Chapter 16
“You guys lost? Hospital’s that way.” Sylvia’s sharp voice cut through the hallway, stopping Joanna and Byron’s conversation cold.
Byron stood up fast, closing the gap to Sylvia in a few quick steps. “Sylvia, take a look at Yara–now.”
D
Joanna put on a pitiful act, rushing over with a trembling lip. “Please, Sylvia, I’m begging you—help Yara! I know you don’t like me, but she’s just an innocent kid!”
Sylvia’s eyes stayed cold and steady. “I’ll treat her–but not if you’re the one bringing her.”
Joanna gasped, her face flashing with hurt and anger. She turned her desperate gaze to Byron.
Byron’s face darkened, his stare at Sylvia hard as stone. “You’re really gonna be this cold? Watch an innocent kid suffering right in front of you?”
Before Sylvia could answer, Ruby spoke up from behind her, tilting her head. “Sir, you’re wrong–Yara’s not innocent! She got some boy to come after me at school!”
Sylvia’s expression shifted at Ruby’s words, her eyes narrowing like knives toward the doorway. “Get out. Now.”
“Sylvia!” Byron’s voice snapped with fury, a dangerous edge creeping in as she dared to kick them out.
His jaw tightened, his face growing hard. He was ready to scold, but Sylvia’s icy glare stopped him in his tracks.
She scoffed, “What’s that, Mr. Blair? Trying to throw your weight around like old times?”
Her words were laced with sarcasm, each one hitting Byron like a punch.
He froze, the truth sinking in—she wasn’t his wife anymore.
His face twisted, emotions flickering in his deep eyes before settling into a cold, distant look.
Joanna jumped in, her voice soft and sad. “Byron, don’t get upset. If Sylvia won’t help Yara, we’ll leave.”
She paused, tears glistening. “It’s just… poor Yara. My sister trusted me to take care of her, but my health’s been bad for years. I can barely take care of myself, let alone her…”
Byron’s eyes narrowed.
Joanna’s weak health went back to that car accident years ago, and he knew Sylvia caused it.
He’d given Sylvia plenty of chances to make it right, but she never showed any regret.
Ruby picked up on the grown–ups‘ tension. She blinked her big, bright eyes and looked at Byron. “Sir, mom doesn’t want you here, you should go. I don’t want her to be sad.”
Byron held Sylvia’s gaze for a long moment, then stayed silent. He took Yara from Joanna’s arms and walked out of the villa.
Joanna followed, her face a picture of hurt innocence, climbing into the Maybach outside.
Sylvia watched them go, then closed the door. She knelt down, gently smoothing Ruby’s hair, her voice softening. “Ruby, if they come back in the future, don’t let them in, okay?”
Ruby nodded, half–getting it. She replied with her tender voice, “Okay, Mom! If they cause trouble again, we’ll call Daddy, and he’ll make them go away!”
Sylvia caught the spark in her daughter’s eye and tweaked her nose with a smile.
“Deal I promise you’ll see Daddy soon.”
Ruby squealed, bouncing with excitement, but her face dropped. “Mom, I’m hungry.”
Sylvia lifted Ruby onto the couch and handed her a bottle of warm milk.
Then she said. “Be good and drink this, okay? I’ve got work to do. There are still lots of kids at the hospital with tuminy aches, and I need to help
them
Huby grabbed the bottle, sipping it eagerly. “Okay. I’ll be good here.”
1/3
4:12 PM D
Chapter 16
Sylvia had spent the afternoon in the backyard, making medicine and packing it into small packets.
Now, she picked up a heavy medical kit, but at the door, she stopped, glancing back at Ruby drinking her milk on the couch.
The little girl looked so tiny in the big, quiet room, so well–behaved it tugged at Sylvia’s heart. She owed her so much more.
Sylvia raced to the children’s hospital.
The hallways were chaos–kids on IVs lined the corridors, the air sharp with antiseptic and filled with soft cries.
It wasn’t just this hospital. Every kids‘ ward in town was overflowing with children hit by the same symptoms.
In a first–floor room, Yara lay weak on a bed, her face sweaty as she gripped her stomach.
Joanna sat next to her, watching her niece suffer with a helpless sigh.
“Byron, how did Sylvia end up like this?” she said, her voice thick with frustration. “She could’ve helped Yara’s stomachache, but she kicked us out without blinking…
Byron stood by the window, his face grim, a restless vibe coming off him.
“Don’t mention her,” he snapped. “She’s not the Sylvia I knew.”
Joanna pressed her lips tight, not ready to drop it. “She’s done so many terrible things, and she doesn’t even care. She even left Zack… I just don’t get
it
Byron’s forehead creased. Those old pain he didn’t want to face crept back to his mind. He tugged at his tie, irritation flaring.
She’s back? That cold woman is back? Zack thought to himself.
Outside the room, he stood frozen, fists clenched so hard they shook.
Zack’s eyes welled with tears, his body trembling with anger.
Joanna and Byron were still talking in a low voice. They had no idea that Zach had heard all of it.
Zack almost couldn’t believe it. That awful woman had abandoned him for three years.
And now she was back, without even a phone call to him.
She was the most cold–blood woman he’d ever seen.
‘She’s my mother. Why doesn’t she have to be so cruel to me?‘ he wondered.
Zack’s chest burned with hurt and rage.
Just then, Joanna’s phone buzzed. She hurried out of the room, nearly bumping into Zack at the door.
She blinked, surprised “Zack? What are you doing here?”
Zack swallowed hard, keeping his voice steady. “I heard Yara was in the hospital. I got the driver to bring me to check on her.”
Joanna nodded, gave him a quick update, and rushed off.
Byron saw Zack step into the room, a small warmth softening his hard eyes. “Did you have dinner at home?”
“Yeah,” Zack muttered, glancing at his dad’s tense face.
He wanted to ask about Sylvia but held back.
He didn’t want to make his dad mad.
Byron, for his part, had no plans to tell Zack that Sylvia was back. A woman that heartless didn’t deserve to be his mother.
2/3
