What Separates Me and You



Josephine's tears streamed like rivers down her cheeks and to her chin. "Lewis Alvarez, do you remember everything you've done to me? Do you remember our babies who had yet to see the world?

"Since we've come to this, what are you trying to do now? Don't tell me it's your way of showing remorse."

Lewis pressed his thin lips together. He abruptly held Josephine's hands. Then, he wiped her tears and said gently, "You're mistaken. I'm not feeling remorse. I will never regret everything I've done."

Josephine stared blankly at him. She couldn't believe he would admit his sins with such a calm tone.

"If there's anything I regret ..." He gave her a meaningful look as he gently wiped her tears. "That will be not keeping a closer eye on you.

"You've regained your memories way too early."

Josephine was at a loss for words. He was so stubborn and went to such extremes that it was irrational. Josephine had chills just looking at his face.

He let out a laugh. "See? I told you you shouldn't interact with these people. They led you down the wrong path. Especially Seth Fairchild." His eyes glinted with malice when he said the last part.

Up till now, he was blaming others for everything that happened. He didn't show any remorse or think that he was wrong.

Crystal clear now, Josephine found herself without anything else to say to Lewis.

She wiped her tears and swiped his hand aside. She rose to her feet. "You are unbelievable."

With that, Josephine headed outside the graveyard. The breeze left her face feeling tender and raw.

Lewis was still crouched. The breeze fiddled with a loose strand of hair on his forehead. He turned to look at the photo on the tombstone just as Josephine disappeared around the corner. Then, he got up and followed.

Josephine walked to the Bentley. Lewis caught up and opened the door for her. She entered the car. She wouldn't go against Lewis now.

After all, she couldn't risk jeopardizing her escape by yielding to her impulse.

Lewis drove her back to Styx Mansion.

Josephine checked her phone and noted it was 3:00 am. Then, she scrolled through her social media. The silence in the car was deafening. Suddenly, she heard Lewis say, "Do you really think Seth is someone nice?"

Josephine paused. Her heart lurched at his words. She thought he found her out. Tightening her grip on her phone, she turned to look at him. The light from the streetlamps flashed across his features. Between light and shadow, Josephine could roughly make out his side profile. She stated, "He isn't a nice person, indeed. But at least he didn't kill my family."

Lewis smiled. He didn't reply and continued driving.

Josephine continued, "I never thought of him as a saint, but he had been working hard to avenge the Vance family all these years in the least. Everything he had done was for the sake of revenge."

"I didn't know you were someone with double standards," said Lewis flatly. "You trust him because he's committing deeds for the sake of the Vance family. That's why you can forgive everything he'd done."

Josephine was stunned.

Lewis nonchalantly said, "Even if he started a fire or murdered someone, you would find him an excuse and forgive him."

He left Josephine speechless.

In a sense, Lewis and Seth were the same.

Lewis tilted his head toward her and smiled. "If so, Josephine, how morally good can you be? Since everyone is selfish, you don't have to criticize me as though you are oh-so-righteous. He didn't kill your family, but did I do it?"

Josephine's eyes flickered. His words weighed a ton on her chest, and she found herself gasping for air.

Selfish...

She started doubting if she was as selfish as he claimed she was.

As he said, if she wasn't selfish, she had to judge Seth as she had judged Lewis. She had to resent them equally.

She reflected on it and realized she couldn't do that.

Everyone was selfish in different ways.

Only when they were nearing Styx Mansion did Josephine realize Lewis could have been trying to cause distrust between her and Seth.

After seeing through his intentions, she could start breathing normally again. She shouldn't believe the lies Lewis spouted.

Seth was the only person that resembled family to her in this world. If she pushed him aside, she could only stay under Lewis' control for the rest of her life.noveldrama

Josephine got out of the car when they reached and marched toward the mansion. She headed to her bedroom like she had done millions of times before and snuggled beneath the blanket. She refused any further interactions with Lewis.

On the other hand, Lewis followed her in and went to the bathroom, ignoring the person huddled on the bed.

Josephine shut her eyes when she heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. She rolled and pulled the blanket over her head. After a while, the sound of running water stopped. Josephine, who was almost falling asleep, woke with a start. She heard footsteps behind her.

The bed sunk as someone lay on it. An arm snaked around her waist. It hugged her and pulled her into a firm embrace.

Josephine clenched her fists and asked Lewis, "Why are you on my bed?"

Lewis cast her a disinterested glance. "This is my house. Why can't I be here?"

Josephine had nothing to say to that. She clambered up from the bed and wanted to sleep somewhere else.

The next moment, his sturdy arm pulled her back and wrapped itself tighter around her. "Where are you going?"

Josephine said softly, "We're divorced. It's inappropriate to sleep on the same bed."

"How is it inappropriate? If you really think so, let's get our marriage certificate, and everything will be fine."

His shameless words annoyed Josephine so much she couldn't say another word.

"Let me go!" Josephine angrily tried to pull his arm off her. However, she failed; his arms were like a crab's pincers.

She was not that strong, to begin with. Lewis likened her ferocious acts to a kitten without teeth. She posed no threats to him.

"I'll take that as an attempt to seduce me if you keep it up." He hugged her tightly and said near her ear, "I've held it in long enough." His burning breath landed on her ear. She felt an itch and tried to avoid him. She dared not move anymore.

Indeed, he had restrained himself from intimate activities for a long time, including that day in the car-he had withstood his desires. Josephine didn't move, but Lewis wasn't keeping his hands to himself.

She pressed his hands down and turned back as far as she could to look at him. Her eyes were full of pleas, "Don't be rash."

"Define 'rash.""

Josephine was tongue-tied.

Lewis turned her over and grabbed her chin. "You like it, don't you?"

Josephine blushed and averted her gaze. "Nonsense!"

He held her hand and led the way beneath her pajama. "Your tongue and actions aren't in sync."

After many years, Lewis was more familiar than she was with her body.

She fell effortlessly.