Andrew and Jeffery hugged and started whispering to each other.
Stuart and Josephine exchanged a look and couldn't help but laugh.
Josephine moved aside, and Stuart followed her. They stood in front of the big window, looking out together.
"You came without telling me," Stuart said, sounding a bit hurt.
Josephine replied, "I promised Grandpa I'd bring Jeffery to see him."
"I could've picked you up."
"You're always so busy." Josephine asked, "How are Elbert and Carol?"
Stuart smiled, "Mom agreed to come back and stay."
"Really?" Josephine was pleasantly surprised, "That's great."
'Yeah, that's great. So, Josephine, when will you come back? Only when you return will our family truly be reunited,' Stuart thought but didn't dare to say.
"I cleaned up a room for Mom. Wanna go check it out?" Stuart asked.
"No..." Before Josephine could finish, Stuart grabbed her hand.
"Grandpa, Josephine and I are going upstairs to take a look," Stuart called out to Andrew.
Andrew was busy asking Jeffery about the books he had read recently. Without looking up, he waved his hand. "Go ahead, go ahead."
Stuart pulled Josephine upstairs.
Josephine knew the layout of Haustia Manor better than Stuart. Before their divorce, she had been here more often than him.
Upstairs, Elbert and Carol's room was still there, unchanged after so many years.
Stuart had already replaced the curtains, and Josephine noticed it right away. The room was clean and tidy.
Josephine asked, "Carol is staying here, what about Elbert?"
"He's in another room," Stuart said, leading her to see it.
Each room was well laid out, all quite large, and they all faced the sun.
Josephine thought it was pretty good. The only regret now might be their temporary separation, but at this pace, they should be together soon.
After looking around, Josephine said, "Let's go downstairs."
But Stuart pulled her into their old bedroom.
Josephine was a bit resistant, but Stuart somewhat forcefully led her in.
As soon as she entered, Josephine felt a bit uncomfortable.
The curtains, the sofa, even the bedding, were all so familiar. After so many years, nothing had changed.
"They're just like me," Stuart said softly, "waiting for you to come back."
Josephine lowered her eyes and sniffed.
"Josephine," Stuart held her hand, "I know I shouldn't rush, I can wait, but I still want to tell you, I will wait, I've already waited for five years, I..."
His voice choked up, and he paused before continuing, "Seeing my parents, I realized that true love is like them. I haven't done enough. Back then..."
"Don't talk about the past," Josephine interrupted him. "It's all over."
"I feel bad," Stuart said, "I always think, if I could go back, I'd want to strangle myself."
Josephine laughed, "Really?"
"Of course." Stuart looked at her and smiled, his heart softening. "No. If I died, you'd marry another man, I don't want that!"
Josephine said, "I never thought about it."
"Never thought about marrying someone else?"
"No, I never thought about getting remarried," Josephine said, "I think it's pretty good now."
Stuart was desperate for Josephine to give him a title. Only then would he feel like she truly belonged to him.
But clearly, now wasn't the time for him to decide. He knew he hadn't done enough yet.
He knew Josephine still had reservations. When she finally let go of the past, maybe she'd consider marrying him.
"Then I'll wait forever," Stuart said. "Even if I become an old man, I'll wait."
"Alright," Josephine smiled and turned around. "You wait then."
Stuart hugged her from behind and whispered, "Josephine."
Her back pressed against his chest, feeling his warmth.
Stuart whispered in her ear, "I want to kiss you."
A strange thrill rose in Josephine's heart. This room held too many memories of them. Not to mention, they were really compatible in bed. That kind of pleasure could be addictive.
Josephine had been abstinent for so many years. Thinking of those intimate moments from the past, her breathing changed.
Stuart felt even worse. It was like he had tasted the most delicious food and then starved for five years.
Now this delicacy was right in front of him again. Stuart thought he was really holding back by not pouncing on her and tearing her apart.
His willpower was okay, but his body couldn't lie. Just holding her like this, Josephine quickly noticed the change in his body.
His breathing also changed, teasing her until her legs almost gave out.
"Josephine," he called her name, his lips brushing her cheek.
Accompanied by her breathing, it sent shivers down her spine.
Once, he had held her from behind like this, pressing her against the window, making love to her hard.
Josephine could hardly stand, her body already turned around by Stuart. He gently pinched her chin, their breaths almost mingling.
"Josephine," his voice was low and seductive, "I want to kiss you."
Josephine closed her eyes, struggling inside. She was afraid that if she nodded, they'd lose control and do something.
With a light push, she pushed Stuart away.
Stuart didn't say anything, just looked at her deeply.
Josephine didn't dare to meet his gaze, afraid of getting lost in his eyes.
"I... I'm going downstairs," Josephine almost fled, walking to the door, not hearing any movement behind her.
She turned back and saw Stuart leaning against the wall, looking a bit disheveled, his head slightly lowered, like an abandoned puppy.
Josephine suppressed the throbbing in her heart and asked, "Aren't you coming down?"
Stuart laughed self-deprecatingly, "How can I go down like this? I'll calm down, you go ahead."
When he kissed her, he always asked for her consent. When she said no, a light push would make him back off. He was in so much pain, and Josephine felt a bit sorry for him.
She knew she was too soft-hearted, but her emotions were beyond her control.
Before she knew it, she was already walking towards Stuart.
Stuart was surprised, his eyes filled with astonishment and joy, "Josephine?"
Josephine stood in front of him, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips, "Is this okay?"
Stuart's eyes lit up, his hands warm as he exclaimed, "Josephine, are you trying to drive me crazy?"