What Separates Me and You

Eager for an answer, Nancy tightly grasped Lewis' arm.

Several moments later, Lewis leaned forward and tapped his cigarette against the table to remove the ashes. Then, he turned to look at her. "We haven't come to that yet."

Nancy was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Nevertheless, she managed to process the meaning behind his words almost immediately-Lewis disagreed with her proposal. Nancy was vexed but did a good job keeping her temper in check. "Are you aware that your old man can't even be bothered to return home nowadays? What do you mean 'we haven't come to that yet'? Tell me then, at which point will you regard it the appropriate time to take action? Is it when they finally snatch everything from you and kick us out of this house? Is this because you're unwilling to give up on that mute? If I remember correctly, she's now married to Quintin, isn't she? You're keeping someone else's wife by your side. Things won't look good for you if word of this spreads."

Lewis stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. He pinched his eyebrows, getting crossed. "I don't think there's a need for this conversation to go on if that's all you have to say."

"You..." Nancy choked with fury but dared not lose her temper.

Lewis was no longer her good, obedient son. He was like a kite with its lines cut; she could only run after him with no hopes of pulling his strings again.

If she pissed him off and he decided to leave her for good, she would be entirely on her own.

At that thought, Nancy simmered down and looked at Lewis woefully. "Lewis, this is for your own good-"

Lewis interrupted her before she could finish speaking, "Enough. I've heard enough of that." Standing up, he shifted his frosty gaze to Nancy. "If you're really concerned about me, stop meddling in my affairs. Be it Kiran or Robert, I'll deal with them. You can stop fretting over them."

"You-"

"Do you really think I'm foolish enough to allow others to step over my head?"

That question shook Nancy to the core.

Her eyes widened as she stared blankly at Lewis.

He had a point ...

As much as he was fond of that mute, he wouldn't be so imprudent as to disregard his own career for her.

To say the least, not only would his fame and reputation be at risk if those people eventually managed to force Lewis to a dead end, but he would even lose his life.

At that point, his feelings would be of no worth, wouldn't it?

When that crossed her mind, Nancy's expression softened, and she grabbed Lewis' hand. "Alright, Lewis. I trust you. Don't be mad. Come, have a seat."

She had to tug his hand several times before Lewis sat.

Nancy yielded and said, "I was only worried about you. I'll stop interfering in your affairs since you know what you're doing, okay? You're all I have now as how it is. Stay with me a little longer."

She was afraid. If she grew distant from her son, what would be in store for her when Robert abandoned her one day?

Lewis rubbed his temple. He ruminated before asking, "Didn't he come home at all these few days?"

Nancy recalled and answered, "He returned twice but only stayed here briefly."

With his eyes on the floor, Lewis fell deep in thought.

Nancy was reluctant to continue this topic. In any case, Lewis was her only fortress now. She could only trust that he had his ways. Holding his hand, she said, "I had some free time on my hands recently and learned several new dishes. Come, let's eat."

Lewis looked at her for a few seconds. From her expression, she was trying to curry favor with him.

Eventually, he followed Nancy to the dining room.

Josephine ate a few spoonfuls of the meal Mrs. Larson served on the table, her eyes glancing at the door every now and then. She was waiting for Lewis to return, but it seemed he wasn't going to.

She absent-mindedly played with the food on her plate. A wide spread of food was on the table, but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy it.

Mrs. Larson noticed her behavior and urgently said, "Madam, please at least drink this broth if you don't have the appetite for anything else. You can have the rest when you feel like it."

Josephine silently stared at the bowl Mrs. Larson handed her for some while before she gulped it down.

Seeing that, Mrs. Larson heaved a sigh of relief. Then, she collected the plates and cutlery before heading for the kitchen.

Previously, Mrs. White had left for home due to personal reasons. She had been gone for quite some time now, and only Mrs. Larson was left.

When she was bringing the dirty tableware to the kitchen, Josephine opened the mansion door and looked out from the doorway.

The night was as dark as ink, and it was also raining cats and dogs. She stared at the wrought iron gate. The gate lamps flanking the driveway entrance were still on, their glow lighting up the rainy sky.

In a trance, Josephine suddenly saw a figure climbing over the wall into the yard. She rubbed her eyes, thinking that it must be the lights playing tricks on her.

She looked at that spot again and saw nothing.

Slightly scared, Josephine was about to enter the mansion when she heard a faint voice calling her name.

She turned to look and immediately saw Quintin standing outside the door. Thoroughly soaked, his hair was plastered to his face. At first glance, anyone would've thought he was a ghost, and so did Josephine She was shocked when she saw him but soon identified him as the man she saw earlier in the day.

Tilting her head, she sized up Quintin.

Quintin beckoned to her. "Come quickly."

She frowned and stayed put.

He took the initiative to go closer to her. Sneakily, he approached Josephine, his eyes darting around the mansion. Seeing no sign of Mrs. Larson, who he deemed a hindrance, he heaved a sigh of relief.

He clutched her wrist. "Come with me."

She refused to follow him, but he was stronger than her and effortlessly pulled her along.

The pouring rain drenched her from head to toe as she ran the distance between the door and the front gate.

Shrinking her neck, she stumbled out of the mansion's premises with Quintin, and he stuffed her into a Volkswagen.

She instantly attempted to leave the car once she got in it. However, Quintin hopped in and said to her, "You don't have to be afraid of Lewis. The more frightened you are of him, the more control he'll have over you."

Josephine paused when he heard him and looked at him.

Quintin had already started the engine. The white Volkswagen slowly slithered away from the mansion and headed for the main road.

He didn't notice her oddness and said, "I think you should toughen up. The more you seem unable to leave his side, the more he'll belittle you. You have to show him that you're capable of living a good life even when you stop depending on him. You can survive on your own without him. Do you agree with me?"

Josephine looked at him in a daze. She wasn't sure whether or not she agreed with him, but he certainly lost her. Lewis had never belittled her; he was always amiable to her.

She instantly thought that the man beside her was a fraud.

Josephine clenched her fingers. She fumbled for her phone in her pocket, ready to call the authorities.

She even cast a glance at Quintin when she pulled it out, but he seemed to care less about her actions. Josephine paused before tapping the receiver icon on her phone. Then, she remembered she couldn't speak. How was she to call the police?

This man must've known that, which was why he took her away with such brazenness.

Biting her lip, she racked her brains for a solution. Lastly, she opened Whatsapp and sent Lewis a message containing only a few words, "Louie, save me."