What Separates Me and You

Nancy paused in her step to sneer, "How much more can there be? Why can't I tell, then? If Lewis cares so much about that mute, what's his deal with Sierra?"

"Maybe he doesn't want others to know. After all, he insisted on marrying Mrs. Alvarez, and nobody objected-" Murray replied but soon shut his mouth. He had revealed too much. A storm cloud hovered over Nancy as she snarled, "What did you say?"

Murray sheepishly lowered his head. For a moment, he remained gravely silent.

"What more do I not know, Mr. Lander? You'd best come clean to me now!"

Murray's features tightened with nervousness. "I can't tell you, Madam Nancy."

That intensified the flames in Nancy's heart. "All those that deserved to die have already died! What more can you not tell me? If you don't tell me now, I will ask him myself!" "Madam Nancy!" Murray pursed his lips and glimpsed at the former, who was about to storm off, before muttering, "I-I know some things, but not in detail."

"Then, tell me what you know."

After letting out a helpless sigh, Murray revealed, "I used to serve Master Alan closely. One day, when he was sick in his bed, he asked Master Lewis if the latter had any wishes." He gazed into the space as if reminiscing a memory.

Alan was bedridden at the time. He didn't have long to live, so Lewis visited him almost daily. One day, he stated he would die soon and couldn't help Lewis anymore.

Lewis gazed at the former with conflicting emotions. He even hesitated several times to voice his thoughts.

Alan naturally knew something bothered his grandson. He asked if Lewis had any wishes or wanted to vent about something.

After briefly hesitating, Lewis admitted, "I want to marry Josephine."

That baffled Alan. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"I do. You might not be happy to hear this, but I must say it. When you die, Josephine's family will undoubtedly marry her off. I don't want her to marry someone else."

"D-Don't you have a girlfriend?" Alan asked but soon understood what was going on. He flashed a bitter smile, then continued, "And here I thought you have moved on from Josephine."

"I thought so too. That girlfriend you mentioned? I tried transferring my feelings for Josephine onto her. Yet, it's been so long..."

Alan smiled. "So, you're confessing all your emotions and thoughts to me now that I'm unable to move, huh?"

Lewis' gaze lowered as he fell silent.

"Have you thought this through? About what will happen if you marry her? Your father is a restless man. And what of your mother? Will she agree to you marrying Josephine?" "That's why I need your help."

"Me?" Alan chuckled bitterly. "Lewis, you'd best think carefully about this. "You're still young and inexperienced. Marrying her gives others leverage against you. Not to mention, you can't protect her every second of the day. Plus, there's the issue with her identity-"

"I know," Lewis interrupted. A determined yet slightly crazed look flickered in his eyes as his quiet voice rang out again. "I'll hide her and ensure no one knows about her. As for her identity, there's no guarantee she'll remember who she is."

Alan's face darkened when he noticed the look in the former's eyes. "Lewis, I'm a little confused. What are your feelings toward her?"

"I don't know. All I know is she has to be by my side."

"What if she remembers her identity one day?"

"I'll worry about it when it happens."

The lengthiest sigh came from Alan just then. "Gosh, I can't ever win against you. Fine, then. I won't convince you otherwise since you insist on it.

"I can agree to your request, but you must promise me not to let yourself fall too deeply. Even if you do, you must snap out of it at once. Don't ever bring shame to our family name!"

Lewis fidgeted with his fingers before responding with a low voice. "Understood."

"Mr. Lander, tell everyone to come in. I have something to announce."

After that, everyone learned about Lewis and Josephine's arranged wedding. Alan announced to the others that he favored Josephine for being his granddaughter-in-law. So, he "forced" Lewis to marry her.

Every muscle in Nancy's body trembled when Murray told her that. "So, this marriage was never Alan's dying wish? It was Lewis' request?"

"Yes, and I swore to Mr. Alvarez that I would never tell this to anyone," Murray explained while nodding. At the same time, he secretly mused, "Or I'll die a miserable death."

"Well, that's perfect! Just peachy! I thought Lewis hated that mute. Who'd have known he actually had such deep feelings for her? He fooled us all!" Nancy scoffed.

Mr. Lander agreed and added, "Maybe he even fooled himself."

Nancy suddenly recalled something and chuckled. "That son of mine may be cruel to others, but he's crueler to himself."

"What does that mean?"

"You saw how unbothered Lewis was when Josephine aborted her first child. Isn't that him being cruel to himself?" Nancy answered.

What gave her more chills was what Lewis had asked her after seeing the pile of flesh and blood that came out of Josephine.

He asked, "Mom, do you think this is the baby's hand or leg? Tsk. It kind of looks like a boy."

Nancy assumed Lewis only laughed so casually because he didn't care about Josephine. Yet, now that she knew the truth, his smile gave her goosebumps. She couldn't imagine how he felt when he smiled that way at her.

Hidden in an obscure corner was Conrad, who overheard their conversation. He was so shocked that he fled the scene at once. After all, Conrad didn't know if someone would kill him to get rid of any evidence now that he had learned about that secret.

As someone who experienced many tribulations, Conrad was surprised to learn that Lewis had fallen for Josephine long ago.

It turned out that Lewis dared not admit his feelings for Josephine yet was afraid she would run from him.

Lewis brainstormed ways of removing himself from the relationship. Simultaneously, he did everything to stop Josephine from falling for him. That way, the two could cleanly cut ties in the end. Yet, little did anyone think the two would fail to leave each other.

Conrad pondered Lewis' attitude toward Josephine and realized something. Apart from being cold and distant to her, Lewis had never behaved out of bounds. In fact, Lewis hid Josephine well in Styx Mansion, where she had food, water, and shelter.

However, Lewis became crazed after Josephine mentioned wanting a divorce. He no longer behaved as usual. On top of dealing with Josephine, Lewis also had to endure Robert's constant pressure. All those added up led to him losing control over himself.

His sanity dwindled daily. He thought people were either persuading Josephine to leave or abducting her. So, he treated everyone around Josephine like the enemy. Lewis used nicer and meaner approaches, as well as tried various methods. Still, he couldn't keep Josephine by his side. Instead, it pushed her further away from him. "So, who exactly is Lewis torturing? Him or Josephine?" Conrad wondered but had no answer to that question. Either way, just the thought of it bothered him deeply.

Another day went by.

In the ward, Josephine's eyes gradually opened. Her nose stung from smelling the disinfectant in her surroundings. The blinding light above her head didn't help either. It took her a while to shut her eyes and steady herself.

When she opened her eyes and saw the ceiling light again, she pursed her lips bitterly.

Josephine tried to sit upright but didn't have the strength.

That was when she turned to the side and saw Lewis, who sat with his head hung low like he had fallen asleep. There was still blood on his body. He had a noticeably haggard expression, unlike his usual aloof and mighty self.

Under the bright lights, Josephine closed her eyes and felt her tears glide down her temples. She struggled but eventually raised her wrist before her. It had already gotten bandaged by then.

With a deep inhale, she reached her other hand forward to tug at the gauze bandage. Little by little, she pulled it loose.

Alas, in the next second, she felt a force that prevented her hand from moving.

Josephine paused, then looked up and realized Lewis had awoken without her realizing. He held her wrist with an iron grip. Meanwhile, his darkened gaze bore holes into her.