Chapter 2 Kneel
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shirlene sighed as she massaged her leg.
She had been reborn at an awkward juncture: the time when her relationship with Sebastian was at its lowest.
Sebastian had signed the divorce agreement without hesitation. It appeared that winning back his heart would be a prolonged endeavor for Shirlene.
The following morning.
As Sebastian walked past Shirlene’s bedroom after waking up, he found it empty. Confusion clouded his mind momentarily. Soon after, a sneer curled onto the corners of his mouth.
Had she gone to see Nolan?
Shirlene couldn’t wait to see him, could she?
Sebastian withdrew his gaze and went downstairs.
At the sight of him, a domestic worker walked over and asked, “Mr. Pearson, breakfast is…”
“I won’t eat.” He walked toward the entrance with a long face.
“Mrs. Pearson made it.”
Sebastian stopped in his tracks and looked at the domestic worker.
She said at once, “Mrs. Pearson began making breakfast at 6 a.m. She wanted you to have a taste of the food she cooked. Won’t you have some?”
Sebastian was surprised and frowned.
She would do everything for Nolan.
Shirlene used to avoid even sharing a meal with Sebastian, but now, to appeal to him on behalf of Nolan, she went as far as making breakfast for him.
Her love for Nolan was profound.
However, this would be the final occasion…
After a brief moment of silence, Sebastian pivoted and headed towards the kitchen.
In a white dress, Shirlene, with her black curly hair tied in a ponytail, was meticulously arranging omelets in the open kitchen, revealing her fair face.
“What are you doing?”
Shirlene looked up and saw Sebastian standing several steps away with an unfathomable expression.
“Honey!” Her eyes lit up. She smiled, “I made breakfast for you. Have some…”
Before she could finish speaking, Sebastian interrupted coldly, “There are domestic workers in this house. You don’t have to do this.”
The smile at the corners of Shirlene’s mouth froze, replaced by a tinge of sadness.
In her past life, Shirlene had only learned to cook because Nolan had gastric issues. Yet, since her marriage to Sebastian, she had never prepared breakfast for him.
Now, she was trying to make amends.
But Sebastian didn’t trust her anymore.
Suppressing her sadness, Shirlene put breakfast on the table and dragged Sebastian over.
“Have some. I’ll go heat milk for you.” She turned around and walked into the kitchen again.
The omelets had been arranged in a heart shape. Looking at them, Sebastian sneered.
Suddenly, Shirlene’s phone rang.
Sebastian saw the caller ID at a glance.
Nolan?
When Sebastian glanced at the food again, his appetite had vanished. He departed the villa with a scornful smile.
When Shirlene brought the milk, Sebastian was nowhere to be found. The domestic worker informed her that Sebastian had already left.
The untouched breakfast left Shirlene disheartened. Contemplating whether to call Sebastian, she grabbed her phone just as her father’s call came in.
“Dad.”
“I’m surprised you still know you have a father!” her father, Neilson Osborne, thundered.
“What did I do to have a shameless daughter like you? I don’t care where you are. Come home in 30 minutes, or don’t ever come back again!”
Neilson hung up before Shirlene answered.
Shirlene stood there, holding her phone. Hatred surged in her heart when she thought of her pregnant stepmother and scheming half-sister.
Her good mood was spoiled.
Shirlene packed her things and drove to the Osborne’s home.
The atmosphere in the house felt stifling. A domestic worker brought Shirlene her slippers and slyly winked, subtly conveying a message.
Shirlene entered calmly. Neilson was seated on the sofa, and she greeted him with a smile, “Dad, I’m back.”
Her stepmother Molly Gilbert and Daisy sat beside Neilson. Shirlene looked at them and discreetly glanced at Molly’s belly.
Although Molly was over three months pregnant, she didn’t show a baby bump.
“Shirlene, you’re finally back.” Daisy hurriedly approached Shirlene. “Did something happen to you at Nolan’s birthday party last night?” Posing as if they were close, Daisy tried to take Shirlene’s hand.
Shirlene slapped Daisy before the latter could touch her.
“Daisy, how shameless you are!”
Everyone present was stunned.
Neilson, who had been holding back his anger, flared up at once.
He shot up from the sofa, roaring, “What are you doing? Daisy is only concerned about you. You must be out of your mind! For Nolan, you don’t even care about your dignity! You’re such a disgrace to our family. People talk behind my back!”
Bitterness welled up in Shirlene’s heart as she observed the disappointment in Neilson’s eyes.
Her relationship with Neilson had deteriorated since Molly and Daisy’s arrival. He had even disowned Shirlene for Molly’s unborn child.
Having experienced Molly’s and Daisy’s schemes in her previous life, Shirlene was determined not to fall prey to them again in this lifetime.
“Concerned?” Shirlene looked at Daisy with a sneer as if having heard a hilarious joke. “Daisy, whether something happened or not, don’t you know it better than anyone else? Didn’t you force me into going to the party last night?”
“I…” Surprised by Shirlene’s retort, Daisy put on a sad face. “Shirlene, how could you say that? I took you to celebrate Nolan’s birthday. I didn’t ask you to…sleep with him.”
Daisy shifted her eyes to Shirlene’s fair neck. The hickeys told her what happened the night before.
Neilson’s face became livid when he noticed the red marks. He hissed, “Shameful! Kneel!”
Shirlene looked Neilson in the eye and asked coolly, “Why?”
“Why? Don’t you know what you did last night? I didn’t believe it at first. But it turns out you did disgrace our family so. You’re married. How could you sleep around? You have no self-respect. I wish you were never born!” Neilson’s chest heaved with rage, his face livid. Molly stood up immediately to soothe him.
“Neilson, you’re in poor health. Don’t be mad. Shirlene must have been drunk last night. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have… It must’ve been an accident.” Molly’s tone was soft, but there was a gloating look in her eyes. “Shirlene, say you’re sorry. Then, your father will…”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Shirlene cast a disdainful glance at her and chuckled, “This is the Osborne’s home. Do you have the right to speak here?”
Having been deceived by Molly’s false affection in the past, Shirlene had once believed Molly was genuinely helping her each time she spoke this way. However, apologizing now would be akin to admitting the validity of Molly and Daisy’s accusations.
Molly froze on the spot. A tinge of hatred showed in her eyes.
“Shirlene, where are your manners? Molly is your stepmother. How could you speak to her like that?” Neilson snapped.
Shirlene stared at him with a sneer. “Dad, did you forget how my mom died?”
