What Separates Me and You
Chapter 453 End My Life

Lewis' eyes flickered. He withdrew his gaze after a while and said, "We're here."

Josephine snapped back to reality and locked her phone screen. She pocketed it before getting down the car.

Mrs. Larson had prepared lunch, but it was already past 3:00 pm. She served the food after reheating it. Along with the dishes was a bowl of nasty- looking concoction that she put where Josephine sat.

The herbal concoction had become a compulsory routine for Josephine. Josephine smelled the familiar scent of herbs and felt nauseous even before she drank it.

Lewis held her down in her seat and sat beside her. "Have some food before you drink the concoction."

He then filled her bowl with food. However, Josephine didn't move. Seeing that, he scooped up a spoonful and brought it to her lips.

Josephine turned her head and avoided it. "I don't feel like eating."

"Well, you can always take the concoction first." Lewis gracefully put down the spoon and picked up the bowl of concoction instead.

Josephine frowned, and her stomach churned more vigorously. Holding her breath, she refused. "I don't want that either."

"How can you recover if you don't take it?" Lewis took Josephine's hand and placed the bowl on it. He said in a doting tone, "Be a good girl and take it, okay?"

That was the tone he had used with her all these years. Upon hearing that, Josephine's temper flared as she felt sickened and repulsed.

Lewis was acting as though nothing had happened, but his voice reminded Josephine of what happened in the past.

She recalled the days when she relied on him and stooped low to care for him. She also remembered how pathetic and meek she had been. She abruptly lashed out and sent the bowl flying. It fell to the floor and smashed into pieces. Its content spilled all over the floor.

She glared at Lewis indignantly. "Is this fun to you?"

Lewis returned her glare with a passionate gaze. He kept quiet.

Josephine clenched her fists and stressed every word as she said, "Lewis, why are you doing all this? What's the point, anyway? Besides deluding yourself and looking like a clown."

Josephine waited for Lewis to burst. However, minutes passed, and he merely stared at her. His face was devoid of emotion as he locked his eyes on her.

Josephine's chest heaved, and she felt like everything she just said landed on deaf ears.

There was finally a hint of emotion in Lewis' soulful eyes. He withdrew his gaze and instructed Mrs. Larson, "Get her another bowl." Mrs. Larson dared not utter a sound. She submissively went to the kitchen and served another bowl of the same herbal concoction. Lewis handed it the Josephine. "Drink it."

This scene felt so familiar. Josephine heard his bland voice, and her heart lurched.

Her eyes met his. Although they were emotionless, she could still feel the rage of emotions beneath those quiet eyes.

Staring right at him, Josephine swiped the bowl aside again and spilled its content. She didn't believe he would put up with her tantrums.

"Serve another." Lewis didn't even look at the bowl on the floor.

Mrs. Larson awkwardly wiped off the sweat on her forehead and mused, "Again?" She served the last bowl and reminded Lewis, "This is the last of it."

Lewis said nothing and handed it to Josephine. Josephine was unrelenting. She grabbed the bowl. Instead of spilling it, she splashed it on Lewis' face.

Mrs. Larson's eyes widened. She could already predict the storm that would follow.

However, Lewis held Josephine's wrist firmly. Half of the concoction spilled and stained her white wool jacket. Josephine tried to wrestle her wrist free and spilled a bit more.

Lewis said, "Looks like you're imploring me to feed you."

Josephine was dazed as he snatched the bowl from her. Then, he grabbed her lower jaw and poured the herbal concoction into her mouth in a swift motion.

The bitter liquid streamed into her throat and caused her to cough. Half of what entered flowed from the corners of her mouth and trickled down her neck.

She clasped Lewis' wrists and tried to pull him away. However, their strengths were immensely different, and she couldn't move him even the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, Lewis emptied the bowl down her throat and let go of her. Josephine immediately clutched her throat and vomited. That gave her stomach a painful cramp as it was still empty.

Lewis calmly placed the bowl on the table and waited for her to finish vomiting. Then, tilting her chin upward, he picked up a napkin from the table and wiped her saliva from the edges of her mouth.

Josephine glared at him with reddened eyes. Tears dangled from them.

"If only you'd just listened. Why do you have to bring this upon yourself?" He wiped her mouth with gentle strokes as he spoke indifferently.

Josephine had given up resisting him. She said hoarsely, "Why don't you end my life, Lewis? Stop torturing me."

Lewis froze. He glanced at her. "You're just drinking a bowl of herbal concoction. How does that relate to me ending your life?"

Josephine's lips twitched as she said, "And why did I have to take that concoction in the first place? Isn't it all because of you? You've been giving me hell before, and you're doing the same now. If my condition deteriorates, just let me die. Stop messing around with me, okay?"

She looked into his eyes and weakly said, "Just... show me some empathy for the sake of all the years we've known each other."

Lewis' fingers tightened on her lower jaw, and Josephine frowned in pain.

He suddenly laughed. "That won't do. You can't die before me."

Josephine was stunned. That didn't seem right. He said something similar yesterday too. "What do you mean?"

Lewis wouldn't explain. He tossed the napkin on the table and asked, "Do you want some food?"

Josephine pursed her lips and looked away. "No."

"Then get changed." He eyed her stained clothes in disgust. "You're dirty."

Josephine couldn't stand being in the same room as him a second longer. She propped herself against the table and stood. However, her legs were wobbly from her throwing up everything inside her just now and gave way almost immediately.

An arm reached out from behind and supported her. Before she could react, Lewis lifted her off her feet.

Shocked, she instinctively grabbed his collar and snapped, "Put me down!"

"Don't wriggle about." He carried her upstairs into the bedroom and put her on the bed. Then, he went to the closet and brought her a set of pajamas. Josephine's eyes changed as she stared at the set of clothes Lewis was holding. She hurriedly said, "I'll do it myself."

"Why are you being so shy?" He leaned down and propped his arms on either side of her, locking her between his arms. "It's not like I've never done it for you before."

Images flitted across Josephine's mind, and she felt heat creeping onto her face. Embarrassment overwhelmed her and burned her cheeks. She avoided his warm breath, saying, "I can do it on my own."

He chuckled and straightened up. "Go on, then."

He stood where he was without the intention of leaving.

Josephine held onto her pajama and instructed, "Get out!"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Keep that up, and I won't mind helping you with it."