What Separates Me and You



Though his eyes lacked emotion, Josephine sensed a hint of stubbornness in his voice.

She lowered her gaze to conceal the mockery in her eyes. "I thought you were embarrassed when I was a mute?"

"So that's what you thought."

Josephine looked at him. "Weren't you?"

"Think whatever you want." Lewis paused, then added, "But I don't like hearing about leaving. Don't mention it again."

Josephine clenched her fingers slowly, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes.

"Why do you still believe I'll obey you like before? Do you think I'll follow your orders like a dog at your beck and call?" Lewis' lips curled upward slightly. Although it looked like a smile, it didn't feel like one.

"You will unless you want to see Steward and Alex disappear from this world."

Josephine's pupils contracted slightly. She stared at the man before her in disbelief.

Her eyes reddened.

At that moment, Josephine suddenly realized that she had never truly understood this man for over 20 years.

His obsession and madness had exceeded her imagination.

"And what about Sierra?"

Josephine locked her gaze on him. "Don't you care about Sierra anymore?"

"That's none of your concern," he said. He sat beside Josephine and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He continued, "As I said, we're still the same. Nothing will happen if you listen to me obediently."

Josephine glared at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Why?"

Her voice was hoarse as she enunciated each word. "Why keep me here when you don't love me?"

Lewis remained silent for a long while.

Seemingly on the brink of saying something, he fell into silence again.

After several moments of contemplation, he finally met Josephine's gaze.

Almost instinctively, he lifted his hand to wipe away her tears.

"If I told you I love you, would you stay?"

Josephine blinked, her lips quivering.

After a moment, she turned her head away to avoid his gaze. "You know the answer."

Besides the enmity between their families, too many innocent lives had been lost between them-for example, Mrs. Jinkins, the person who died because of Avery, and their two kids.

With all these incidents combined, it was clear that they wouldn't have a future together.

She had become the Vance family's sinner for over 20 years.

If they continued down this path, she would be too shameless to keep living before Seth could even take action. She didn't know how to face her parents.

Lewis chuckled. "That's right. You know the answer. Why ask such trivial questions?"

It was as if he was speaking to Josephine yet also speaking to himself.

At that moment, Josephine suddenly understood why he had avoided her question.

Someone as proud as him wouldn't allow himself to appear vulnerable in relationships. As long as he denied it, he could treat it as if nothing had happened as if he had never loved her.

He was still as arrogant as usual.

Whether in the business world or relationships, he had never tasted defeat.

Josephine stared at him. "Did you already know who was behind the massacre of my family?"

Lewis turned his gaze elsewhere. After a moment, he stood up and walked to the window to light a cigarette.

His gaze lowered to the sprouting willow tree in the yard, now lush and green.noveldrama

Josephine looked at the figure standing by the window. He didn't say a word.

His silence was his answer.

So, he had known all along. That was why he had confined Josephine for the past few years, isolating her, particularly from the elderly at the old mansion.

It was all to prevent any unforeseen incidents and to eliminate any possibility that might trigger her memories.

He truly was selfish and cruel.

Ironically, she still loved him deeply.

Josephine stood up. She walked over to his side and grabbed his sleeve.

"Lewis, I know it's not your fault. I can choose not to hate you for it. I only ask one thing of you. Let me go. This is my only request. Please."

Her heart felt heavy as she sobbed. "We no longer have a future together."

Lewis cast a sidelong glance at her and said, "No."

Josephine was stunned.

He reached out to touch her cheek and flashed her a faint smile. "You'll be free after I die."

"What do you mean?"

Lewis didn't provide a clear answer. He flicked his cigarette and turned to leave. "Rest well, and don't attempt to escape. You know I've never been patient."

The sound of the door closing echoed across the room, leaving Josephine trembling all over.

Slumping onto the couch, she covered her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

The sky turned dark. Lewis got changed and left Styx Mansion.

The number of bodyguards outside had significantly increased. There used to be only two lurking in the shadows. But now, a dozen were stationed in the courtyard and around the house. Almost every corner was guarded.

Not even a fly could enter. Similarly, nobody could leave the house.

Under the elevated bridge, the river flowed peacefully. Its surface was shimmering in the moonlight. Both riverbanks were covered with lush green grass that swayed gently in the night breeze.

Warren and Tyler stood by the riverbank, their expressions grave. The search teams had been searching for the whole day, yet they hadn't found anything.

"Mr. Tyler, Mr. Alvarez is here," Tyler's assistant reported.

Tyler turned his head and saw Lewis approaching with a group of people.

"Lewis, why are you here?" Tyler's face was pale. Although Lewis was somewhat involved in this incident, it wasn't entirely his fault.

After all, Avery insisted on chasing after the car.

Lewis glanced at the calm river and gestured for the people behind him to join the search party.

After the search teams dispersed, Lewis spoke, "I'm here to see if there's any news."

Tyler shook his head and sighed heavily with a grave expression. "We've been searching the whole day but haven't found anything. If something happens to Avy, I really don't know how to explain it to our family."

He hadn't informed their family about the situation yet. He feared that the elderly members wouldn't be able to handle the blow due to their age.

Moreover, he allowed Avery to visit Josephine. He even helped her keep it a secret from their family.

Lewis surveyed the surroundings before suggesting, "It's been a whole day. If she had really died, her body would have floated to the surface by now. Don't search in the river anymore. Check nearby hospitals or clinics."

Tyler and Warren exchanged glanced and thought he made sense.

They immediately made calls and reassigned half of the search team to look around nearby areas.

They also dispatched personnel to retrieve surveillance footage around the area.

After doing all these, Tyler turned his attention back to Lewis. "Lewis, are you alright? I heard both you and Josephine fell from the cliff."

"It didn't kill me," Lewis responded straightforwardly, stopping Tyler from comforting him.

"What about Josephine?"