"Really?" Joseph Shaw asked indifferently and didnāt speak again.
Clearly, Joseph was somewhat unimpressed with James Carterās answer.
"Maybe our positions are different." James Carter stared at Joseph Shaw and slowly spoke, "Joseph, do you know why when everyone said you married Jillian to exploit her, I didnāt stop your marriage too much?"
"You donāt want to care about her anymore, right? You all feel that she disappointed you." Joseph Shaw sneered, "Your patience with her is not sufficient."
"No, Iāve never thought of abandoning her. I didnāt stop it because, no matter what others say about you selling the marriage for your ambition, I have eyes to see. I knew very early on that you liked her, liked her for many years."
James Carter said, "Letting her marry someone who loves her is good for her. But Joseph, sometimes, loving someone isnāt indulging her or letting her do what she finds happy but not too ethical. Loving someone means hoping sheās happy and hoping sheāll strive to become more exceptional, better."
"Itās not because we have expectations for her life; the Carter Family doesnāt need to sell daughters for alliances. We only hope that when sheās old, she doesnāt become idle and unaccomplished, looking back at the past with endless regrets in her later years. Loving someone is wanting her to be happy forever, not just living in the moment."
"Do you understand? People should have constraints in life; this isnāt binding freedom. No one can truly live recklessly." James Carter said, "Sheās already left us, so I hope you can guide her on the path she should take someday."
"Big Brother, have you ever loved someone? Loved them so much that you use all means and effort to be with that person." Joseph Shaw asked.
James Carter frowned, and his voice turned cold, "What do you mean?"
"Big Brother, you havenāt loved someone like that, so you donāt understand that I couldnāt bear for her to be unhappy for even one second." Joseph Shaw smirked self-deprecatingly, "I finally got her, and I want to give her everything I can."
"Joseph Shaw, has anyone ever called you arrogant?" James Carterās expression turned icy, "In my eyes, the right kind of relationship is like Jane Sampson and her husband, mutually accompanying and restraining each other, not indulging endlessly without a bottom line. Youāre only going to harm her this way."
After speaking, James Carter stood up, "Iām going to the hotel next door to rest for a bit. Call me when she wakes up."
Different paths, no common plan.
No need to even speak of agreement.
"Take care, Big Brother." Joseph Shaw sat there motionless, just saying this perfunctory sentence.
James Carter reached the doorway, suddenly turned back to look at Joseph Shaw.
"Joseph, have you ever thought about whether your indulgence might, with time, let you lose her completely, like today?"
Having said that, James Carter gave Joseph Shaw a deep look and then pushed the door open and walked out.
And Joseph Shaw sat there for a long time without coming back to his senses.
No one is born knowing how to love someone; itās all just a stumbling process of exploration.
James Carter went downstairs, sat on a chair on the first floor, and sent Jane Sampson a message that he had arrived at the hospital.
Looking at the photo on the mobile phone screen, he sat there, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.