What Separates Me and You

Quintin's words gave a tremendous shock to Mrs. Larson, who repeatedly stole several glimpses at Josephine, checking her reaction.

Josephine looked at Quintin in perplexity; she couldn't follow him, and it was not because she didn't understand the meaning of being legally married. Instead, it stumped her as to why this stranger would claim they were in such a relationship.

Mrs. Larson was also annoyed. "Shoo, off with you! Don't be mischievous. Madam has only just gotten back and needs to rest!"

Was he kidding? She would be as good as dead if she allowed Quintin to take Josephine away.

Quintin said huffily, "Who are you calling madam? She's my wife!" As he spoke, he beckoned to Josephine. "Josephine, come with me! I got you a New Year's gift. Let me show it to you!"

Josephine looked at him warily as she took a step back.

The smile on his lips froze at her reaction. He stared at her incredulously.

She wasn't the Josephine he knew. Why was she looking at him the way she would at a scourge?

The first thought that came to his mind was Lewis had threatened her.

The incident at the welfare home served as a good example, didn't it?

Mrs. Larson retorted, "See? You're a stranger to madam. I'll report this to the cops if you continue pestering her!"

Quintin chuckled with rage. "Go ahead and call them! I have our marriage certificate with me right now."

"You-"

Quintin didn't intend to keep up the argument. He shifted his gaze to Josephine again. "Aren't you coming with me, Josephine?"

She shook her head vigorously. It was only natural for her not to follow someone she didn't know.

Upon seeing her response, Quintin could only give up for now.

Mrs. Larson must be the reason why she dared not go with him. Or, perhaps, there were some other reasons. It could also be that she was afraid of bringing trouble upon him after the previous incident. Quintin simmered down slightly at that thought. "Alright then. I'll drop by again soon."

Disappointment flashed across Quintin's eyes. His eyes lingered meaningfully on Josephine before he left the mansion, the pouring rain engulfing his silhouette. Josephine's eyes followed his forlorn silhouette, an indescribable emotion welling up inside her. She opened her mouth and closed it again without saying anything. Josephine turned toward Mrs. Larson and signed, "Was he speaking the truth?"

Mrs. Larson frantically explained, "Of course not! He was spouting nonsense. Don't believe a word he said. Your husband is Master Lewis."

Husband ...

Josephine jolted. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd address Lewis as such one day since he had always treated her as his younger sister.

Although she remembered Grandpa Alan telling her she would marry Lewis someday in the future, she and Lewis had not been at the age at which they could get married.

She, too, didn't believe that Lewis and she could be legally married. From what she heard, marriage was impossible between siblings.

Noting her ever-shifting expression, Mrs. Larson consoled her, saying, "Madam, don't worry about it. You're Master Lewis' wife and also the madam of the house. If you don't believe me, you can ask Master Lewis when he's back."

Josephine was stunned. She stared right at Mrs. Larson, uncertain of the truth in her words.

Josephine signed, "Where is he?"

Mrs. Larson replied, "That I'm not sure. He probably has some business to attend to."

Josephine lowered her eyes in disappointment.

Mrs. Larson immediately led her to the sofa and sat her before the television, finding her a couple of funny cartoons.

Then, while crouching in a corner of the house, she phoned Lewis.

When the call went through, Mrs. Larson instantly informed, "Master Lewis, the man named Quintin came again earlier. He tried to get Madam to follow him." "Is he gone?"

"He has left. But he told Madam straight in her face that they were ... legally married."

Lewis smirked. "Looks like he hasn't given up." Then, he continued, "Look after Josephine. You're not to allow her to leave the house."

"Yes, sir. I understand."

Lewis hung up and casually stuffed the phone in his pocket. He looked up to see Nancy staring at him.

Nancy's eyelids fluttered. She was about to say something when she remembered Lewis' attitude. She swallowed the words that lingered at the edge of her lips.

She rose to her feet and walked toward Lewis. Placing her hands on his arm, she said, "Lewis, you must be exhausted after these few days of being out and about. Why don't you take a good rest here tonight? We had guests the past few days, visiting for New Year's, but you weren't around, and neither was your old man. What will the others think when they notice?"

Lewis paused, then he tilted his head and glanced at Nancy. "Where has he gone?"

Nancy grumpily said, "Hanging out with some other women, for all I know." As she was speaking, she recalled something else. "I heard that the newly appointed president has the surname Alvarez too. If you ask me, he's likely that old guy's illegitimate son."

Lewis raised an eyebrow, his lips forming an incomprehensible smile. "Took you long enough to realize."

Upon hearing that, Nancy's eyes jerked wider.

She looked at Lewis in disbelief, stunned for several moments before she found her tongue. "Is he really?"

Lewis lowered his eyes, fiddling with the cigarette between his fingers. He said nothing, but that itself was an answer to her question.

Nancy erupted almost instantly. Slapping the sofa, she sprung up from her seat. "Robert Alvarez! I can't believe he had the nerve to introduce his son, born out of wedlock, to the company. To think he appointed him as the president! He's clearly waging war against you!"

Then, a horrifying thought crossed her mind. Robert hadn't returned home these few days-not even on New Year's Eve. Could he be with his other family, leaving her all alone in the lifeless mansion while they reunited as a jolly, whole family?

Nancy's face contorted with rage.

She looked at Lewis and urged him, "Lewis, you can't sit still and resign to your fate. You must find yourself a partner who'll give you an advantage. Or else, sooner or later, they'll eliminate you from the company!"

In contrast to Nancy's raging temper, Lewis was many degrees chiller.

He faintly asked, "Can your mind manifest something other than a marriage of convenience?"

"What do you mean?"

Lewis ignored her question. He put the cigarette into his mouth and flicked the lighter.

His calmness irked Nancy as though he ought to match her bewilderment if he was trying to resolve the issue.

Concerned, she advised, "Lewis, I understand you have a crush on that mute. But feelings aside, you can't give up on your future because of her. After all, she's an orphan; she has no parents. If you're truly reluctant to let her go, you can keep her as your mistress when you're married. It's not like you can't afford to feed another mouth. Do you see my point? She'll agree to it. She has nowhere or no one to go to besides you anyway. Perhaps she'll beg to stay by your side even without you bringing it up. Isn't that a win-win situation?"

Lewis stayed silent as he smoked. Only silence and smoke filled the air around them.

Nancy stared intently at Lewis. She might not be able to read her son like a book, but his silence must mean that he was contemplating the possibility of her suggestion.

Thunder crashed, and lightning flashed as rain drizzled down on the earth.

Nancy had been waiting for too long; her patience had run out. She spoke again, "Lewis, it's for your own good. Who else in this world will rack their brains for your sake besides me? Not only do you stand to lose nothing from this, but you'll also benefit greatly from it. So, what other concerns do you have?"