring her, and who gave you the right?"
Donna stammered, "I was joking! I wanted you all to make up."
Robin added, "Even if you meant well, what you did was wrong. Where are you now? And where's Josephine?"
"I'm at the hotel," Donna cried. "I sent her back to the research institute. She's unharmed. I was scared, Robin."
"Shut up!" Robin hung up and turned to Stuart. "What now?"
Stuart slammed the steering wheel. "Is Donna nuts? Who told her to do that?"
Robin said, "Luckily, Josephine's safe. That's what matters."
Stuart knew it wasn't that simple. He'd mistaken Donna for Angela and said things to Josephine he shouldn't have.
Now it was clear Donna had someone take Josephine, making her think she was being kidnapped, so she held Donna hostage.
But Stuart had ignored Josephine's safety, focusing only on Donna.
He hadn't made any progress with Josephine, and now this mess.
He really thought Donna was Angela at the time. They looked alike, and he was too worried. Angela's phone was unreachable.
Stuart felt like the universe was against him.
He turned the car around, heading to the research institute.
"I called Angela," he said quietly.
Robin asked, "Why'd you call her? You said you wouldn't."
Stuart felt awkward. "I asked someone to help find Josephine. The photo they sent showed Josephine holding someone hostage, and I thought it was Angela."
Robin looked at him. "So that's why you asked me to find someone. You couldn't tell Donna and Angela apart?"
Stuart explained, "I was too anxious. Angela isn't far from here. I thought Josephine had lost it and held Angela hostage, so I said some harsh things."
"I think you're the one who's lost it!" Robin said. "Josephine would never do that. What did you say?"
Stuart replied, "Alright. Josephine must be really upset. I'm going to tell her the truth."
Robin was shocked. "What truth? That Angela saved us? No way! That's against the rules!"
Stuart shouted, "I don't care about the rules. I've lost my wife!"
"Calm down," Robin said. "When you tell her, don't mention the military base. Say it happened somewhere else, for some other reason, and she saved you. You owe her your life, so you were that worried. Josephine will understand."
"I wasn't planning to mention the military base," Stuart said, his tone low, filled with sadness and regret.
Robin glanced at him. "Don't beat yourself up. It's not all your fault. If Josephine's reasonable, she'll forgive you."
Stuart stayed silent. When they arrived at the research institute, Robin said, "Talk to her properly."
Stuart replied, "If I get back with Josephine, don't treat her like you did before. Or else, we're done as friends."
Robin frowned. "Even though I think you two aren't a good match, if you like her that much, I'll back off."
"Don't say we're not a good match again." Stuart got out of the car.
Robin called Donna.
Donna answered quickly, still crying. "Robin, you have to..."
"Shut up," Robin said. "Stuart's gone. It's just me now."
Donna stopped crying. "How did I do?"
"Not bad," Robin said. "Stuart really mistook you for Angela."
Donna said, "I wore clothes like Angela's and styled my hair like hers. It might not be exact, but with just a photo and him being anxious, he couldn't tell."
"I'll transfer the money to your account," Robin said. "Go back to the country for now. If Stuart asks, I'll say I taught you a lesson. Keep a low profile when you get back."
"I understand," Donna said. "But how did you guess Stuart would say those things?"
Donna had been right next to Josephine and heard everything Stuart said on the phone.
Robin sneered. "No matter how much he likes Josephine, Angela is already deeply rooted in his heart. Plus, she saved his life. It was easy to guess what he would say when he saw Josephine holding a blade to the throat of his first love and savior."
Donna was impressed. "Stuart falling into your hands is really not unjust."
Robin said, "In business, he's sharp and strategic. But in matters of the heart, he's still a novice."
Donna asked, "So who does he really like now?"
Robin raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
Meanwhile, Stuart had entered the research institute.
He had increased his investment, becoming the largest investor, so he was respectfully welcomed by the leadership.
Josephine only realized Stuart was there when she saw him sitting next to the leader in her office.
The leader smiled. "Dr. Kalmien, so Mr. Haustia is your husband."
Before the leader could finish, Josephine coldly replied, "He's not. We're divorced."
The leader looked awkwardly at Stuart.
Stuart's gaze was fixed on Josephine. "Can we talk alone?"
The leader wisely left.
Josephine looked at him and smiled. "Mr. Haustia, is there something you need?"
"Stop smiling," Stuart said, getting up and walking closer. "I know you're hurting inside. It's my fault."
"Stuart," Josephine said with a laugh, "Why would I be hurting inside?"
Stuart said, "Because I mistook Donna for Angela. Josephine, let me explain. I was very anxious and worried about Angela's safety, but I had my reasons..."
Josephine raised her hand to stop him. "Explain what? That you cheated, kept a mistress, but you're still a good man?"
Stuart shouted, "It's not like that! Listen to me!"
Josephine sneered. "Fine, go ahead."