Chapter 185
Ever since I saw Henry at the café, my mood had completely soured.
I immediately packed my bags and prepared to leave Aspen. This trip was supposed to be an escape, a chance to breathe freely with Billy away from divorce. disputes. Only Grandpa William knew we were here—which meant Henry’s appearance was definitely William’s arrangement.
Despite the old man’s good intentions, I truly felt nothing for Henry anymore. All I wanted was to free myself from this loveless marriage and return to a peaceful life.
After a day of recovery back in New York, I returned to work at the hospital. I had barely changed into my uniform when my phone rang. My mother’s name flashed across the screen, making my stomach clench. With a sigh, I answered.
“Sophia, have you no conscience at all? I’m your mother!” Scarlett’s shrill voice attacked my eardrums. “I don’t have a single penny to my name, and you’re just going to let me die? I’m telling you now–if you don’t send me money, I’ll come to your workplace and make a scene! I’ll go to the Harding estate and let everyone see what an unfilial daughter you are! Think about it–will the Hardings still want you as their daughter–in–law after that? You decide!”
I held the phone away from my ear, listening to her rant with icy detachment in my eyes.
After remarrying, Scarlett had given birth to a son with her new husband. That son was now twenty–one and ready for marriage, but he had nothing to offer -no decent car, no proper home. What woman would be interested in a man like that?
Her current husband couldn’t provide that kind of money, so he’d pushed her to approach me: “Don’t you have a daughter who married into wealth? Go ask her! You’re mother and daughter–she can’t possibly leave you to suffer! Let me be clear: if you can’t get the money, don’t bother coming back. We don’t keep useless people in this house.”
Desperate and angry, Scarlett had no choice but to turn to me again.
“Scarlett,” I said coldly, “you should have anticipated this outcome the moment you abandoned me!”
After my father died, Scarlett wanted to remarry, and I had genuinely supported her decision. But to please her new men, she’d abandoned her own daughter without a second thought.
From the day my mother abandoned me, I’d killed any remaining fantasy of maternal love. Her life now was miserable–her husband either beat her or demanded money. If she refused, he’d beat her so badly she couldn’t get out of bed for days.
Now that her son needed to marry and couldn’t find a wife without money, her second husband had placed all his hopes on her. Scarlett, desperate to please her husband, could only turn to me for money.
Hearing my refusal, she grew frantic. “Sophia! I’m your mother! The debt of giving birth is greater than the sky! Without my pain bringing you into this world, would you even exist today?”
Scarlett thought to herself, this ungrateful girl has grown too bold, daring to refuse me money! I won’t let her off easily!
“Let me tell you something,” I said decisively. “Henry and I are getting divorced. My affairs have nothing to do with the Harding family anymore. I suggest
you
don’t embarrass yourself by going to the Harding estate. With that, I hung up.
After I ended the call, Scarlett’s resentment intensified. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the dim sun in the distance, biting the inside of her cheek as she gazed at the city’s skyscrapers. “Sophia, if you show no kindness, don’t blame me for showing no righteousness!”
Scarlett’s call hadn’t affected my mood at all. As I walked through the hospital corridor, Thomas approached to greet me. “Sophia, you’re back! How was your trip? Did you enjoy yourself?”
