Chapter 5
Thayer’s grip tightened around his phone before he abruptly hung up, a rare hint of disarray in his composure.
Maybe, that day I had been holding vigil beside my dying mother, while he was tangled in bed with another woman.
His heartbeat faltered, irregular. The repeated beep beep beep of unanswered calls gnawed at his nerves until he hurled the phone away in frustration.§
“Book me a ticket to Noland County.”
Aveline blinked, surprised. She gently rubbed her chest against his arm, her voice soft and coaxing. “Thayer, can I come with you? The baby and I will miss you.”
She guided his hand to her belly. The ice–cold expression on Thayer’s face melted slightly. He hesitated, then gave a slight nod.
****
I had just picked up my mother’s ashes from the funeral home. And at my doorstep… stood a picture–perfect couple.
He was my legal husband and the mistress who killed my mother.
The neighbor lady peeked out curiously. “Althea, who are this young couple? Are they some relatives of yours? They look just as good–looking as you.”
forced a weak smile and brushed her off, “They’re my mom’s employers. They came to visit her. Anyway, don’t forget to pick up your grandson.”
Upon hearing my words, the man’s expression darkened instantly. But when his gaze fell on the urn in my arms, he suppressed his anger. “Althea, I know you’re in a bad mood right now. I’ll let this slide. But if you deny our relationship again next time, you’ll be sorry.”
I moved past the two of them and pushed the door open, but my arm was suddenly grabbed tightly.
“Althea, did you hear me?”
“First, we’re getting divorced. We’re no longer husband and wife. Second, you brought another woman here and you think I’d be low enough to acknowledge you as my husband in front of my mother’s ashes?”
in front of my
It was the first time I had ever lashed out like this at Thayer. Just mentioning my mother made my chest tighten so painfully that I could hardly breathe.
Thayer’s hand loosened and a rare trace of guilt appeared on his face. He shoved the clinging woman away and tried to reach out from behind to embrace me.
He was tall and broad–shouldered. Before we got married, whenever I was anxious and insecure, I used to love being held by him like this. It felt like hiding in the safest place in the world.”
But now, looking at the glaring red marks on his neck, I only felt disgusted. I instinctively stepped back.
ignoring the man who had frozen
already counts as
I clutched my
stiff bet
behind me, I turned my gaze to the silent Aveline and said coldly, “And you, Aveline, what you did attempted murder. I hope when you return to Junaria, you can escape police prosecution.”
Other’s urn tightly, my eyes fixed fiercely on the woman in front of me.
If it hadn’t been for Aveline’s cruel actions, my mother–whose condition had just started to stabilize–wouldn’t have died before the surgery.
“Murder? What’s going on? What did you do?”
Thayer’s face turned dark as ink, his eyes sharp and cold.”
Aveline’s eyes widened in shock and under Thayer’s gaze, tears streamed down her face.§
“Thayer, I only went to see that woman on your behalf. But who knew she’d curse me right away, calling me vile and even tried to kill me for Althea’s sake! I accidentally knocked over the oxygen tube while trying to escape. But when I left, she was still fine…“}
Aveline’s face suddenly turned pale. She reached out to cling to the man beside her, her voice weak and delicate. “Thayer, I’m still carrying our baby. How could I possibly do something so cruel…”
Thayer’s scrutinizing gaze paused for a moment. When his eyes shifted to her belly, his expression softened. Instead, he turned to persuade me. “Althea, this is probably just a misunderstanding. Besides, your mom is already gone… Let’s not dwell on what happened back then. From now on, let’s just live a good life together.”
I stared at the man in front of me in disbelief, my mouth tasting bitter.”
Back then, my mother had shielded him–only ten years old at the time–from kidnappers and took a knife for him. That injury led to the illness that plagued her ever since.
Even if he resented her, I never thought he’d protect that woman.
I slammed the door shut, locking the two of them outside. My voice was cold and sharp. “Take your woman and get out of my house. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.”
