Ex-Husband's Endless Pestering (Josie and Henry) novel Chapter 7

"Mr. Gibson, Ms. Yates is too weak and can't be triggered. She has a history of post-traumatic stress disorder, so try not to agitate her." The Gibsons' family doctor used to take care of John and was familiar with Josie's condition.

On the other hand, all Henry knew was that Josie often fell ill after returning to the Gibson family when she was 15. Moreover, she was very withdrawn and never rode the Gibson family's car. She always went to school on foot or took a bus.

After getting married, he got used to Josie's personality. She did not want to take private cars, and he would not question her.

Henry had taken over Gibson Corporation. For the past three years, he became so preoccupied with managing the company that he did not have time to care for Josie.

Henry quietly looked at Josie, who was in a deep slumber, as he sat by her bed.

Over the years, he had never looked at her face carefully.

"Please be good." Henry frowned.

Josie slowly opened her eyes when she heard the sounds of water running in the bathroom.

Henry's phone kept vibrating, and the screen showed that the call was from Ash.

"It's Ashley..." thought Josie.

With a bitter smile, Josie picked up Henry's phone.

Henry saved Josie's name in his contact list as Josie Yates but kept Ashley's as Ash.

As expected, it was clear at a glance whom he loved.

"Henry, where are you? I think I had too much to drink. Can I go to your place..." asked Ashley.

Josie answered the phone. She knew doing so was taboo to Henry, but she still did it anyway.

What else did she have left to fear?

She had already compromised.

"Henry... I'm so upset," cried Ashley.

Josie could tell that Ashley was drunk based on her voice.

"Is she coming to meet Henry at home?" she mused.

Josie scoffed and hung up the phone. Her fingers were trembling.

Suddenly, she felt as if she was lying on pins and needles. She couldn't help wondering if Ashley had slept there when she was not home.

"A bed in which three people have slept. How dirty," Josie thought.

Josie then lost control of her emotions and grabbed a pair of scissors. She tore the bedsheet into shreds. She felt like a lunatic who had lost her mind.

Tears streamed down her face as Josie slowly slid onto the ground.

Josie had never been good at expressing her emotions.

Just then, the bathroom door was pushed open. Henry had a bath towel wrapped around him and stepped out of the bathroom while drying his hair.

Henry's expression dimmed when he noticed the mess on the ground. "Jo..."

Still holding the torn bedsheet in her hand, Josie smiled weakly at the man. "Ashley called you. She was drunk and asked you to pick her up."

Henry was stunned for a moment, and a frown crossed his face as he reached for his phone.

It hurt his heart to see Josie in that state, but she also touched his phone, which was a taboo of his. "Did you answer the phone call on my behalf?"

Josie lowered her gaze. The scissors had cut her fingers, and blood was still trickling down her fingertips.

At that moment, Henry received a call from Ashley's manager. "Mr. Gibson, we can't find Ashley. She drank too much and claimed she was going to the restroom, but she disappeared. She still has injuries on her leg..."

Josie listened quietly and watched Henry dress quickly before leaving.

The feeling of despair never hit her in a single moment, but the feeling of giving up did.

Josie curled up in a corner, afraid to close her eyes.

After an unknown period of time, the door was opened.

Josie walked out and was instantly met by the sight of Henry carrying Ashley into their home.

"Henry..." Ashley probably drank past her limit based on how flushed her nose was.

Some people were pretty and enchanting even when they were drunk.

"Jo, Ashley is drunk. Can you let her sleep here tonight?" Henry was requesting Josie's consent.

He thought Josie would agree.

Josie took a deep breath.

"It's not that Henry's a heartless man. He just doesn't love me," she thought.

"I'll sleep in the guest room," she stated. Nevertheless, Josie couldn't help but feel ridiculous. She was generous enough to let her husband take care of another woman.

She figured they were bound to get divorced later, so she did not need to separate two people who were obviously in love with one another.

Just then, Henry grabbed Josie's wrist and frowned. "Jo! Are you angry?"

As she pushed open the bedroom door, Josie's face fell in an instant.

Henry had gone to the office, but Ashley was still there.

"Josie, you're awake. Henry went to the office, and I made some oatmeal for you." Ashley, who had a kind and attentive expression, flashed Josie an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Josie. I had too much to drink last night."

"You're already so shameless. How could you possibly feel embarrassed?" Josie sneered. She refused to play along.

Ashley was obviously taken aback, but she swiftly regained her composure and tried her best to maintain her character. "I'm sorry, Josie. I know I shouldn't trouble Henry, but-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Josie interrupted her, "If you have some respect for Henry and me, then you should be addressing me as Mrs. Gibson. Don't you know basic etiquette?"

Ashley's eyes instantly reddened as she burst into tears.

Meanwhile, Josie poured herself a cup of warm water, unbothered by the other woman's crying. "You truly are a talented actress, but no one else is at home. Who are you putting on this act for?"

"I know you don't like me, Josie. It seems I've bothered you." Ashley was about to leave in tears as she finished saying those words.

However, just as she arrived at the door, Henry came back.

"Such impeccable timing," Josie mused as she knitted her brows into a tight knot.

However, she had been careless, indeed.

Henry never returned home by noon, so his coming home early was an out-of-character thing to do. Nevertheless, Josie knew it was because of Ashley.

"Henry..." Ashley was aggrieved as if she was a child who had been wronged. She wiped her tears and prepared to leave.

Before she could do so, Henry frowned and reached out to stop her. "What's going on?"

"It's Josie... I angered her. I know I came from an orphanage, and I'm uneducated, but when Josie said that about me, I couldn't help but feel upset..." Ashley held onto Henry's arm right in front of Josie's face. Clearly, she was striking back.

Ashley knew that no matter how arrogant and haughty Josie may be, there was nothing the woman could do, for whoever got Henry's favor was the winner.

"Jo, did you say that?" A trace of disbelief flashed in Henry's eyes, and he wanted to hear Josie's explanation.

At that moment, Josie wanted to laugh. It was a rare opportunity to watch a famous actress perform live. "Yes, I did say that."

There was nothing to explain.

"I also came from an orphanage. In your eyes, am I uneducated as well?" Henry was a little angry, and all of a sudden, he really wanted to know what Josie had thought of him throughout all those years. Was he merely the adopted son of the Gibson family who relied on them?

"Henry, don't be angry. I-I'm not complaining about Josie. I just..." A trace of panic flitted across Ashley's face.

Meanwhile, Josie hung her head. It felt like she had swallowed a lump of burning coal, and she could not utter a word.