Jair rubbed his temples and said, "Dude, I told you, Josephine's got a boyfriend and a kid now. What are you trying to do? Be the third wheel?"
"I know," Stuart replied, "but I can't help it. I like her."
"Get a grip, man," Jair said. "If you can't control yourself, you're acting like a beast. Be a decent person, please."
Stuart shot back, "At least beasts don't feel this kind of pain."
Jair was speechless. "If you're gonna talk like that, there's nothing more to say."
Stuart pressed on, "Roy's not right for her!"
He laid out the situation.
Jair sighed. "Josephine has a kid now. What's the point of all this?"
Stuart argued, "Roy's a scoundrel, sneaky and deceitful. How can Josephine be with someone like him? Even if I didn't like her, I couldn't just watch her be with a guy like him!"
Jair sighed again. "Have you ever thought that trying to break them up makes you look bad too? And remember what I said about Doris?"
Stuart defended himself, "I didn't get involved with Doris!"
Jair shook his head. "Do you think anyone believes that? You bought her gifts, hired a housekeeper. Is that what a married man should be doing?"
Stuart winced. "I didn't even know who I liked back then."
Jair shook his head. "Maybe it's fate. You hurt Josephine, and that's a fact. Regret won't change that. If you can't let go, stay by her side as a friend and protect her."
Stuart nodded. "Yeah, I need to keep an eye on Roy. If he ever tries to hurt Josephine, I won't let him get away with it!"
Jair added, "From what you say, Roy sounds like trouble. Watch him for a while. If he truly loves Josephine, back off. If he's no good, then figure out what to do."
Stuart said, "He's definitely no good! I'll catch him slipping up!"
Jair said, "Alright, I support you."
Roy had no idea Stuart was gunning for him.
Josephine had to work in Celestia Springs for a few days, and Jeffery didn't want to be apart from her, so he insisted on going too.
Naturally, Roy had to go as well.
Luckily, Celestia Springs wasn't far from Hustalia. Otherwise, Josephine wouldn't have wanted to bring Jeffery along.
She'd be busy at the research institute, and Roy could take Jeffery to explore Celestia Springs in Veridiania.
She had everything planned out, and when she finished her work at the institute and came out, she saw Stuart.
Stuart said, "We need to talk."
Josephine was exhausted and emotionally drained.
She said, "Is there really anything left to talk about?"
Stuart looked at her. "I won't push it anymore."
Josephine was surprised.
Stuart continued, "Can we talk now?"
Josephine led him into a temporary meeting room set up by the institute.
"First, I want to apologize," Stuart said. "Since you came back, I've done a lot of things wrong. I'm sorry."
Josephine said calmly, "I accept your apology."
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Stuart thought of the look in Jeffery's eyes when he saw him, and his heart ached.
Suppressing that pain, Stuart said, "I know you won't give me a chance, so I'm ready to give up."
Josephine lowered her eyelashes, hiding the emotions in her eyes.
Stuart couldn't see, but he knew her gaze was still indifferent.
He continued, "I just want to know if we can still be friends."
Josephine was stunned for a few seconds before shaking her head.
Stuart said painfully, "I know my request is rude, but if I don't do this, I might not be able to give up pursuing you."
"So, if I don't agree to be friends, you'll keep bothering me?" Josephine finally looked at him. "Are you threatening me?"
Stuart's words reminded her of Rex.
Josephine thought, 'Back then, Rex had the same idea. Do all men think this way? If they can't pursue you, they want to be friends first?'
"No," Stuart looked at her. "I just hope, Josephine, that you can pity me."
His eyes were red, with dark circles under them, clearly showing he hadn't slept well.
Josephine looked away, not wanting to see him. "Why are you doing this?"
"Just pity me." Stuart still looked at her. "I'm begging you, okay?"
Josephine said, "You really don't need to do this."
"Josephine, I don't know how to say this, but without you by my side, my days are hard. You know I despise lying. This is my true feeling for over five years. You're a doctor, you save lives. Just treat me as a patient and save me, okay?" Stuart begged.
Josephine closed her eyes, then quickly opened them again. "If we're going to be friends, I hope you can keep a friend's distance."
"Okay!" Stuart's voice was filled with joy. "I will!"
Josephine replied, "I need to find Jeffery now, so that's it."
Josephine stood up to leave, and Stuart quickly followed. "Jeffery, have you been taking care of him all by yourself?"
Josephine nodded in response, not wanting to say more.
"Then, you've had a hard time." Stuart walked beside her, unable to take his eyes off her. "Taking care of a child alone is tough."
Josephine responded, "That's right."
Stuart said, "I mentioned before that I wanted to take Jeffery out for a meal."
Josephine finally looked at him. "Are you going to invite Roy too? Don't forget, you just hit him."
Stuart's jaw tightened, and after a few seconds, he said, "I can apologize to him."
Josephine looked at him in surprise. "Are you willing to apologize?"
"It was indeed my fault for starting the fight," Stuart said, "That's my mistake."
The meeting room was on the top floor. When they reached the elevator, the doors opened, and they entered one after the other.
Josephine pressed the button for the first floor and said nothing.
Stuart asked, "What does Jeffery like to eat?"
Josephine said, "You really don't need to do this. It's obvious that if the four of us sit down for a meal, it will be very awkward."
Stuart suggested, "You can invite Laura, Claudia, and Liam."
Josephine glanced at him.
Stuart looked down. "I also want to apologize to Liam."
Josephine couldn't help but speak, "You really don't need to. Everything is in the past."
Before she could finish, the elevator suddenly shook, and then the lights above them flickered and went out completely.
The elevator was plunged into darkness.
The descending elevator suddenly sped up.
Josephine let out a startled cry. But the next second, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her.
She found herself buried in a familiar embrace.