Chapter 17
When Lavender really walked away, it felt like a huge chunk of Josephine’s heart had been ripped out.
Behind her, Cyanne gently supported her. “Mom, don’t worry. If Avy doesn’t want you anymore, I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my life.”
Her words sliced straight through Josephine like a knife–sharp and unrelenting.
For the first time, Josephine began to waver. Had she really done the right thing, letting things get this bad between her and her own daughter just for Cyanne’s sake?
Desmond had suffered a serious leg injury, and the Winslets sent people to rush him to the hospital.
He was still unconscious when they arrived. Stand and Josephine asked Cyanne to take care of him during his recovery.
But although she was physically there, her mind was elsewhere–nowhere near Desmond.
She had only pursued him in the first place because he was a high–quality catch. But now? He was practically a cripple.
Who in their right mind would want to spend their life with a disabled man?
All she could think about was Red–handsome, wealthy, desirable.
No. She couldn’t waste another second on Desmond. She needed to go find Red.
Just as she stood up to leave, Desmond stirred awake.
“Yannie… have you been the one taking care of me this whole time?” His face was pale, his body weak.
Cyanne froze, then quickly switched back into her gentle facade. “Of course, Mondy. I’ve been here with you. How are you feeling?”
Even if she was planning to chase after Red, now was not the time to offend Desmond. No matter how far he fell, he still had the Hacketts behind him–he’d make a decent backup
plan.
Desmond tried to prop himself up on his arms, but the movement pulled at his wound, sending waves of pain through his body and beads of sweat down his face.
Cyanne rushed to support him, her expression full of fake concern. “Mondy, the doctor said the bullet hit a major artery. It damaged your bone too. Walking might be… difficult
from now on.”
Desmond’s face went ghostly white. “You mean–I’ll be crippled?”
Cyanne didn’t hesitate to exaggerate. “That’s what the doctor made it sound like.
“But don’t worry, Mondy,” she added quickly, “I’ll never leave you. You’ve always been like a brother to me. I’ll take care of you.
“If you want to blame someone, blame my sister and Red. They’re the ones who did this to you!”
Chapter 16
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The moment she mentioned Lavender, something flickered across Desmond’s pale face. His voice came out hoarse, “This has nothing to do with Avy. It was Red’s doing.”
Cyanne’s expression darkened instantly. ‘Even now, he’s still defending Lavender?!‘
“Mondy-” she started, but before she could finish, his mother stormed into the room, rage.
written all over her face.
“Desmond! How’s your leg?”
Cyanne’s eyes darted. If Desmond was too weak to act, maybe she could stir up Clarise instead.
“Aunty Clarise,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears, “the doctors said Mondy’s leg probably won’t recover. My sister and Red went way too far. Even a miracle doctor wouldn’t be able to fix this.”
Desmond frowned. ‘Didn’t I just say Avy had nothing to do with it? Why is she still dragging her into this?‘
But instead of lashing out at Lavender, Clarise raised her hand and slapped Cyanne across
the face.
“Cyanne! It’s you again!
“All those years ago, you threw yourself at my son nonstop. Then you ran away right before your engagement party!
“After Avy came into the picture, the two of them were finally doing well. And now here you are, crawling out of the woodwork again!
“And now you’re trying to pin the blame on someone else? If it weren’t for you, how would my son and Avy ever end up like this?”
The slap left Cyanne stunned. She instinctively wanted to fight back–but then she remembered: this was Desmond’s mother. The Hacketts wasn’t someone she could afford
to offend.
Desmond furrowed his brow. “Mom, this has nothing to do with Cyanne. Please-”
“Shut up!” Clarise snapped. “Are you blind and brain–dead? Can’t you see how well Avy treated you all these years? And you went and cheated on her?! I can’t believe you! “Desmond, I’m telling you right now–either you beg Avy to come back, or you and this woman both get out of our family! I will never allow someone like her to become my daughter–in–law!”
And with that, Clarise stormed out of the hospital without even asking about her son’s condition again.
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