What Separates Me and You

Chapter 49

Chapter 49 You Won’t Let Me Embrace You Anymore?

As they spoke, Josephine saw that Lewis and Conrad had walked into the room. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Lewis was dressed in a sharp and elegant brown suit. The end of his coat reached his knees, and it made him look very handsome. He stared at Josephine, then turned to look at Avery, who was seated next to her.

Josephine lowered her head guiltily. Her neat ponytail had come loose, and messy strands of hair framed her face. She was the furthest thing from neat and elegant right now.

On the other hand, Avery pursed her lips and remained silent. From past experiences, she knew not to provoke Lewis unnecessarily. After all, he hadn’t said anything to her.

The atmosphere was tense. Suddenly, Tyler ran over to them. His facial expression shifted slightly when he saw Lewis and Josephine. Tyler quickly walked over to Avery and whispered, “Avery! Haven’t you caused enough trouble for us? You’re coming home with me!”

Avery didn’t say anything to resist him. She had neither the intention nor the energy to bother anymore. Tyler grabbed Avery and walked out of the room as fast as he could, but Avery managed to shoot Josephine a worried look before she left.

After Tyler and Avery had left, Lewis finally opened his mouth. “Were you planning on spending the night here?”

Josephine was startled, and she looked up at Lewis immediately. His face was blank and devoid of any emotion. Hesitantly, she forced herself to stand up and face him. Lewis turned and left the room, his outer coat fluttering behind him as he walked.

An unfamiliar scent wafted by, and Josephine could smell it. Josephine followed behind him silently. Conrad was standing next to the car. Lewis spoke just as Conrad opened the car door for them, “You can go ahead first.”

Conrad nodded and closed the car door before walking away from them. Josephine sat in the car without a word. Nobody spoke, and it felt like it was freezing in the car. She fidgeted with her fingers nervously.

After they arrived at the Styx Mansion, Lewis stepped out of the car and removed his coat. Mrs. Jinkins limped out of the kitchen to greet them, her eyes filled with warmth.

Mrs. Jinkins wiped her hands on her apron apprehensively before reaching out to take Lewis’ coat. “Oh, Josie. I was just about to ask you what time both of you would

return, dear. I was just about to prepare dinner.”

Lewis stared at the elderly woman for a second before glancing at her leg. He asked, ” Are you the maid that Josephine has hired?”

His bluntness made Mrs. Jinkins freeze on the spot, and she looked to Josephine for help. Mrs. Jinkins smiled awkwardly and replied, “Y-Yes, that’s right. Please rest assured that I’ll carry out my tasks diligently.”

Josephine bit her lip in guilt and lowered her head as she tugged on his sleeve. She hoped that he wouldn’t say anything that would upset Mrs. Jinkins. However, Lewis ignored her and said, “You can’t even walk properly; why bother to work? Our house isn’t a charity. You’ve come to the wrong place.”

After he said that, Lewis took no note of the pale expression on Mrs. Jinkins’s face. He walked past her and went upstairs. Josephine wrung her hands and looked at Mrs. Jinkins apologetically. Mrs. Jinkins was startled, but she understood what he meant. After all, she had already lived for so long.

When she came back to her senses, Mrs. Jinkins wiped away the tears in her eyes and spoke to Josephine with a smile, “Josie, dear. I suppose I won’t be cooking dinner for you any longer then.”

Josephine’s breath hitched as she shook her head and held onto Mrs. Jinkins’ hand. She signed, “Wait for me.”

Mrs. Jinkins sighed. “It’s alright. I’m quite used to living in that shoddy little shack of mine. I don’t mind going back to it.”

Tears welled up in Josephine’s eyes, and she signed again, “Wait for me.”

Was she really that weak and useless? She couldn’t even protect the ones that she held dear?

She hoped that the heavens would take pity on her and stand by her side once more. Josephine ran up the stairs and knocked on the door to Lewis’ study. The door wasn’t shut tight, so it opened easily when she knocked on it twice.

Lewis was on the phone from his position next to the window. It was dark and cloudy outside, and the light that fell on his face cast a desolate look on his face. “If you aren’t qualified for this position, just resign and leave.”

After he said that, Lewis hung up the phone and turned to look at Josephine. He didn’t say anything. Lewis kept his eyes on Josephine, as though he were waiting for her to speak. Josephine struggled to find the right words. Finally, she signed, “Won’t you allow Mrs. Jinkins to stay?”

“This was what you wanted to discuss?”

Josephine lowered her head, her hair covering her face. She continued to sign, “Have you forgotten her?”

Lewis stared at her indifferently and spoke in a calm manner, “So what if I did, and so what if I didn’t? Am I supposed to care for each and every staff member until their death?”

His words were ruthless, and they stabbed Josephine’s heart mercilessly. Slowly, Josephine raised her head and met his cold gaze. For the first time in her life, she began to suspect that perhaps Lewis didn’t have a heart at all.

Lewis walked over to her, then leaned in close as he said, “You can keep her, sure. On the condition that you promise to never see Avery again.”

Josephine was startled.

He smiled cruelly, and his gaze was very cold as he said, “So, between Mrs. Jinkins and Avery, pick one.”

It was no wonder that Lewis didn’t say anything in the car. He was waiting for this. moment. Lewis had given her a difficult decision, where neither of the options would make her happy. He stared directly into her eyes and waited for her answer.

Time passed as they locked eyes with each other. Josephine signed, “Do you treat Sierra like this as well?”

Lewis looked at her fingers, and his face fell. Then he looked at her face again. “Are you questioning me?”

Josephine pursed her lips, a rare indignant expression on her face. She signed, “I’ve never asked you for anything! Won’t you help me, just this once?”

Lewis reached out to hold her hands and stop her from signing. His voice was cold as he said, “No.”

After a pause, he added, “Just not this time.”

The corners of Josephine’s mouth twitched as she grimaced. This was the only time she wanted him to help!

“You can’t be greedy and expect to have everything.” Lewis held onto her hands tightly to prevent her from expressing herself. He continued, “Since you can’t seem to choose, why don’t I help you?”

Her eyes widened as she tried to break free from Lewis’ grip. However, it only made Lewis grip her hands even tighter, to the point where it began to hurt. In desperation, Josephine opened her mouth to say something, but no sound fell from her lips.

Lewis’ eyes were cold as he grabbed both of her hands and pushed her against the desk. The desk hit her waist, and a familiar pain struck her lower abdomen. The only thing that Josephine could do at this moment was bite him with her teeth.

But Lewis quickly placed a hand around her jaw and pressed her whole body onto the desk. He pinned both of her hands down with one hand, using the other to hitch up her legs. Lewis’s body weight was entirely on top of Josephine’s now. “You won’t let me embrace you?”

They were so close to each other, and Josephine could feel his breath on her face. Josephine’s abdomen really hurt. It felt like all of her organs were squashed against each other.

Cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and her mouth kept opening and closing. She mouthed, “Please don’t…”

However, he paid it no heed as he removed her pants.