Chapter 27 Apologize to Her
Their eyes locked.
Danica stood tall, her spine straight, eyes shimmering but steady. “Wayne.” she said with quiet firmness, “I didn’t send that photo to Emelia. I won’t admit to something I didn’t do.”
Jennifer tugged at Wayne’s sleeve and said, “Look at her. She’s still making excuses. No remorse at all!”
Wayne’s gaze turned arctic. “Danica, apologize!”
It wasn’t a request but an order, sharp and cold as steel.
Danica’s eyes rimmed with red, but she didn’t flinch. Her back remained ramrod straight, her voice frost–edged and proud. “Let me make this clear again. I didn’t do it! And I won’t apologize.”
Wayne’s dark eyes narrowed, inky and unfathomable. “Interesting. Your best friend Florence works at a magazine, doesn’t she?”
A jolt of dread shot down Danica’s spine. Was he threatening Florence
now?
Jennifer and Liliana watched from the sidelines, smug smiles curving their lips. He had crushed Danica’s dignity and handed it to them like a toy, letting them stomp all over it.
Her fingers curled inwards, trembling. The tears were there, swelling at the corners of her eyes. She turned her head slowly toward Jennifer and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
She said it.
Chapter 27 Apologize to Her
Jennifer beamed, victorious. “Well, since you’ve apologized, I’ll let it go this time. Just don’t let it happen again, Okay, Danica?”
Liliana chimed in, “Danica, clinging to Emelia won’t help you. Mr. Hamilton doesn’t love you. He never did.”
Danica’s face went bloodless.
Wayne turned on his heel and walked out, leaving the three women in a heavy silence.
Danica turned to Jennifer, her voice low and steady. “So this is your ‘lesson,‘ huh?”
Jennifer no longer bothered to play innocent. She leaned back with a smug smile. “I’m teaching you something important. As women, we don’t fight for titles. We fight for the man.”
Danica’s breath caught. “Wait. Was it you who sent that photo?”
Jennifer didn’t even blink. She simply smiled, unashamed.
Danica’s hands clenched. “You sent that photo to Emelia. You wanted her to lash out at you. You set yourself up so you could play the victim. This was your plan all along.”
Jennifer’s red lips curled into a satisfied smirk. “Not bad. You’re not as dumb as I thought. Yeah, I sent it. Emelia doesn’t like me? That’s her loss. She’ll lose Wayne too.”
Danica stared at her in disbelief. “Jennifer, that’s his grandmother.”
Jennifer tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “And? To me, she’s just another obstacle in the way.”
“You’re insane,” Danica whispered, turning to leave.
Jennifer’s voice followed her, sharp and cruel. “Consider this
Chapter 27 Apologize to Her
You and Emelia? Neither of you are my match.”
But Jennifer couldn’t see Danica’s face as she walked away.
Danica straightened up slowly, the humiliation and shock in her eyes vanishing in an instant, replaced by a cold, sardonic smile.
She sneered inwardly, “Oh? Is that so? Jennifer, you’re celebrating way
too soon.”
Outside the room, Wayne was standing by the door, phone still in hand. She had called him right after he left, so he had heard it all.
Danica had already suspected that it was Jennifer who sent the photo.
Just now in the hospital room, she’d patiently coaxed Jennifer, skillfully leading the conversation until Jennifer finally admitted the truth right in front of Wayne.
As Wayne ended his call, he looked up at Danica.
She stopped in front of him, voice calm, eyes glinting. “Well, Mr. Hamilton. I hate to disappoint you, but that photo? It wasn’t me. It was Jennifer.”
Wayne’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing.
Danica turned to leave.
But as she stepped past him, his hand shot out and gripped her arm.
Without thinking, Danica shoved him away, instinctively recoiling from any physical contact. She wanted nothing to do with him.
“Emelia collapsed after you left,” she said quietly. “She’s been calling your name in her sleep. If you have time, go see her.”
After that, Danica simply walked away.
Todd appeared and said. “Mr. Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton misunderstood you. You didn’t believe Jennifer blindly. You were here the whole time. Even if Mrs. Hamilton hadn’t called, you still would’ve heard everything.”
A man as sharp as Wayne would never take anyone’s word at face value. Throughout the whole ordeal, he kept his expression unreadable. Earlier, he’d deliberately left the hospital room to give Danica and Jennifer a chance to be alone, all the while standing just outside the door, determined to find out who was lying.
What he didn’t expect was that Danica would be thinking the same way. Watching her calmly draw the truth out of Jennifer, he couldn’t help but admire her cleverness.
Jennifer had wanted to give Danica a lesson, but it was Jennifer who got schooled.
Watching Danica disappear, Todd murmured, “Mr. Hamilton, I don’t think Mrs. Hamilton is as simple as she looks.”
Wayne had never really thought much of Danica before. She was just a pretty face to him. But this time, she’d truly surprised him.
For a woman from the countryside, Danica was remarkably calm and resourceful when things got tough. He couldn’t help but wonder just how many sides she really had.
He turned and said coolly, “Go back to the Hamilton’s estate.”
Todd nodded and then asked. “What if Jennifer calls? She’ll call you when you’re around.”
Wayne shot him a look so sharp that Todd shut his mouth immediately.
Jennifer had pushed too far. This time, she’d stepped on a landmine and
she didn’t even know it.
Back at the estate, Danica returned to find Emelia awake.
Danica rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Emelia tightly. “Emelia, you just fainted, and it scared me.”
Emelia patted her back with deep affection. “Don’t worry, Dani. I’m no that fragile. I’m just afraid that if I passed away, Jennifer would climb all over you.”
Danica’s pale eyes turned red, though by now, there was no one left who could truly hurt her. Still, wrapped in Emelia’s warm embrace, she suddenly felt a wave of vulnerability.
She’d never known what it was like to be loved, and now she realized that being cared for could make even the toughest person soft. Eyes glistening. she clung tightly to Emelia, letting herself be fragile for once.
Just then, Cordell’s voice rang out, surprised and bright. “Mr. Hamilton, you’re back.”
Wayne had returned.
His eyes fell on Danica, still curled up in Emelia’s arms, so unlike the sharp–tongued woman he’d seen earlier. She just looked like a young girl
now.
Danica quickly let go, brushing her tears away as she stood. “Grandma, I head upstairs and rest.”
