What Separates Me and You



Mrs. Larson stammered, "M-Mr. Alvarez."

The commotion attracted Seth and Josephine's attention.

However, Josephine wasn't interested in Lewis. She only had eyes for Alex. She clung to Seth and refused to let go.

Seth glanced at Lewis with his usual smile. "Mr. Alvarez, you're home late."

Lewis stared at him for a while before looking at Josephine. Then, he remarked, "Mr. Fairchild, are you disappointed that I'm home?"

Seth chuckled. "No, not really. In fact, I'm glad you're back."

Lewis stood in front of Josephine and fixed his eyes on her. But she was oblivious to his glare and hugged Seth tightly.

"God, what do I do?" Seth sighed with a smug smile.

Lewis ignored him and tried to pull her away.

Josephine was annoyed and glared at Lewis. "What are you doing?"

"Have you taken the herbal concoction?" Lewis asked.

Josephine was caught off guard by that question. She pouted and looked at Seth as if he could protect her.

Seth stood up and muttered, "It's late. I need to go home."

She immediately stood up to leave with him.

Lewis grabbed her wrist and stopped her from walking away.

Seth chuckled at the scene and left without turning back.

Josephine struggled to free herself from Lewis' hold. She yelled, "Alex!"

Seth paused briefly and then continued.

Josephine cried when she saw him leave. She tried to chase after him. "Alex, I want to go home too! Don't leave me behind!"

Despite her cries, Seth didn't turn around. He vanished into the night.

Meanwhile, Lewis held her hand tightly. His eyes were ablaze with rage.

When Josephine failed to free herself, she started punching him. "Let me go! You jerk! I want to go home! Let me go! I hate you!" She was forcefully thrown onto the couch. She felt dizzy and struggled to get up. However, Lewis pushed her back down.

Josephine gazed at Lewis and started crying. It was unclear whether her tears were due to sadness or shock.

Mrs. Larson quietly left the living room upon seeing the scene.

Lewis yelled at her to stop crying. Josephine cried even harder after that.

His veins throbbed in anger as he pinched her cheeks. She felt pain but couldn't shout. Instead, she looked at him through her tears. Then, she furiously punched him while mumbling for him to release her.

He stared at her and slowly let go. Her cheeks were flushed from being pinched.

Josephine wanted to push him away, but he gripped her by the wrists.

Josephine glared at him as a form of protest.

After that, Lewis instructed Mrs. Larson to bring the herbal concoction. She carefully brought it to him.

He ordered Josephine to take it, but she shook her head and refused.

All Josephine wanted was to find Alex.

In the end, Lewis dragged her back to the couch.

Josephine was frustrated. In a defiant move, she knocked the bowl of herbal concoction from Lewis' hand. The bowl broke, and its content spilled. Josephine scowled at Lewis. "You're a bad guy! I don't want to be near you!"

Lewis' expression darkened, and his eyes showed a glint of anger. However, he held his temper and turned to Mrs. Larson. "Get me another bowl." Mrs. Larson hurried into the kitchen and returned with a fresh bowl of the herbal concoction. "Mr. Alvarez, this is the last bit."

He pursed his lips and took the bowl. Then, he handed it to Josephine. "Take this."

Josephine was further enraged by his stubbornness. Despite her clear dislike for him, he continued to force the herbal concoction on her.

Once again, she tried to knock the bowl away, but he dodged her move. Then, he held her chin tightly. She cried out in pain as he made her open her mouth.

Before she knew it, Lewis had forced it down her throat.

The bitterness of the concoction made her sick. She started to dry heave.

However, Lewis seemed unconcerned by her struggle. He made sure she swallowed it.

Her protests gradually turned into a weak whine. The liquid dripped down her chin and stained her shirt. Josephine pushed against his chest with all her might.

Upon finishing, Lewis suddenly released her. He angrily tossed the empty bowl to the ground.

Josephine flinched at the sound of the broken porcelain. She trembled with fear.

Josephine cast terrified glances at Lewis. Anyone could sense Lewis' hostility by now. Her lips quivered as tears streamed down silently.

After a moment of staring, Lewis regained his composure. He reached out to wipe away the liquid on her lips. However, Josephine recoiled in fear and backed into a corner of the couch. Then, she stared at him through her tears.

Lewis' hand was left hanging in mid-air.

After staring at him for a few seconds, Josephine took her chance and escaped while Lewis was still in a daze.

"Madam!" Mrs. Larson ran to the entrance, but Josephine had already fled into the night barefoot. She turned to find Lewis still sitting on the couch, slowly withdrawing his hand.

"Mr. Alvarez, Madam ran out barefooted."

"Let her be," Lewis replied unemotionally.

Mrs. Larson could sense his seething anger towards Josephine. Mrs. Larson added, "The weather forecast says it will rain after midnight."

Although the weather had warmed up recently, it was still winter. The temperature at night hovered around the fifties.

Not long after Josephine escaped, she felt the numbness creeping into her feet due to the cold.

She wiped away her tears and sprinted beneath the streetlights. Her long shadows seemed to be chasing after her.

She desperately wanted to go home. She missed her parents. But earlier that night, Alex did not want to bring her home. It made her feel abandoned by her family. Did they not want her anymore?

She cried and wiped away her tears with her sleeves. She looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Josephine squatted as she trembled.noveldrama

Alex had once told her that if she ever got lost, she should stay where she was. He would come and find her. She huddled under the street lamp like a stray.