Chapter 293
After picking up Billy from the Harding estate, I headed straight to the nearest hospital.
I knew William would be disappointed in me for choosing such a drastic way to end this painful marriage. The thought of facing him made my stomach twist with guilt.
While Catherine, Henry, and Grace had never hidd their own daughter.
No matter what conflicts arose, they never blamed me
craved.
their dislike for me, both William and Richard had treated me like
had given me the security and acceptance I’d desperately
And I had repaid their kindness with betrayal.
I should have ended this loveless marriage the moment Isabella appeared. That was when I finally ran out of excuses for Henry’s behavior.
Every time he disappointed me, I invented new reasons and I justifications: he didn’t mean to hurt me, he didn’t intend to let me down.
After each argument, I would whisper to myself: Henry, I’ll give you one more chance. Please respond to my love this time.
But my expectations were never met. The desperate signals my brain sent grew weaker with each rejection until finally, I stopped hoping, stopped fighting.
Like a drowning person, I eventually succumbed to the depths of unrequited love.
When expectation finally transformed into complete hopelessness, the heart that once loved Henry withered and died piece by piece. Now, I had lost the ability to love entirely.
All I wanted was to end this suffocating marriage and escape the dark, lightless prison it had become.
When I reached the emergency room entrance, Richard was still there with Grace standing beside him. The moment Grace spotted me, her face twisted with rage. She opened her mouth, ready to unleash a torrent of insults, but after seeing her father’s haggard expression, she swallowed her words.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Haven’t you done enough damage to our family?”
She’d heard about what happened with her brother. Beyond resenting me for my coldness, she hated Isabella even more. If Isabella hadn’t created such chaos, the Harding family wouldn’t be in this mess.
I completely ignored Grace.
Instead, I bowed deeply to Richard, whose face was ashen with worry.
“Dad, I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed you with my actions,” I said, my voice breaking. “But please believe me–I only wanted a divorce. I never intended to hurt the family. That’s all.”
Seeing me bow, Billy quickly mimicked my actions, bending forward toward Richard. “Grandpa, I’m apologizing with my mommy. I’m helping her apologize.”
Chapter 293
My sweet child didn’t understand what had happened. He only knew his mother was upset and that we vere at a han Richard suddenly looked twenty years older, his shoulders hunched as he stood there staring at me with bloodshot CE His lips moved, but it took several moments before any words emerged.
How could he not feel for me?
In this loveless marriage, I had been the greatest victim–ignored and dismissed by his son, struggling hopelessly in a relationship without future. My pain was written plainly across my face.
Looking at his daughter–in–law and grandson’s pale faces, Richard heaved a heavy sigh. “Child, how could I blame you? he said softly. “I truly can’t hold you responsible. If Henry had done better, you wouldn’t have reached this point. He paused, swallowing hard. “When it comes down to it, I failed as a father. I didn’t raise my son properly.”
He stepped forward, gently holding my arm to help me stand upright, and placed his other hand on Billy’s shoulder. “Sophia, the most important thing right now is Father and Henry’s condition. Everything else can wait until later. His voice grew softer. “I understand your desire for divorce, but can we discuss it after they’re out of emergency care?”
His face was etched with exhaustion, making my heart ache. Tears immediately spilled down my cheeks. “Dad, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” Beyond these hollow apologies, I didn’t know what else to say.
Grace watched this exchange, her anger building until she couldn’t contain it anymore. She rushed over and grabbed Richard’s hand. “Dad, this woman put Grandpa and Henry in the emergency room! Why are you defending her?” Her voice rose with accusation. “If it weren’t for her, our family wouldn’t be falling apart!”
“And as for Isabella,” she continued, “Dad, we absolutely cannot let her get away with this!”
Henry had suffered from heart problems. More than six years ago, someone had given him an overdose of aphrodisiac, triggering a cardiac episode that nearly killed him in a hotel room. If the hotel staff hadn’t found him and called for help, he might have died that night.
At the mention of Isabella, both Richard and I exchanged serious looks. Richard pulled his arm from his daughter’s grasp, his face suddenly hardening with deadly intent.
“You’re right about that,” he said coldly. “This whole situation is her doing. If anything happens to your brother, I won’t spare her or your mother!”
His voice turned commanding. “Go home and make sure the security team keeps them under strict watch. If anyone lets them escape, I’ll break their legs!” His eyes narrowed. “Remember: they are not on the Harding family’s side anymore. If you still consider yourself part of this family, don’t do anything stupid.”
Grace was visibly startled by her father’s fierce expression, nodding mechanically. “I understand.”
As she left, she glanced back at her father–the gray suddenly visible in his hair making him look older–then turned her gaze to me.
ough the corridor. “You’d “Sophia!” she called out. “Even though I hate you, I hate Isabella more!” Her voice echoed better pray that Grandpa and my brother recover. Otherwise, you’ll be the first person I come after!”
With that, she slammed the car door/shut. I didn’t respond, merely casting a cold sideways glance as her car pulled away. then turned my attention back to the red light above the emergency room.
After more than six hours in surgery, the doctor emerged from the emergency room, breathing heavily. Richard and I rushed forward, “Doctor, how are they?”
Chapter 293
The doctor removed his mask, looking at our anxious faces. Thankfully, we got to them in time. Both men will the said, still catching his breath. “The elder Mr. Harding is advanced in age, so his heart was under significant strain, Wes inserted three stents. He’ll need to remain in the ICU for some time.”
He adjusted his glasses before continuing. “As for the younger Mr. Harding, his situation is less critical, though his heart has sustained some damage. He’ll need to stay in the hospital for observation for a while.
The doctor’s words lifted an enormous weight from both Richard and me. We embraced, crying with relief.
“Sophia, you can’t imagine how terrified I was,” Richard confessed, his voice breaking. “Both my father and my son are everything to me. I couldn’t bear to lose either of them.”
He pulled back to look into my eyes. “Child, please promise me–we’ll discuss the divorce after Henry is discharged. Can you agree to that?”
I bit my lower lip hard, uncertain of how to respond.
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