Chapter 11
Sylvia’s stomach twisted at Joanna’s fake warmth. Her eyes went cold as she yanked her arm free. “Keep your hands off me!”
Joanna gasped dramatically, stumbling back like she might faint.
Byron stepped in to steady her, his eyes fixed on Sylvia. Confusion, anger, and a hint of hurt flashed across his face.
He couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What happened to the kind, gentle Sylvia he used to know? How did she get so mean?‘
“Sylvia, you’re pathetic,” he snapped, his voice tight. “Joanna’s just being nice. How could you act like that?”
Sylvia scoffed, “Oh, what, you’re reading her mind now? You know exactly what she’s up to?”
Sylvia glanced at the red marks on her wrist from Joanna’s grip, a bitter smirk on her lips. That was typical Joanna, always playing the victim, which was more than gross.
“Byron, don’t blame Sylvia,” Joanna said, her eyes red with tears, her voice shaky like she’d been deeply hurt.
Then she even added, “I know she hates me. If she’d just come back and take care of Zack, I… I’d step back.”
Byron’s face hardened, his tone final. “Zack doesn’t need her. She walked out three years ago. If she’s back now and hasn’t even tried to see him, she’s got no place in his life.”
Sylvia stood there watching coolly, her voice sharp with sarcasm. “Good. I wasn’t going to.”
Joanna’s tears spilled over. “Sylvia, how can you say that? Zack’s your own son! I’ve just been… trying to take care of him for you…”
Sylvia’s lip curled at Joanna’s fake, fragile act. Without warning, she swung her hand and slapped Joanna hard across the face.
The sharp sound rang through the quiet grocery store aisle, sounding quite abrupt.
Joanna stumbled, half of her cheek turning red. She clutched her face, staring at Sylvia in shock.
A flicker of anger crossed her eyes, quickly hidden behind a mask of hurt.
“You… you hit me?” she stammered.
“You ve got some guts bringing up Zack,” Sylvia said, her laugh cold and angry.
She pointed at Joanna as she fumed. “This is your idea of care? He’s just a kid, and he’s already got glasses! Did you even notice his eyes were getting bad? Or did you just not care?”
“I don’t care who you marry, Byron,” she went on, her voice hard as steel. “But don’t stand there acting like you’re some hero looking out for Zack. It’s pathetic.”
Joanna’s cheek stung, her heart burning with anger and embarrassment. She gave Byron a pleading look, her eyes tearing up.
Byron’s face was dark with rage. One second Sylvia’s swearing she doesn’t want Zack, and now she’s freaking out about his glasses. ‘How’d she know unless she’d been checking on him?‘ he thought. ‘Her hypocrisy is maddening
“Sylvia, stay away from Zack,” he growled. “You don’t deserve him.”
Sylvia didn’t flinch. “Mr. Blair, save your high–and–mighty crap. I saw him by accident. That’s it.”
“You expect me to buy that?” Byron shot back.
He now believed that she hadn’t left the country yet because she was sticking around to keep tabs on Zack.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Zack
“Dad, don’t forget the parent–teacher conference next week,” Zack’s voice came through, calm but clear.
Tsend Joanna, Byron shot back, his words sharp and pointed, meant for Sylvia to hear. “And if any kids ask why your mom’s not there, just say
she died in a crash.”
He spat the words, letting his anger out. He wanted Sylvia to hear this.
“Byron Joanna whispered, “Sylvia… she’s gone?
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4:11 PM D
Chapter 11
Byron looked up. Sylvia was already walking away down the aisle, her cart left behind.
His jaw clenched, his mood darkening.
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