Josephine returned to the original hotel with difficulty.
Claudia saw her and looked her over carefully. She asked, "How did Stuart come here? How did he know where we were? Did he do anything to you?"
She was full of curiosity. Josephine smiled and said, " He came on a business trip, and I happened to meet him while I was out for a walk."
"What a coincidence," Claudia said. "It seems like fate brought you together."
Unfortunately, they were not in love. Even if they met, fate could not give them a good ending.
Josephine asked her, "How are the clothes?"
Claudia hurriedly took her to see. "They're almost done. Can you take a look for me?"
While they were talking about clothes, Josephine's phone rang.
It was Stuart calling. She told Claudia and went to the balcony to answer.
She was afraid that Stuart would say something inappropriate and make Claudia hear, which would worry her.
"Josephine, where are you now?"
As soon as the call connected, Stuart asked, his voice as cold as ever.
Josephine calmly replied, "I'm back to the hotel."
"Who allowed you to leave?"
Stuart said angrily. "Are you coming back on your own, or do I have to drag you back?"
"Am I a criminal?" Josephine said. "Did you ask me to watch you be intimate with your lover?"
"So what?" Stuart said coldly.
"We got married for our own interests, without any feelings for each other, right? I'm just a money-making machine. Those were your words."
It turned out that he had heard what she and Liam had said that day.
He also heard what she said to Doris.
Josephine smiled, "Wasn't I right?"
"Yes. I'm glad you can see your own identity," Stuart said.
"Josephine, don't talk to me about love, okay?"
"What about you and Doris? Don't you talk about love either?"
"Do you think you're the same as her? What do you have to compare with her?"
Stuart's voice grew colder. "People should be clear about their own abilities. Mrs. Haustia, I hope you can always be so clear-headed."
Even though Josephine knew that Doris could not be a threat to her, Stuart's words still pained her. After all, she had loved him for so many years.
"Stuart, what makes her better than me?"
Stuart seemed not to have expected to hear such a question.
After two seconds of silence, he said, "Josephine, there is no answer to this. If a person doesn't like another person, there's no way he will like her. Do you understand?"
It was because she didn't understand that she was so painful and couldn't let go of him.
Josephine didn't respond.
Stuart continued, "So, have you figured out how you're going to come over?"
Josephine said, "I'm going to accompany Claudia for the competition, so I won't go."
"It's okay," Stuart said. "Both you and her can come. I'll book a suite for her."
Josephine felt strange. "You're taking your lover out. Aren't you afraid that I'll bother her if I go there?"
"Doris is not that kind of person," Stuart said. "Besides, there's a banquet tonight, and I need you to attend."
‘So that's how it is.’
Many foreign conglomerates attach great importance to the family relationships of their partners.
If Stuart were to bring his lover over, he would have no chance of doing business.
Josephine hung up the phone and went back to the room to discuss with Claudia.
Claudia had no objections. The two hotels were not far apart, and the one Stuart stayed in was much better than the one.
The two of them moved quickly.
Claudia stayed in another room. Josephine went straight to Stuart's suite.
Doris was there too, helping Claudia with her things.
She smiled sweetly. "Ms. Howard, do you have any new clothes that would suit me?"
Last time, Doris wore the same dress as Josephine. Although people mocked her for imitating Josephine, she could see that Claudia was really good at designing clothes.
Doris was friendly.
Even though Claudia didn't like her, she reluctantly smiled and replied, "I don't have anything at the moment,
I'm focusing on competitions now." Claudia said.
"Ms. Howard, you're so talented. You'll definitely win!"
Claudia replied, "Thank you," with a poker face.
Doris, back in her room, angrily threw a bottle of water, thinking, 'Josephine always appears so proud and kind. Is being pretty really such a big deal? Is having a good family so remarkable? It's all just luck! Josephine is one thing, but then there's Claudia—her family went bankrupt; why is she still so noble?'
Doris felt that both Josephine and Claudia looked down on her.
Yes, being an interloper was indeed shameful.
But Stuart was noble, wealthy, handsome, and he actively pursued her.
People always long for a better life. Doris didn't think she was wrong.
Besides, Stuart and Josephine only married for the family's interests. Doris believed she was Stuart's true love!
She thought, 'It's okay if you look down on me now. When I become Mrs. Haustia, I'll humiliate you. Then you'll see who the real winner is.'
That night, even though Josephine was in a wheelchair, Claudia still prepared a beautiful dress for her. No matter where Claudia went,
the suitcase was always filled with clothes.
This time, she brought clothes that fit Josephine's size. Since Claudia had previously sought Josephine's approval, the dress she chose for Josephine was entirely based on her taste.
Josephine was very sexy and mature, but she used to dress very cute.
Seeing Josephine's well-dressed appearance, Stuart was somewhat surprised.
He had already been amazed by Josephine at the auction.
Today, Josephine wore a blue silk evening gown.
The large skirt completely covered Josephine's injured ankle, and the silver threads on it shimmered with her movements.
The color also complemented her smooth and delicate skin, as well as her rosy lips. She looked incredibly elegant and noble.
Throughout the banquet, Stuart took care of Josephine. In the eyes of others, they were a happy couple deeply in love.
The host of the banquet was a man in his fifties with blonde hair, who had a great relationship with his wife. Seeing Stuart and Josephine so affectionate,
he immediately finalized their cooperation.
After the banquet, the host personally escorted them to the door.
Once they got into the car, Stuart looked at her and said, "Thank you for today."
Josephine had been sitting up straight, smiling and talking to people. Now she was tired.
She leaned back, closed her eyes, and gently shook her head.
Stuart chuckled, "Well, I'm the money-making machine, and you're the spender. Here, this is for you."
Josephine opened her eyes and looked at him. "What is it?"
Stuart handed her a card. "A reward," Stuart said. "Since you're here, enjoy yourself. Buy whatever you want. Don't worry about saving money for me."
"Did you also give a bank card to Doris?" Josephine asked, although she knew she would be upset by his answer.
Stuart looked at her. "Sometimes I think you're quite clever.
Josephine, I have something to tell you."
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You're rarely this foolish."