“Charles, how can you be so cruel?” I whispered, voice barely steady.
He never looked at me again.
Sophie came closer, her voice trembling with tears. “Grace, I’m sorry for you, truly, but I can’t leave him.”
She took a trembling step forward, almost dropping to her knees in front of everyone. “If you’re angry, I’ll kneel and apologize—please...”
Before she could, Charles grabbed her arm, his face full of pain.
“Sophie, you don’t have to apologize to her.”
Then, glaring at me, he shouted, “Get lost! Don’t disturb us here!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, and his friends whispered cruelly.
“She shamelessly took advantage of being drunk to sneak into my brother’s room.”
“She even took nude photos to blackmail Brother Lin into marrying her. Serves her right!”
I let out a bitter laugh, voice hoarse. “Yeah, it’s all my fault.”
I stood there as they exchanged rings, surrounded by cheers and applause.
I took a deep breath and turned toward the door.
Once outside, I threw the wedding ring in my hand into the trash without hesitation.
That night, Mr. Shaw came to speak with me himself.
“Grace, from now on, you and your child can stay in the backyard for a few days.”
My fingers dug into my palms. “Why? This is my home.”
My mother rubbed her hands nervously, eyes red. “Grace, please be reasonable. Sophie wants Sophie to live with us again. The doctor said he can’t be disturbed…”
I cut her off sharply, “So you want to drive me and Emily away?”
“When Emily had surgery, you said he was dead. Now that he’s alive and getting married, you want to shove us back into this broken house?”
Mr. Shaw slammed his fist on the table, making tea spill onto the expensive Persian carpet.
“Don’t be ungrateful! Sophie is the Shaw family’s only heir. His illness can’t be delayed!”
My mother grabbed Mr. Shaw’s arm quickly, then turned and yanked my wrist so hard my skin stung. “Grace, listen this time, or else…”
“I won’t!” I shouted, breaking free and facing Mr. Shaw’s furious glare.
Before the tension could explode, the door suddenly opened.
Charles appeared in the moonlight, dressed sharply, followed by Sophie.
He lifted his chin, signaling the servant to move luggage into the master bedroom.
The sound of his leather shoes clicking on the bluestone slabs felt like knives piercing my heart.
The pain only deepened.
I stood my ground at the door, refusing to back down.
Sophie rushed over suddenly, pressing close, her hair brushing my cheek.
“I’m sorry, Grace, really sorry. I know you’re angry, but I can’t help it. It’s all my fault. Please don’t embarrass Sophie. He’s emotionally fragile—getting upset will trigger headaches.”
At that moment, veins throbbed on Charles’s forehead. He rubbed his temples hard and suddenly kicked over the suitcase at his feet.
“Who do you think you are? Sophie, don’t apologize to her. If she won’t leave, just tell her to get out.”
The suitcase burst open, and a photo album tied with a pink ribbon spilled out.
In the pictures, he and Sophie were kissing under a cherry tree, hugging on a beach. Behind each photo were dense, loving notes.
The latest showed them wearing matching rings, dated “Our Fifth Anniversary.”
“It’s okay, Sophie, don’t be angry. I’ll clean it up.” My mother hurried over, anxiously gathering the scattered photos.
Mr. Shaw steadied the trembling Charles, rubbing his back gently.
“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
Suddenly, my mother spun around, eyes blazing red as she pointed at me.
“Sophie just returned to America, and you’ve made him so angry! How could you be so thoughtless?”
I stared down at a photo on the floor—one of them made a snowman in fresh snow—as a ringing buzz filled my ears.
