Chapter 103
Seeing Byron was ill, Sylvia had no choice but to stay at the Blair residence. She personally prepared his herbal remedy and carried the medicine into his bedroom.
Byron watched Sylvia bustling around, a warm, sweet feeling welling up inside him. ‘So I’ve always meant this much to her, he thought.
“Byron, have your medicine first. I’ll go prepare some fruit for you.” With that, she headed downstairs.
Byron felt a surge of excitement, recalling the same emotions he had on their wedding day. Gritting his teeth against the bitterness, he downed the herbal medicine in one gulp.
Soon, a wave of relief washed over him as beads of sweat formed on his skin.
He stepped into the bathroom for a hot shower, determined to present his best self to Sylvía.
While Sylvia was washing fruit in the kitchen, Joanna watched her from the doorway, her beautiful face contorted with jealousy.
“Mrs. Blair, Sylvia’s here. Do you want to come back?” Joanna said over the phone.
Joanna cast one last glance at Sylvia’s back before stepping aside to call Liana.
A growing sense of crisis gnawed at Joanna. ‘I can’t let Sylvia stay by Byron’s side any longer,‘ she thought anxiously.
Liana was playing cards with friends outside when Joanna’s words reached her. Her face darkened instantly. She threw down her cards and rushed back to the Blair residence in a fury.
“Who told you to come to our place, Sylvia?” Just as Sylvia finished washing the fruit and was heading upstairs, Liana stormed in from the living room doorway, furious.
Sylvia gave Liana a cool, indifferent glance. Without saying anything, she set the fruit platter on the table, picked up her bag from the sofa, and walked right past Liana without a word.
“Sylvia, how dare you come to our place without my permission? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Liana shouted, her voice shaking with
anger.
Sylvia just curved her lips in a faint, dismissive smile, not even bothering to respond. She left the Blair residence at her own pace, got in her car, and
drove off.
She wasn’t wasting my breath on Liana.
The more Sylvia acted like this, the more Liana’s pent–up anger boiled over, her face turning purple with rage.\
“This bitch is getting more outrageous. Would she have ever dared to act like this when she lived here before?” Liana snapped.
“Mrs. Blair, don’t be upset. Maybe it’s best if Sylvia doesn’t come over anymore,” Joanna said soothingly as she quickly stepped forward to comfort Liana, guiding her to the sofa.
Then she picked up the plate of freshly washed fruit and headed upstairs.
Byron was waiting for Sylvia in the bedroom. Fresh from a hot shower, he’d changed into perfectly tailored slacks and a premium black shirt, the top two buttons undone to reveal his long neck and defined Adam’s apple.
Joanna opened the door with a look of concern on her face. “Byron, are you feeling any better now?” she asked.
Byron’s eyes narrowed sharply. He instinctively looked past Joanna. “Where’s Sylvia?”
Joanna placed the fruit platter on the table and, without missing a beat, said, “Byron, you mean Sylvia? She left ages ago.”
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Chapter 103
Byron’s face darkened instantly as fury surged within him.
He thought angrily, ‘That deceitful woman! She actually lied to me!
‘She left without even saying goodbye!‘
Joanna gave Byron a gentle smile. “Byron, have some more fruit. It’ll help you recover faster.”
She picked up an apple and started to peel it for him.
Byron frowned and snatched his suit jacket from the hanger. “I’m going to the office. Eat by yourself.”
With that, he stormed out of the bedroom, his face dark with anger.
Joanna instinctively chased after him, saying anxiously, “Byron, you’re still not well. You really should rest at home.”
Without thinking, Byron angrily blurted out, “What’s the point of staying home when she’s already gone?”
Joanna stood frozen in place. After a long while, she suddenly dashed the apple in her hand to the ground in a fit of anger.
‘Does Byron really have to leave just because Sylvia’s gone? Can’t he stay with me for once?‘ she thought bitterly.
After leaving the Blair residence, Sylvia drove back home and called Zander.
“Zander, when are you free? Come over for dinner,” she said.
Now that Ruby knew Byron was her biological father, Sylvia felt it was time to tell Zander the truth.
Zander was still filming on set when he smiled and said, “Sylvia, I’ve got some free time around noon tomorrow. How about I come over then?”
“Okay.” Sylvia nodded, a twinge of guilt tugging at her heart. After all, Zander had been so good to Ruby. But then it occurred to her. Maybe there was a win–win solution. Ruby could acknowledge Zander as her godfather.
The next morning, Sylvia headed out early for groceries. As soon as she got home, she immediately started bustling around in the kitchen.
On Sunday morning, Ruby trailed behind Sylvia in the kitchen like a little shadow. Though she wasn’t much help, she wiped her brow with a serious look, beads of sweat on her forehead.
“I’m so tired,” she said.
Just before noon, Zander arrived at the door with a gift in hand and knocked lightly.
Ruby spotted Zander and dashed down the stairs, excitedly throwing herself into his arms and beaming, “Zander, my dear godfather, you’re here!”
Sylvia had already explained everything to Ruby, and Ruby hadn’t hesitated for a second. Before Sylvia could even ask Zander’s opinion, Ruby had already blurted out.
Hearing the commotion outside, Sylvia stepped out of the kitchen and gave Zander a resigned shrug. “Zander, Ruby knows who her biological father is. I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for being her godfather now.”
Zander paused for a moment and then let out a wry chuckle. “There’s no way we could keep this a secret forever. Byron was bound to find out.”
He scooped Ruby up and playfully pinched her little nose. “But being your godfather isn’t so bad either.”
“Ruby,” Sylvia said with a smile, “go wash up with Zander, and then we’ll eat.” As she spoke, she motioned to Ruby and carried the dishes to the table one by one.
Zander was incredibly fond of Ruby, and so was Ruby.
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Chapter 103
While washing their hands, they ended up in a playful water fight, splashing each other and laughing together.
Just then, Sylvia’s phone rang.
“Mom, Dad’s still not feeling well. Do you want to come over with Ruby?” Zack’s clear, childish voice came through the phone.
Sylvia said, “Tell your dad to go see a doctor. I don’t have time to come over.”
Sylvia frowned, wondering, ‘Byron should’ve recovered by now after taking the medicine I prescribed. Why is he still sick? Is he just pretending?
Byron stood beside Zack, scowling. He’d already recovered after taking Sylvia’s medicine. He just wanted an excuse to see her again.
To his frustration, Sylvia flatly refused him without a second thought.
‘Busy at lunchtime? What could she possibly be doing?‘ Byron wondered, irritation flickering in his thoughts.
Just then, through Zack’s phone, he caught the sound of Zander and Ruby playing and laughing together. A wave of jealousy washed over fum,
It turned out that they were together.
“Zack, I’m hanging up now. Call me when your dad is dying,” Sylvia said into the phone before casually ending the call.
Byron irritably yanked at his gray tie, utterly confused. He wondered, ‘Why does everyone seem to be flocking around Sylvia?
‘Only tell her when I’m dying?
‘So she can come to identify my body?‘
