In the end, Stuart got Josephine back home before ten.
Right in front of the Clarence Family villa, Stuart gave her a quick kiss before she headed inside.
As soon as Josephine opened the door, she spotted Gerald.
"Gerald?" she said, slipping off her shoes and walking over. "Why aren't you in your room resting?"
Gerald had a book on his lap. He took off his glasses and said, "Mom asked me to wait up and see when you'd get back. If it's past ten-thirty, you won't be allowed out at night next time."
"We have a curfew now?"
"Not for everyone," Gerald replied. "Just for you."
Josephine plopped down next to him with a grin. "Gerald, don't be so strict."
Gerald pointed to his wristwatch. "It's not time yet, is it?"
"I'm just worried that if I'm late someday, you won't tell Mom, right? I'm not a kid; I know my limits."
Gerald couldn't help but poke her forehead. "You're thinking about the future? Tonight is late enough."
"Gerald, you'll get it when you fall in love." Josephine asked, "Don't you want a girlfriend?"
Gerald said, "Love is for people with time. Look at me, I'm busy all day. Where's the time for love?"
"You can always make time." Josephine asked again, "Has Kathy contacted you?"
"I told you not to meddle," Gerald said. "No, she hasn't. Didn't you say you'd help her? Why would she contact me?"
Josephine muttered, "She had the chance, but she didn't take it."
"What are you muttering about?" Gerald asked.
Josephine quickly said, "Nothing, nothing. Gerald, I'm heading upstairs. You should rest early too."
Gerald put his glasses back on. "You go up first. I'll wait a bit longer."
Gerald was a bit nearsighted and usually didn't wear glasses unless he was reading for a long time.
Josephine thought Gerald had a great vibe. Everyone in the family was good-looking, and Gerald was no exception.
But since he was in politics, he had a more refined and scholarly air than Stuart. When he put on his glasses, that scholarly and captivating aura was even more pronounced.
Josephine couldn't believe Kathy wouldn't be interested! She went upstairs, washed up, and sent Kathy a message.
She asked Kathy if she was still awake.
Kathy replied instantly: [Not yet.]
Josephine: [There's a lead on that matter. Be patient.]
Kathy sent a hug emoji and said: [Thank you.]
Josephine asked: [Are you single now?]
Kathy replied: [Yes.]
Josephine asked: [If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?]
Kathy replied: [There's nothing to hide. I'm thirty-three this year.]
Josephine: [You don't look it. I thought you were about my age.]
Kathy: [How could that be? You look much younger than me.]
Josephine: [No, I feel like we're about the same.]
Kathy: [I was busy with my studies before and didn't manage the family business. I only came back because of the family issues.]
Josephine chatted with her for a long time and learned more about her.
Kathy studied physics and had been abroad with her mentor after getting her PhD. She only came back because of family issues. She had a long-distance boyfriend before, but they broke up within a year because he cheated. She'd been single ever since.
After learning about her situation, Josephine asked: [Do you want to find a boyfriend? Do you have any criteria?]
Kathy replied: [No criteria, really. I don't meet many men now. If I can't find anyone, I'll stay single. Given my family's situation, having a boyfriend would just be a burden.]Josephine knew Kathy was talking about her dad's illness. It was a tough situation that needed a lot of money, something not every family could handle.
Josephine texted: [Maybe you should consider someone with good financial stability.]
Like Gerald.
Kathy replied: [I'm not thinking about that right now. I need to take care of my dad, deal with the workers' issues, and find a job. I'll be super busy.]
Josephine started to regret trying to set up Kathy and Gerald. They were both swamped with their own lives. She couldn't picture what their relationship would be like if they started dating.
But she really liked Kathy. She also had a hunch that Gerald didn't dislike her. So she wanted to give it a shot.
Now it seemed like it was just her wishful thinking. The other two didn't seem interested. Josephine had to let it go.
She didn't expect that on Monday afternoon, when she went to pick up Jeffery, she overheard some parents talking about her.
From their expressions, it didn't seem like they were saying anything nice. Especially Callie, who rolled her eyes when she saw Josephine.
Josephine frowned but didn't ask. She just stood where she usually met Jeffery.
After a while, Stuart showed up too. He'd been delayed because of a car accident on the way.
"Jeffery hasn't come out yet?"
"Not yet." The road was super congested, and Stuart was anxious. Josephine straightened his collar. "You don't have to be in such a hurry."
"I promised Jeffery. I can't break my word."
The two of them were in their own world, eyes only for each other.
Callie wanted to spit in disgust. Pretending to be a loving couple, she had seen Josephine cheating!
Such a big thing, Callie couldn't hold it in. She had already sent the photos to several groups. In the photos, Gerald was in profile, looking handsome, but clearly not Stuart.
Everyone looked at Stuart with some pity. Poor Stuart, his wife was cheating, and he had no idea. He looked at Josephine with such tenderness.
Soon, the kids came out. Bonnie was next to Jeffery, trying to hold his hand.
Jeffery put his little hands in his pockets, looking serious.
Bonnie looked at him longingly as he walked towards Josephine and Stuart, and she reached out to say, "See you tomorrow!"
Anita saw Bonnie's proactive behavior and pulled her over, saying coldly, "You are not allowed to play with him anymore!"
Bonnie immediately protested, "Why not?"
Anita pulled Bonnie out of the crowd and said, "His mom is not a good person!"
Bonnie was puzzled, "Why? I think Josephine is nice and pretty!"
"Pretty women are dangerous!" Anita said. "Anyway, don't play with Jeffery!"
Bonnie said, "I don't want to!"
Josephine also noticed Jeffery's indifference to Bonnie.
As they walked back, she told him, "Jeffery, you should be a bit more gentle and enthusiastic with girls, or you won't find a girlfriend in the future."
Jeffery said, "Why do I need a girlfriend?"
Josephine was stunned and then said, "Not now, but you will need one in the future."
"I don't need one in the future either," Jeffery said. "I'm not interested."
Josephine widened her eyes, looking at Jeffery in disbelief. Jeffery wasn't interested in finding a girlfriend? Could it be that he didn't like girls?
She immediately looked at Stuart. What should she do?