What Separates Me and You

Chapter 170 Please Practice Safer Ways

Goosebumps crawled across Sierra’s scalp. She tensed up, fixating her gaze on Josephine as her

facial expression shifted unpredictably.

After a while, she turned and beamed at Lewis. “It was a slip of the tongue. You know I don’t mean it.”

Lewis looked at her, expressionless. He said warningly, “There’s a difference between being careless

and downright foolish.”

Sierra’s smile froze. Lewis’ words were hurtful.

“Are you criticizing me?” asked Sierra in disbelief. Was Lewis actually telling her off?

“I’m not criticizing you. I’m merely reminding you.”

Sierra’s eyelids twitched. She and Lewis had always been casual in their everyday conversations, but

that didn’t mean he could embarrass her in Josephine’s presence.

She glared at Lewis and pouted as she left, her heels clicking against the floor.

After Sierra left, Lewis glanced at Josephine.

Josephine was calm. She wasn’t gleeful just because Lewis reprimanded Sierra; that was how they

flirted with each other. She would have been thinking too highly of herself if she had thought Lewis was

siding with her.

After all, she had flattered herself countless times before, and Lewis proved her wrong each time.

There wouldn’t be room for imagination when there’s no anticipation whatsoever.

His words and actions wouldn’t hurt her in any way, too.

Josephine handed him the documents she held.

Lewis stared at her for a while before taking the documents and leaving.

Josephine’s belly started aching again. She propped herself against the table, waiting for the

pain to subside. Then, she drank some water and weakly sat on her chair.

She had nothing to do in the afternoon, so she leaned her head on her table and rested.

Her phone’s notification ringtone woke her up.

She picked up her phone and saw it was a message from Lewis. He asked her to go home first without

giving her a reason.

Josephine looked at the time. It was 5.30 pmn.

She packed her things and clocked off. Then, she hailed a cab and headed for the hospital.

She was running short on painkiller pills. While she was there, she could drop by and visit Mrs. Jinkins.

It had been a while since she met Mrs. Jinkins.

She was in luck at the hospital as the doctor was the one she had previously.

The doctor remembered Josephine well because she couldn’t speak. She looked through Josephine’s

medical records, and her expression was indescribable.

She probably gave up putting it in words and wrote down a referral for Josephine to get some

examinations done before they discussed it further.

After the examination, the doctor read the report with a solemn face.

“You’re having another inflammation, but this time, it’s cervicitis. Did you take the medicine I

prescribed?”

Josephine was stunned. She pressed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. She couldn’t even

recall when the doctor prescribed any medications for her.

The doctor sighed, too weary to continue. She promptly gave Josephine her medication and instructed,

“You’re getting an infusion, and make sure to come for your follow-ups regularly. Take your medicine as

prescribed if you don’t want to develop cancer. Abstain from intimate activities, and please practice

safer ways if you really can’t do so.”

Josephine had been here too frequent to feel shy. Although it was embarrassing to hear such advice,

she didn’t blush.

She nodded, took the medication from the doctor, and went to the infusion room. Familiar with the

procedures, she handed over the referral form and stood in line.

There were many patients in need of infusion that night, but most came with companions. She was the

only one waiting alone.

Sitting across from her was a couple. The girl was undergoing an infusion while her boyfriend sat

beside her, concerned. He massaged her belly for her from time to time.

Josephine pressed her lips together and averted her gaze.

She suddenly received a text from Quintin. Josephine read it.

“Where are you? I think I saw your brother again.” The text came with a photo showing Sierra and

Lewis attending a gathering arm in arm. Josephine glanced at it, the ache in her heart no match for the

one in her belly.

Quintin texted again, “I hope your brother didn’t tell you off last night.” He continued, “I distributed some

flyers today, and several people dropped by to claim their pets. The owner of that husky you liked

claimed it too.” Another message came in right after. “But two of the dogs in my shelter are expecting.

I’ll give you two puppies later.” That message was followed

by, “I must watch out for them after this, or they’ll get themselves pregnant again.”

Texts streamed in continuously; Quintin was engrossed in the one-sided conversation. Josephine had

barely typed a sentence when he fired a few more messages.

Josephine decided not to reply.

Quintin went on for some time and returned to the first question, “Where are you?”

Josephine was reluctant to be too close to him, afraid that Lewis would lose his reasoning again and

treat Quintin like he treated Mrs. Jinkins and Avery.

She really dared not provoke Lewis again.

Josephine took a deep breath, locked her phone screen, and put it back into her pocket.

It was already 10 pm when the infusion was completed. Josephine came to Mrs. Jinkin’s ward and

gently knocked. There was no response, so she cracked open the door and peeked through the gap.

She realized the bed was empty. Horrified, she flung open the door.

She froze, her hands and feet turning cold. Her thoughts ran wild-what could have happened to Mrs.

Jinkins when she was absent? Was Patrick here again?

Just as she had a bee in her bonnet, Mrs. Jinkins came out from the washroom.

“Josie?” Mrs. Jinkins was in a hospital gown, holding a pair of crutches. She looked more feeble than

she used to be.

Josephine’s eyes reddened the instant she saw Mrs. Jinkins. She briskly walked to her and

embraced her.

Mrs. Jinkins was stunned. She lifted her hand to pat Josephine’s shoulder. “What’s wrong, Josie? Has

anyone wronged you again?”

Josephine hugged her for a bit before letting her go. She forced a smile and shook her head.

She signed, “I thought you were gone, so I was worried.”

Mrs. Jinkins took her hand and walked toward the bed. “Josie, can you ask Master Lewis to let me

leave?”

Puzzled, Josephine looked at her.

Mrs. Jinkins explained, “Take a look around. There’s no one here, and the nurses will only come during

mealtimes. I’ve been lying on the bed all day, every day. The doctor doesn’t allow me to go out either.

Staying here costs a fortune, but I’m not enjoying it in the slightest. I still had freedom when I was out

and about, collecting refuse. But now…”

It was like imprisonment. Mrs. Jinkins didn’t say those words out loud, afraid to disappoint Josephine,

who was trying to be kind. It would make her sound ungrateful too.

Josephine had mixed feelings. She held Mrs. Jinkins’ hands tightly. After a while, she signed, How

have you been doing lately?”

F

Mrs. Jinkins smiled and said, “I’m doing fine. How can I not be when I’m using such expensive

medication? Josie, advise Master Lewis to stop wasting money on me.”

Josephine couldn’t agree to her request. Mrs. Jinkins wouldn’t have anywhere to go if she left the

hospital.

Besides, Lewis wouldn’t allow it.

Mrs. Jinkins was the only person Lewis could use to manipulate Josephine.

Mrs. Jinkins stared at her for several minutes, noticing the sorrows in Josephine’s eyes and her ashen

face.

“Josie, tell me honestly. What did you tell Master Lewis for me to stay here? Or may I ask, what had he

done toward you?”