What Separates Me and You
Chapter 49

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.

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

Josephine lowered her head guiltily. Her neat ponytail had come loose, and messy strands of hairframed 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 toprovoke 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 slightlywhen he saw Lewis and Josephine. Tyler quickly walked over to Avery and whispered, “Avery! Haven’tyou 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 shootJosephine a worried look before she left.

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

Josephine was startled, and she looked up at Lewis immediately. His face was blank and devoid of anyemotion. Hesitantly, she forced herself to stand up and face him. Lewis turned and left the room, hisouter 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, “Youcan go ahead first.”

Conrad nodded and closed the car door before walking away from them. Josephine sat in the carwithout a word. Nobody spoke, and it felt like it was freezing in the car. She fidgeted with her fingersnervously.

After they arrived at the Styx Mansion, Lewis stepped out of the car and removed his coat. Mrs. Jinkinslimped 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 themaid that Josephine has hired?”

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

Josephine bit her lip in guilt and lowered her head as she tugged on his sleeve. She hoped that hewouldn’t say anything that would upset Mrs. Jinkins. However, Lewis ignored her and said, “You can’teven 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 herand went upstairs. Josephine wrung her hands and looked at Mrs. Jinkins apologetically. Mrs. Jinkinswas 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 toJosephine 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, “Waitfor me.”

Mrs. Jinkins sighed. “It’s alright. I’m quite used to living in that shoddy little shack of mine. I don’t mindgoing 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 upthe stairs and knocked on the door to Lewis’ study. The door wasn’t shut tight, so it opened easily whenshe knocked on it twice.

Lewis was on the phone from his position next to the window. It was dark and cloudy outside, and thelight that fell on his face cast a desolate look on his face. “If you aren’t qualified for this position, justresign 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 toreplace 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 forgottenher?”

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 herhead and met his cold gaze. For the first time in her life, she began to suspect that perhaps Lewisdidn’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 conditionthat 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, pickone.”

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

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

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

Josephine pursed her lips, a rare indignant expression on her face. She signed, “I’ve never asked youfor 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 tohelp!

“You can’t be greedy and expect to have everything.” Lewis held onto her hands tightly to prevent herfrom 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 herhands even tighter, to the point where it began to hurt. In desperation, Josephine opened her mouth tosay 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 hither waist, and a familiar pain struck her lower abdomen. The only thing that Josephine could do at thismoment was bite him with her teeth.

But Lewis quickly placed a hand around her jaw and pressed her whole body onto the desk. He pinnedboth of her hands down with one hand, using the other to hitch up her legs. Lewis’s body weight wasentirely 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’sabdomen 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.