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When I woke again, it was already morning.
Feeling a little hungry, I decided to head to the kitchen. But as I passed the guest room, I heard soft moans–low, intimate sounds exchanged between a man and a woman.
How vigorous.
Shamelessly indulging in their desires in broad daylight.
Maybe Xander just enjoyed the thrill of sneaking around.
Disgusting.
I instantly lost my appetite. Turning on my heel, I went back to the bedroom and took a gulp of cold water to fight the rising nausea.
I had no interest in eavesdropping on their twisted pleasure. I just wanted to wait for Xander to leave, so I could quietly disappear from this suffocating house.
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened.
The abrupt sound made me jump. “Who is it?” I asked.
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Cathy’s voice came, light and playful. “It’s me, ma’am.”
Realizing who it was, I replied coldly, “What do
you
want?”
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“I just helped Sir change his clothes. He’s gone to the hospital to pick up the baby. I thought I’d check in and see if you needed anything.”
Cathy, seeing I hadn’t broken down after yesterday, had come today with the sole purpose of provoking me.
“I’m fine,” I said curtly. “You can go.”
But she stepped closer and grabbed my hand. Her tone turned vicious.
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss me, Sharon Channing. Don’t you want to know what I did with your husband on the sofa yesterday? Or what we
droom?” just did in the guest room?”
“I’ll tell you since I’m feeling generous,” she sneered. “We played right there on your sofa, in your house. Xander said he likes women like me. Bold. Adventurous.
“Sharon, if I were you–blind and betrayed–I’d just bash my head against the wall.”
She leaned closer, whispering with twisted glee, “Oh, and the child he’s picking up? That’s mine. You’ll be raising my kid from now on.”
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But instead of getting angry, I laughed.
Cathy froze, confused. “What are you laughing at? Laughing at yourself?”
I stopped laughing and said calmly, “Cathy, do you really think I don’t know what you’ve done?”
“You used the child to tie Xander down, hoping to crawl your way to the top by hijacking his life. But tell me… are you really so sure the child is his?”
Her breath caught. “W–What are you saying?”
Was she pretending, or did she truly not understand?
I didn’t bother explaining. I reached out and lightly brushed my fingers over her face, smiling.
“How does it feel to use my eyes, Cathy? You’d better behave. Don’t provoke me. I’m not a bunny.”
I bit back.
People had spent so long calling me Mrs. Cooper that they forgot―I was born a Channing.
Cathy must have felt the threat in my voice, because the next moment, I heard the crash of shattering glass and her sudden scream.
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Xander came rushing upstairs, panic in his voice. “What happened?”
Cathy collapsed into his arms, crying, “It’s nothing. I just brought hot water. Ma’am got upset and yelled. She smashed the glass. Please don’t blame her–she’s still emotionally unstable.”
Cunning. She didn’t repeat our conversation but spun a lie that made her look like the victim.
Xander looked at her tear–streaked face, heart aching. “Your eyes just started healing–don’t cry, Cathy.”
Then he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Sharon! Cathy’s eyes aren’t fully recovered, and she still brought you tea. Your blindness isn’t her fault- why are you taking it out on her? You’re being completely unreasonable!”
Unreasonable?
I let out a cold laugh.
“Xander, do you really not know whose fault it is that I’m blind?”
His expression faltered. Guilty. He looked away, avoiding my eyes.
“Think about it yourself,” he muttered. “I’m taking Cathy to pick up the baby.”
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And just like that, he turned and walked out, carrying Cathy in his arms.
As I listened to their fading footsteps, all I felt was a cold, hollow
amusement.
Xander, so desperate to protect Cathy.
What would he do when he discovered just what kind of woman she truly was?
But I couldn’t waste time wondering. First, I had to get my sight back.
So I could watch every one of them fall.
I picked up my phone and dialed. “Kaylen, is the plane ticket ready?”
She laughed. “Everything’s arranged. I’ll send someone to pick you up
now.”
“Good,” I said. “Also prepare the divorce agreement. And keep my location a secret.”
“Got it,” she said, then hung up.
Not long after, Kaylen’s driver arrived with the divorce papers.
I signed them and slid the documents into the villa’s doorframe.
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Then I had the driver help me pack a few things–my mother’s keepsakes— and left the house for good.
At the airport, the driver asked, “Ms. Channing, would you like me to switch your phone to airplane mode?”
I nodded.
Just then, my phone rang. I accidentally answered it.
Xander’s voice came through. “Sharon, I picked up the baby. I’m on my way home. Do you want anything to eat? I can get you something.”
I didn’t reply.
“I know I said something stupid today,” he continued. “Don’t be mad-‘
“I want something from Sunrise Bakery,” I said flatly.
I didn’t actually want the pastries. I just needed time.
Xander sounded relieved. “Okay. I’ll stop there now!”
I hung up and handed the phone to the driver.
“Block and delete all of Xander’s contacts,” I instructed. “Then switch it to airplane mode.”
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He nodded.
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I felt the plane begin to ascend, and slowly, the weight on my chest began to lift.
Goodbye, Xander.
Meanwhile, Xander returned to the villa with pastries in one hand, the child in the other, and Cathy by his side.
As he opened the door, a few sheets of white paper fluttered to the ground. He barely noticed them.
“Mary,” he called to the maid. “Pick those up and toss them–probably junk mail.”
He walked inside.
“Sharon, I brought your favorite pastries!” he called out.
Silence.
He called again.
Still no answer. Only the sound of his own voice echoed back.
Unease crept into his chest.
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Just as he was about to go upstairs, Mary’s panicked voice came from the hallway.
“Mr. Cooper! These… these aren’t junk. It’s… it’s the divorce agreement ma’am left for you-”
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