Chapter 5
Trevor replied within seconds. [Okay. I’ll come pick you up in three days.]
Seeing him agree, Xanthe finally felt a little more at ease.
Her body had always been weak, and after the abortion, she’d stayed in the hospital for another hree days to recover.
t wasn’t until the day she was discharged that Barrington finally showed up.
‘Hey. I’m sorry. Vionnet’s on her period these past few days, and the cramps have been so bac she can’t even walk. She gets anxious whenever I’m not around,” he explained.
With her back to him, Xanthe continued packing her things and replied flatly, “Mm.”
Sensing her indifference, Barrington stepped forward and hugged her from behind.
‘What happened with the drugging last time–yes, it was too much. You went too far, but I’ve been reflecting too. I shouldn’t have lost control like that… But don’t worry, something like that won’t ever happen again, he promised.
‘I get it. You hate Vionnet because you love me, but I swear, there’s really nothing between me and her. We’re just friends. And don’t forget, you’re still my wife. What exactly are you afraid of?”
f Barrington could’ve seen her face just then, he would’ve caught the disdain in her eyes.
Friends? You slept together. What kind of friends fuck around?‘ she thought bitterly. ‘Would it only count as “something” if Vionnet ends up pregnant?‘
But Xanthe no longer cared. In a few days, she’d be gone for good. There was no point arguing over things that didn’t matter anymore.
‘What’s in the past is in the past. I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she said. “Aren’t to pick me up? Let’s just go.”
you
here
Barrington felt a faint heaviness in his chest–she hadn’t even smiled at him once.
Fine,’ he thought. ‘When Vionnet leaves, I’ll surprise Xanthe. We’ll finally start fresh. Whatever she did before, I’ll let it go.’
Everything that happened over the past few days had only made one thing clearer–Vionnet’s only a friend to me. What I feel for Xanthe…‘ His gaze lingered on his wife. ‘It’s love.’
With that thought, he grabbed her bag and walked her out of the hospital.
Unfortunately, just as they reached the hallway, her attending doctor came walking toward them.
‘Ma’am, is this your husband? I thought you said-”
Afraid the doctor would bring up the abortion, Xanthe quickly cut in. “Thanks for taking care of me these past few days, doctor. I’m doing much better now, so I won’t keep using public
resources.”
With that, she pulled Barrington away, hurrying out of the hospital.
But as soon as she stepped into the villa, Vionnet’s mocking voice rang out.
“Oh, Xanthe, it’s been three years and you haven’t changed a bit!”
Xanthe shot her a glare, clearly warning her to back off. With that, she turned to head upstairs to pack.
8:01 pm D
But what Vionnet said next made Xanthe stop in her tracks.
“Three years ago, I was the one who drugged you. I was also the one who told you to go to that bar and find him.
“I knew Barry loved me. But after I left, who knew if he’d fall for someone else? I knew you liked him too. So, I figured, why not just set a little trap?
“Barry… He’s a responsible man. If he slept with you, he’d definitely marry you. But with the drugging involved, he’d never truly love you.”
She walked over to Xanthe with a smug look, casually letting one strap of her dress slip down on purpose.
The kiss marks on her chest were hard to miss.
“You looked after him for three years. I appreciate that. But now that I’m back–it’s your turn to leave, Xanthe.”
She smirked.
“You’ve got no family here in Springfield. You can’t afford to cross me. Take my advice: leave while you still can.”
Xanthe’s entire body trembled with rage, as she processed her so–called best friend’s revelation. ‘So it’s all been her plan from the very beginning, huh?‘
Without hesitation, Xanthe raised her hand and slapped her across the face.
She looked Vionnet dead in the eye. “As long as I’m still here, you’ll always be the other woman. Push me too far, Vionnet, and none of us will come out of this clean.”
Vionnet was stunned, her head buzzing from the blow. Her eyes narrowed with malice as she raised her hand to strike back–but just then, Barrington returned.
In an instant, her vengeful eyes welled up.
“Xanthe, Barry and I are really just friends! That night was a total misunderstanding! Please! I’m begging you! Don’t tell anyone!”
The next second, she dropped to her knees and started begging for forgiveness, almost kissing the carpet.
Before Xanthe could even react, Barrington rushed over and shoved her aside.
She was still recovering from the abortion, and the sudden push sent her crashing to the floor.
But it was Vionnet he helped up. When he turned to Xanthe, his eyes shot her daggers. “You’re being completely unreasonable, Xanthe! I already explained everything. Why can’t you let it go?”
“If you spread rumors about what happened that night, how do you expect Vionnet to live with the shame?”
Tears brimmed in Xanthe’s eyes. She bit her lip and said, “You didn’t even ask me what really happened, Barrington. Are you seriously going to believe anything she says?”
His fists clenched at his sides. Seeing her so fragile did make him feel uneasy–but in the end, he still chose to take Vionnet’s side.
“I only believe what I see with my own eyes,” he said firmly. “Apologize to Vionnet. And swear you’ll never lay a hand on her again.”
Chapter 5
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8:01 pm DDDD
Xanthe let out a cold laugh, her neck stiff with pride. “I did nothing wrong. I’m not apologizing, she said, her stance unwavering. “You two are the ones in the wrong.”
Whatever guilt Barrington might’ve felt before evaporated in an instant.
He looked down at her from above, his eyes threatening. “No. This time, Xanthe, you will admit you’re wrong.”
He called for the bodyguards. Within seconds, they stepped in and grabbed hold of her.
“If you won’t apologize, I’ll carry out the family punishment. Ninety–nine lashes–you won’t survive them.”
He thought he could force her to give in.
But Xanthe stood her ground.
“I hit her, yeah–because she deserved it. But I never threatened her!” she shouted. “Barrington, if you dare lay a hand on me, even just once–you’re gonna regret it for the rest of your life.”
8:01 pm
Chapter 6
