Chapter 9
With her back to him, Josephine’s hands began trembling uncontrollably.
Her mind went blank. That wig had been her last shred of dignity, and now Camila had ripped it away like it was nothing.
She was about to give up and confess everything until Camila bent down and picked up the fallen wig.
Then, she spoke with a stern face and a voice full of fake concern.
“Ms. Sinclair, I can’t believe you shaved your head just to guilt Peter into staying with you!”
The shock in Peter’s eyes immediately vanished.
It was replaced with anger.
He stormed forward and snatched the wig from Camila’s hand.
With a forceful yank, he tore it apart and tossed it into the trash like garbage.
“Josephine, do you have no shame? Trying to manipulate me with this?
“You think I’d be afraid? I’m telling you right now, even if you drop dead in the next second, I’ll make sure we’re divorced before you go!”
Tears streamed down Josephine’s face, falling in long, silent lines. She couldn’t even speak through her sobs.
“Peter, do you really hate me that much?”
Peter stared at her, unmoving.
Chapter 9
A soft hand slipped into his, fingers pressing gently against his palm.
He lowered his gaze, suddenly unwilling to look at her tear–streaked, ruined makeup.
“Josephine, it’s been three years. Can’t you see it by now?”
Yes, three years.
She’d been clinging to this cold, lifeless thing for three years.
He never once cared how spotless the house was after she cleaned it.
Never noticed who prepared the clothes laid out for him each morning.
They’d been married for three years, but he’d always treated this house. like a hotel.
Only she had tried to piece together something beautiful out of the illusion.
Now, the tears on Josephine’s face had dried.
She had returned to the calm, quiet state she always wore when everything fell apart.
“Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m., I’ll be waiting outside the courthouse.”
She bent down and picked up the wig from the trash.
Then turned and walked out of the home.
Peter stared after her thin, frail silhouette, a strange pang tightening in his
chest.
Before he could think, his legs had already moved to follow her.
“Peter!”
Chapter 9
Camila grabbed his arm from behind.
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Her expression was shocked as if she couldn’t believe what he was doing. “Where are you going?”
Snapping out of his daze, Peter’s brows furrowed tightly.
“I’m just going to check on her. Shaving her head like that? It doesn’t. make any sense. I know Josephine better than anyone, she used to flip out. if I accidentally pulled one strand of her hair. And now she suddenly shaves it all off? There’s something wrong here.”
Camila’s face immediately turned grim when she realized he was serious about going after her.
Without thinking, she clutched her stomach and doubled over in pain.
Peter stopped cold.
“Peter, go after her, don’t worry about me.”
But Peter looked down and saw the pained expression on her face.
He bent down and scooped her up without hesitation.
“I’m taking you to the hospital first.”
After leaving, Josephine didn’t get far before she collapsed on the sidewalk.
A kind stranger called an ambulance, and by the time she woke up in the hospital, Tania was sitting beside her, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead, eyes full of worry.
“Josephine, does it still hurt?”
Josephine hurt so severely that even her breathing was shallow.
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Chapter 9
“Tania, could you help me buy a train ticket?”
“You’re like this and still want to go somewhere?”
Josephine slowly reached up to wipe the tears from Tania’s cheek.
“The skies in Los Angeles are almost always clear. I never had the time before, but now that I finally do, I want to walk around and take it all in.)
Tania couldn’t stop crying. Seeing Josephine’s complexion turn more yellow by the minute, she couldn’t help but say no.
“I’ll go with you.”
But Josephine shook her head.
She’d already troubled Tania enough. She knew Tania was only staying with her out of fear that if she died, there’d be no one left to handle her body.
“You finally managed to get some stability in your life. I’ve already been too much of a burden to you. I don’t even know how to repay you for all
this.”
Tania’s tears fell like worthless pearls. Hearing Josephine speak like this, she collapsed into her arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
“You idiot. Who said I wanted you to pay me back? You’d better stay alive for me! Why should those two bastards get away with everything? Do you even remember? When Camila dumped everything and walked away, Peter rushed after her and got into that car crash!
“If you hadn’t swallowed your pride and stayed by his side, pretending to be Camila, giving him a reason to keep living, the Garrison family would’ve given up on him a long time ago. Why is it always you who has to suffer? Why is your pain invisible to everyone else?”
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“Tania. I’ve already let it go.”
