Liam yanked Josephine behind him and sneered, "Stuart, I used to think you were a man. Now, you're not even that. No wonder Josephine wants a divorce. You think she likes you? Keep dreaming. No one will."
Stuart, stung, was almost driven mad.
Even though he married Josephine, he never felt superior to Liam.
He always criticized Josephine and Liam's relationship but secretly envied it.
Only later did he realize it was jealousy—jealousy that they were always so good together.
Now, Josephine wanted to leave him, but Liam was always by her side.
And Stuart? He felt like nothing.
Overwhelmed by jealousy, Stuart blurted out, "At least she once liked me. And you? You're just pitiful."
Josephine softly said, "Liam."
She didn't look at Stuart, just raised her eyes to Liam, expressionless.
Liam immediately softened. He was always calm and gentle with her, like he could hold up the sky for her.
"Do you want to leave?" he asked.
Josephine nodded. "Let's go."
Stuart snapped, "Did I say you could leave? You think you can go without my permission?"
Jair almost punched him again. "What the hell are you doing? Don't you know this is illegal?"
Stuart gritted his teeth, face twisted. "So what! I can't let her leave!"
"You bastard! How can you do this?" A loud, angry shout drew everyone's attention.
Stuart looked over, shocked. "Grandpa, why are you here?"
"If I didn't come, I wouldn't know you did this!" Andrew walked over with a cane and swung it at Stuart's back. "I'll beat you to death, you jerk!"
Jair had punched Stuart out of anger and to help Josephine, but Andrew's beating was serious.
Jair quickly held Andrew back. "Andrew, be careful with your health."
Then he turned to Josephine. "You should talk to him!"
Stuart's words were useless now. The only person Andrew might listen to was Josephine.
"Grandpa, don't be so angry. I'm fine," Josephine said.
Andrew looked at her, his eyes tearing up. "Josephine, our family has wronged you."
"Grandpa," Josephine said, holding his arm. "I'm fine now. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."
Andrew cursed, "Stuart, you jerk!"
He wanted to hit Stuart again, but Josephine held him back. "Grandpa, I just ask one thing."
"Say it, Josephine. Even more things, I'll agree to them all!"
Josephine's tone was calm. "Grandpa, I just hope that after I leave, the Haustia family won't target the Clement family."
"Don't worry. As long as I'm alive, I won't let Stuart target the Clement family!" Andrew said firmly. "Josephine, if you have any other requests, just say them! Even if you want Stuart sent to the police, I won't oppose it!"
"That's all, Grandpa." Josephine let go of him and turned to support Liam. "We'll be leaving now."
"Wait," Andrew called out, "Josephine..."
He wanted to say more but couldn't bring himself to. Given what Stuart had done, he had no right to ask Josephine to give Stuart another chance.
Andrew sighed, "No matter what happens, you can always come to me. The Haustia family's doors are always open to you."
Josephine understood his feelings. She bowed to him. "Grandpa, I will. Thank you. Take care of yourself. If I can, I'll come back to visit."
"Stop!" Stuart's eyes were bloodshot. "I won't let you leave!"
"You bastard!" Andrew raised his cane again. "You have no right to speak here! Look at the mess you've made!"
"Grandpa!" Stuart gritted his teeth. "If she leaves, what about me?"
Andrew snapped, "What about you? Josephine didn't call the police, all for my sake. I raised you to be an upright person, and look at what you've become!"
Andrew then waved to Josephine. "You can go!"
He turned to Jair. "Tie Stuart up for me!"
Josephine and Liam exchanged a glance. She supported him, and they left the villa.
"Take it easy," Josephine said, helping him into the car.
Liam replied, "Get in."
Once she was in, Liam instructed the driver to start the car. He then hugged her tightly. "Josephine, I'm sorry I came late."
Josephine patted his back. "What are you talking about? Thanks to you, I was saved."
"I didn't expect you to remember the code we left," Liam said, deeply moved. "I thought you had forgotten. I never imagined we'd actually use it."
Earlier, when Stuart let Josephine contact someone, she mentioned Mr. Thompson's birthday, their old code. Liam took a few seconds to remember it.
Stuart's act of confining Josephine wasn't very secretive. No one expected him to do such a thing, so it wasn't hard for Liam to find her.
Liam also brought Andrew from the Haustia family, knowing he couldn't take Josephine away alone. Without her consent, he wasn't sure whether to call the police.
Josephine wouldn't make things difficult for Stuart out of respect for Andrew, but Liam knew she and Stuart were truly over.
"What are you going to do next? Have you thought about it?" Liam asked.
Josephine said, "Liam, let's separate for a while."
Liam frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I want to leave. If I stay in contact with you, Stuart will find ways to find me," Josephine explained. "Let me go alone. Maybe three months, maybe six. When I come back, maybe he'll have let go."
Liam could only reply, "No matter where you go, just let me know you're safe."
He never expected Josephine would be gone for five years.