hapter 67
Grace and Catherine stood fezen, their faces contorted with the sudden realization that their scheme had completely backfired. Henry’s command still hung in the air between us: Apologize. Now.”
But I no longer cared about empty apologies from these hypochical women. Five years of their contempt; their cutting remarks, their constant attempts to humiliate me–what difference would a forced “sorry” make now?
I turned away from their shocked expressions, reaching for Billy’s small hand. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s time to go.
“But Daddy said they have to apologize, Billy looked confused, bis innocent eyes darting between the adults.
“Some people never learn how to apologize properly,” I explained gently, guiding him toward the door. “It’s okay. We don’t
need to wait.”
Behind us, Grace’s voice rose sharply, that familiar petulant tone returning now that the initial shock had worn off.
“Henry, don’t you see what she’s doing? She deliberately set this up! She knew I’d come to Billy’s school, she planned to record me all along! This is a trap!”
I kept walking, not even bothering to look back. Her accusations were too ridiculous to deserve acknowledgment.
She provoked me on purpose! That video doesn’t show everything! Don’t let her manipulate you like this!”
Catherine joined in too, her words dripping with venom: “I always knew she was cunning. Using our grandson as bait, setting up your sister–it’s despicable!”
The door closed behind us, mercifully muffling the noise they were making. I quickened my pace, eager to get Billy away
from that tense, malicious atmosphere.
I heard footsteps behind us, moving swiftly down the corridor. Of course, Henry wouldn’t just let us leave.
“Sophia,” he called, his expensive leather shoes clicking against the hospital floor. “Wait.”
I continued walking, though I knew it was futile.
He caught up quickly, strolling casually while I was anxious to leave. “You seem in quite a hurry to leave.”
“I don’t see any reason to stay,” I replied without slowing down. “Your sister and mother have made their feelings perfectly
clear.”
“Mom, why is Aunt Grace so angry?” Billy asked, his small face troubled.
“She’s just having a bad day, sweetheart,” I reassured him, “Some people get cranky when they’re hurt.”
Henry moved to block our path, forcing me to stop. “I didn’t expect you actually had evidence. How did you know to recor
Grace?”
The question caught me off guard. After everything that had just happened, this was what he wanted to know?
“What?”
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Chapter 67
“The video,” he clarified, examining my face with an unsettling aze, “How did you know to start recording before Grace even showed tip?”
I sighed, the weight of five years of constant vigilance suddenly heavy on my shoulders. “I guessed.”
“You guessed, he repeated flatly..
“Yes, Henry, I guessed. Your sister shows up at Billy’s school with security guards? Obviously she wasn’t there to discuss the weather.”
“Weren’t you worried about guessing wrong?”
The absurdity of the question almost made me laugh. “Wrong about what? That your precious sister might actually be. there to do something nice? No, Henry, that would never happen.”
His lips curved into something almost resembling a smile. “Indeed. If you didn’t have that kind of foresight, you be worthy of being my wife.”
I stared at fiim, momentarily speechless. This man’s arrogance never ceased to amaze me.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” I finally managed.
“It’s a fact,” he replied simply, in a way that was repulsive.
wouldn’t
I shook my head, wondering for the thousandth time how I had ever fallen for this insufferably arrogant man. What did I even see in him five years ago?
Whatever spell he had cast over me had long since broken.
“I need to get Billy home,” I tried to step around him.
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