Chapter 227
Chapter 227
Chapter 227 None of Your Concern
The rain grew heavier, the wind was faster, and thunder rumbled. Hugging the cage, Josephine crouched in a dark corner and shivered.
She didn’t bring her identity card and phone when she came out; she couldn’t go anywhere without those. 1
She also had no idea where to stay besides crouching in the corner of the pavilion like a stray dog.
The puppies were trembling from the cold too. They curled up against each other in the cage, whining pitifully.
Josephine couldn’t bear to see them in this state. She opened the cage and embraced them. Their soft, fluffy bodies gave her warmth, and they also stopped whining. Instead, they started snuggling against Josephine and found their way under her shirt.
Josephine unknowingly smiled when she felt the wriggling mass in her arms.
Suddenly, a dazzling beam shone on her, so bright she couldn’t open her eyes.
She looked up and peered.
In the rain, a car parked some distance away with its headlights directed at her, its wipers swiping continuously.
Josephine pursed her lips. She saw someone getting out of the car but couldn’t see that person’s face as he was against the light. She could only identify that person’s sturdy silhouette.
Holding an umbrella, that person walked briskly toward her.
When the figure blocked the headlights entirely, Josephine opened her eyes and looked up.
It was Lewis.
He stood before Josephine with an umbrella, lowering his eyes to meet hers.
Shadows concealed his face so she couldn’t see his expression. However, she felt the
surrounding temperature decrease by a few degrees.
Lewis cast the umbrella aside, bent over, and tugged Josephine to her feet.
Josephine could see his face now. Fury blazed across Lewis’s face, and he looked like he was
about to explode. “Josephine, what the hell do you think you are doing?”
It was the same question again. Josephine had no answer to that.
What did she think she was doing?
She had no clue, too. How was she to answer him?
Josephine stared at him, eyes ablaze. The wind blew, and rain droplets fell on both of them. The rain was icy as it smacked Josephine’s face.
Lewis grabbed her collar and said through gritted teeth, “Do you want to die?”
The puppies in Josephine’s arms wriggled everywhere. Eventually, they found the collar and stuck their heads out of it, staring right at Lewis.
Josephine was silent for a while. Then, she plucked Lewis’ hand from her collar, bent, and returned the puppies to the cage.
After doing that, she looked up again at Lewis and signed, “I’m not planning on doing anything. We’re divorced now. You can relieve your mind of me. Regardless of what happens to me, it’s none of your concern.” Josephine repeated, “None of it is your concern anymore.”
Her expression and gestures reflected the forlornness and sorrow in her words.
That was right. It hadn’t been any of his concern, so why had he come all the way there to admonish her?
Lewis laughed in anger. “None of my concern, huh? Who was the one accusing me of dumping her yesterday? You’re blatantly saying something different every day, Josephine. Are you sick?
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Josephine was stunned. She… actually was. Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
How would she forget that she and Lewis were divorced if she weren’t sick? Why would she return to Styx Mansion and witness him taking Sierra’s side against her? Why would she subject herself to humiliation?
If it weren’t for his harsh tone, Josephine would have mistaken that question as an act of
concern.
Josephine moved her lips, but she could only stay silent.
Lewis’ eyes fixated on her, as sharp as daggers. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Have you become mute again?”
He pinched her lower jaw as if trying to crumble it into pieces with his bare hand.
Josephine’s eyes stung with tears as she stared right at Lewis. The beam behind him shone brightly, irritating her eyes so much that they emanated heat.
Alas, she couldn’t say anything.
Lewis shoved her aside, and Josephine fell on her bottom on the bench, her back aching as she collided with the railing behind. Lewis said, “You’re right. It’s none of my concern now. I’ve been too nosy! Since you enjoy staying here, you shall stay here all you want with these two
damn dogs!”
With that, he resolutely left.
The umbrella was still on the ground. He kicked it, sending it flying.
Josephine’s gaze was unwavering as she watched him walk into the rain alone. The rain soon devoured his silhouette.
As she watched him enter the car, her gaze fixed on the vehicle as it sped off. In the distance, the beam disappeared, and darkness once again swallowed her surroundings.
She sat blankly in the pavilion, letting the rain fall on her face.
Josephine closed her eyes and subconsciously hugged herself.
She should probably end her life. However, something tugged deep down-there was something else she had yet to accomplish, something she should be doing.
She lifted the cage, went to a corner, and curled up.
The puppies were shivering again. They were now homeless, like her.
They were enduring such hardship because they were with her. Maybe it was a mistake to bring them.
Josephine buried her head between her knees., listening to the rain and thunder. Every minute
felt like forever.
Why was this winter so long?
Lewis didn’t go off. He parked his car by the roadside a stone’s throw away but with the headlights turned off. The car lurked in the night like a beast.
He smoked cigarette after cigarette. Smoke filled the car. When he rolled down the window, the heavy rain splattered in and drenched him, dousing his cigarette at the same time.
He swept the strands of hair on his forehead backward. Tilting his head, he looked out at the blurred scenery.
Later that night, the rain slowed to a drizzle.
Josephine’s lips turned purplish from the cold, and her limbs were freezing.
Water seeped into the wound on her legs, and pain shot through her body. Using her hat to shield her head, she crouched in the corner with the cage in her embrace all night.
The everlasting stormy night finally passed, and with its departure came the arrival of a new day.
Lewis was early to work. It was only 7 am. Besides the janitors and security guards, none of the employees were there.
.
The elevator opened, and someone was inside.
“Hello there, you’re here at this hour?” Seth wore a tuxedo. He seemed out of place in this company in his outfit.
Lewis stared at him coldly and said nothing.
Seth sized him up. Under the light, he saw Lewis’ drenched clothes and tousled hair.
Seth came out of the elevator and stood beside him, laughing. “Look at you. You went into the rain last night, didn’t you? Let me guess what happened.” He pretended to be deep in thought and continued, “Could it be that Josephine went missing, so you searched around for her?”
Finally, a ripple disturbed the calmness in Lewis’ eyes. He looked toward Seth.
“Are you curious about how I found out?”
“Seth Fairchild,” Lewis suddenly called his name.
Seth lifted an eyebrow. “Yes, Lewis?”
“If you have this much free time on your hands to meddle in others’ business, you might as well think of ways to increase your worth.”
“1
Seth was stunned. Then, he smiled again. “I worked overtime all night on the first day of work, you know. Don’t be so strict. On the other hand, your heart seems to be elsewhere these few days, Lewis.” Seth leaned on the wall and looked mockingly at Lewis as he continued, Things don’t have to be so complicated. You need only dig deeper to know everything. Are you too lazy to do that, or are you afraid of discovering something unacceptable? Are you afraid of giving in to your soft spot?”