What Separates Me and You
Chapter 444 Alex, Take Me Home

Josephine stared fixedly at Lewis. A floodgate of unknown emotions washed over her eyes.

She struggled to find words. Tears kept welling in her eyes. And soon, they started flowing down her cheeks.

Lewis lowered his gaze to the wild rice stem in his hand and said, "It's okay."

Josephine bit her lip and leaned against a nearby tree trunk. The sunlight shone into her eyes, somewhat blinding her.

Closing her eyes, she was lost in a daze. Flashes of long-forgotten scenes resurfaced in her mind.

It was like a dream that plunged her back into the painful memories of the past.

Blood, raging fires, and the echoes of agonizing screams filled the air.

She recalled her mother's lifeless body.

She saw the face of the culprit when the light pierced the darkness.

It was none other than Alan who had brought her home that year.

Beneath that benevolent façade hid a heart as cruel as a snake's.

She had been living under the roof of her enemy all these years. She even treated her enemy as her own kin and protector.

Her parents would definitely consider her a disgrace to the Vance family if they knew this.

What was even more ridiculous was that after all these years of enduring countless disdain and humiliation from others, her love for Lewis never wavered. She treated him like God.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

Josephine had been suffering from nightmares all these years. All the memories of the past twenty years replayed in her mind.

Each scene seemed to taunt her, mocking her innocence and laughing at her for accepting an enemy as her father.

Her slumbers were haunted by images of her parents' disapproving expressions. Their quiet stares pierced her with a mixture of anguish and reproach.

She had become an unforgivable sinner. She betrayed everyone in the Vance family and all those who had cared for her.

Their silence was the cruelest weapon.

Silently, they stabbed their heart again and again.

Josephine stumbled toward her parents, just like when she was a child. She yearned to throw herself into their arms.

Yet no matter how hard she ran, she couldn't touch them the slightest bit.

Collapsing onto the ground, she gazed at the faces before her. They were so near yet so far.

"Mom, do you hate me?"

"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please don't abandon me."

"I truly understand my mistakes..."

She lay on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. She then reached out desperately and tried to grasp her mother's hand.

Whenever she cried in the past, her mother would rush over and scoop her up to comfort her.

However, despite her heart-wrenching sobs now, her mother remained indifferent. Her mother gazed at her coldly.

"I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Mom ..."

Josephine was devastated, yet her family remained unmoved.

Never before had Josephine felt so desolate.

"No wonder you never embraced me all the times I dreamt of you."

Kneeling on the ground, Josephine bowed repeatedly to the shadow of her parents.

She felt guilty, and she thought she deserved to die.

She was the sinner of the Vance family.

"Josephine, wake up."

"Josephine!"

A shiver ran through her body, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The figure before her seemed blurry through her teary eyes.

She stared at Lewis blankly as tears streamed down her face.

"I'll take you back."

Lewis reached out to wipe away the tears that stained her face.

Josephine's vision began to clear gradually.

Her gaze landed on Lewis' face, but it lacked focus.

However, she could still discern the fleeting panic in his eyes.

She raised her hand and placed it on Lewis' chest before pushing him away.

Lewis was caught off guard. Although she was weak, he managed to push him to the ground.

Sitting on the ground, he stared straight at her. He had never felt so flustered before.

Josephine closed her eyes and suppressed the bitterness and sorrow in her heart. When she opened her eyes again, all that remained was detachment and resentment.

Lewis had never seen such emotions on her face before.

His gaze flickered. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but no words came out.

Footsteps sounded from not far away.

Conrad and Seth had arrived.

"Chairman Alvarez!" Conrad's expression brightened, and he scrambled over. "Thank God both of you are fine."

As Conrad finished speaking, he suddenly felt that something was amiss.

His gaze shifted back and forth between Josephine and Lewis. Something was wrong.

Conrad's eyes landed on Josephine's face, particularly her eyes, and his expression subtly changed.

Lewis stared at Josephine for a long moment before finally retracting his gaze. Pushing himself up from the ground, he rose slowly and walked away without a word.

Conrad glanced at Lewis' retreating figure, then turned to look at Josephine spacing out on the ground. After pondering briefly, he stepped forward to help her up.

However, Josephine raised her hand and pushed him away.

Conrad was shocked. "Mrs. Alvarez ..."

Seth patted his shoulder. "You go ahead. I'll take her back."

After a moment's hesitation, Conrad decided to go after Lewis. After all, Lewis seemed to be more seriously injured.

As the group departed, the forest once again fell into silence.

Seth stood before Josephine and quietly observed her.

After a while, Josephine lifted her head and looked at him.

Her eyes were red, and she teared up as soon as she saw Seth.

She opened her mouth and uttered in her hoarse voice, "Alex."

Seth tensed up. He stared intently at Josephine for quite some time.

A gust of wind swept by. It lifted the corners of Seth's tuxedo and ruffled the loose strands of hair by his ear.

Slowly, he crouched down before Josephine.

He gazed deeply into her eyes, his expression devoid of smiling. Unlike in the past, the look he wore was different.

Genuine emotions filled his eyes.

He seemed surprised, excited, and somewhat nervous.

"Did you get your memories back?"

Josephine grabbed his wrist and put his hand on her cheek.

She stared at Seth and said, "Hit me."

Seth's gaze flickered slightly. His fingertips trembled as they brushed against Josephine's skin.

"I deserve a good beating. I deserve to die. I was wrong ..." Tears streamed down her face as she tightly held onto his wrist.

"Josephine..." Seth wanted to say something, but not a single word came out.

Her cries grew more intense. Her sobs echoed through the surroundings as she knelt on the ground.

She might have collapsed onto the ground if Seth hadn't been holding her.

Even the birds perched on the branches were startled by her cries. They flew away and rustled through the trees, causing droplets of dew to fall on their bodies.

Seth pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly. He patted her back without uttering a single word.

Josephine cried uncontrollably in his arms, releasing all the pent-up grievances and pain from the past.

Seth's gaze wandered to the trees in the distance, his expression complex.

It was normal for Josephine to feel sad.

She was once a princess cherished by everyone. Yet, she had to endure the fall of her family, take refuge under another's roof, and suffer endless

humiliations.

They were the source of her torment, yet they were also her redemption. She thought of her enemies as God and loved someone who didn't deserve her love for years.

She should never have borne any of this.

After some time, Josephine gradually quieted down.

The red fabric on Seth's chest turned into a deep shade of black after getting soaked by her tears.

"Alex, can you take me away from here? I want to go home. Alex, please take me home ..."