Before heading to Celestia Springs, Alfonso had someone dig up some info on Josephine.
Turned out, he and Josephine had zero connections from their past—no shared schools, no mutual workplaces, nada.
So why did she look so darn familiar?
And she still hadn't replied to his WhatsApp messages.
If he wasn't so swamped, Alfonso would've tracked her down in person.
But he had to spend a few days in Celestia Springs and juggle his work, so hunting down Josephine was off the table.
Josephine was also slammed. Between work and taking care of Jeffery, she wanted to have a serious chat with Roy.
After a lot of thinking, she finally set up a meeting with Roy.
She knew what Roy was up to. They'd talked before, and she wasn't on board with him moving his business back to the States.
Because Josephine knew she couldn't see Roy as more than a friend.
It was Roy who first suggested they fake being a couple.
Josephine figured that when Roy moved back to the States, they could just say they were in a long-distance relationship. Even if Roy got married and had kids abroad, no one would know.
But Roy's desire to stay in the States prompted Josephine to end their fake relationship sooner rather than later.
After all, it was fake.
"No way!" Roy reacted strongly when he heard. "I don't agree!"
Josephine always felt she owed him. "Roy, I'm really grateful to you. You've done so much for me."
Roy said, "Nah, you saved my family member's life and let me get close to you. That's all I need, Josephine."
Josephine shook her head. "But I can't give you anything else, Roy. I'm sorry. You'll find the right girl for you someday."
Roy replied, "We'll talk about that later."
Josephine fell silent.
Roy frowned. "Josephine, you don't mean to forgive that Stuart, do you?"
Josephine lowered her eyes. "Roy, I'm sorry. I just realized how selfish I am. I shouldn't have asked for your help in the first place."
Roy responded, "Nah, you never asked for my help. I offered. I should be thanking you for saying yes."
Josephine admitted, "Nah, it was me being thoughtless. Roy, if I really had feelings for you, I wouldn't be so unsure. But honestly, I just see you as a friend."
To her, Roy was like a younger brother.
He was a few years younger than Josephine, enthusiastic, and flamboyant. Josephine always felt he hadn't grown up.
Roy mustered up the courage to hold her hand. "Josephine, I like you, the kind of like where I want to spend my life with you. I know I'm not good enough."
"That's not true." Josephine felt heartbroken hearing him say that. "You're really great, like, exceptionally great. But, Roy, you deserve someone even better."
Roy replied, "In my heart, you're the best."
Josephine, feeling helpless, said, "I originally thought I would never like anyone again. But now, I seem to..."
Roy's heart tightened. "You like Stuart again?"
Josephine didn't hesitate and nodded directly.
Roy looked at her, his beautiful blue eyes filled with endless affection.
Josephine could only say, "I'm sorry."
Roy said, "You don't have to apologize to me. You haven't wronged me. If that's the case, then I wish you the best."
That night, after Jeffery fell asleep, Josephine went to the living room where Claudia was still drawing.
She had been crashing at Josephine's place for the past few days.
"I need a drink," Josephine said, plopping down next to her.
Claudia tilted her head, giving her a curious look. "What's up? You seem down."
Josephine hugged a pillow to her chest and nodded.
"Why?" Claudia put her stuff on the coffee table and sat cross-legged on the couch like Josephine. "What happened?"
Josephine sighed, "I had a talk with Roy today. We're done pretending to be a couple. I always feel like I owe him."
"Why?" Claudia asked again. "If Stuart finds out you're single, he might..."
Then a thought struck her, and she blurted out, "Did you break things off with Roy because of Stuart?"
Josephine shook her head. "I don't know. I just feel like we can't keep this up. It's not fair to Roy."
Claudia suggested, "Josephine, I can be impartial, but only you can truly know if a relationship is working or not. If you still have feelings for Stuart and he's truly sorry, maybe give him another shot."
Josephine stayed quiet.
Claudia pressed, "Would you let yourself get hurt again?"
Josephine shook her head.
Claudia said, "Exactly. Since you won't get hurt, why not give it a try?"
"Even if I won't get hurt, Jeffery might," Josephine said. "Jeffery knows about me and Roy. But how do I explain Stuart to him?"
Claudia looked troubled too. "Yeah, Jeffery doesn't know Stuart is his real dad."
"Let's not overthink it," Josephine said. "Let's just go with the flow."
Claudia smiled. "Okay."
"What about you?" Josephine asked. "Aren't you thinking about giving Jair a chance?"
Claudia replied, "Like you, I'm just gonna roll with it."
They both smiled.
Josephine said, "Then let's have that drink."
Claudia said, "Sure, but just a little. You can't drink much, and you have work tomorrow."
They both knew that meant they hadn't fully opened up.
Josephine didn't expect that after she and Roy talked things out—of course, she wouldn't broadcast it, and Roy wouldn't be dumb enough to tell everyone—so others didn't know their relationship had changed.
After their talk, Josephine felt a lot lighter. What she didn't expect was Alfonso's intense pursuit of her.
A few days after Emily's engagement party, Alfonso came back from Celestia Springs. After thinking it over, he bought a bouquet of flowers and waited for Josephine at the entrance of the research institute.
When Josephine came out, Alfonso approached, only to be blocked by Otis.
Otis had been busy with something the past few days and had just returned.
"Dr. Kalmien." Alfonso looked over Otis's shoulder at Josephine. "It's me."
"What's up?" Josephine stood by the car, looking at him from a distance.
Alfonso said, "Yeah, there's something I need your help with."
Josephine said, "I can't think of anything I can help Mr. Campbell with. I'm in a hurry, sorry."
She said this and was about to get in the car.
Alfonso was blocked by Otis and couldn't get through. He held the bouquet of roses and shouted, "Dr. Kalmien, I like you! Please give me a chance to pursue you!"
Josephine was first stunned, then looked at him in disbelief. "If I remember correctly, we've only met once, right? Do you even know me? How can you like me?"
Alfonso replied, "I liked you from the moment I saw you. Dr. Kalmien, you're the first woman who's ever really touched me. Please give me a chance!"