Chapter 5
Paula sat on the sofa like she owned the place, while Archie, not far
away, kept calling her name with a syrupy tone that made their closeness
obvious.
As soon as Eileen walked in, Paula quickly stood up, her smile dazzling. “Ms. Greymoor, you’re back! Archie was discharged today, and Mr. Swanton asked me to help bring him home…”
Eileen clenched her fists, fury simmering inside her.
So Julius had gotten this brazen? It wasn’t enough to cheat behind her back–he had to parade his mistress right into their home? she thought.
Noticing Eileen’s dark expression, Julius rushed to explain, “Oh, it was Archie–he wouldn’t let go of Paula’s hand. Since he’s just gotten better, I figured I’d let him have his way.
Eileen’s eyes blazed with anger as she glared at Julius, her fury burning hot in her chest.
These two were absolutely shameless.
“Julius, does Archie not have a mother? Why does he need another woman to look after him?” Her whole body trembled, her eyes red with rage.
Julius foreed a nervous smile and hurried to her side. “Eileen, don’t be upset.
“I just thought you’ve been exhausted taking care of Archie lately, so I asked Paula to help out. That way, you could rest a little.
Chapter 5
“But if you’re not happy about it, I’ll ask her to leave right now, okay?”
Eileen’s lips twisted in a cold, expressionless smile as she looked at him.
“You really are a good actor, Julius,” she thought bitterly.
He played his part so well, everyone believed Eileen was his one and only, that her every feeling was his top priority.
Just like now–if Eileen was upset, he’d immediately send Paula away.
But no matter how skilled the act, it couldn’t fool someone who already knew the truth.
Eileen was tired. She didn’t want to keep playing along.
She opened her mouth, ready to reveal everything, but Archie suddenly ran up to her, clutching her dress. “Mommy, can’t Paula stay? I like Paula. I love playing with her.”
Archie’s pleading cries made Eileen’s head throb painfully.
She looked at the little boy she’d raised for four years, her eyes brimming with tears and heartbreak.
“Archie, do you really like Paula? But I don’t like her. What should we do?”
“Then you can go, Mommy. I want Paula to stay and play with me.
Eileen’s pupils contracted. Bitterness rose in her throat, making it hard to even breathe.
She should have seen this coming. What was she still hoping for?
She tore herself from Julius’s grip and stormed upstairs, locking herself in the bedroom.
Julius panicked, pounding on the door. “Eileen, don’t be mad. I’ll have Paula leave, okay?
“If you don’t want to talk now, just rest. When you’re feeling better, we’ll talk.”
Eileen sat with her back to the door, silent.
Downstairs, Archie’s laughter echoed up to her, tearing open wounds in her heart that would never heal.
The one who should leave wasn’t Paula–it was her. In the end, they were the real family. Who was she, really?
She was just so tired, too tired to even lift her head.
She didn’t know how long she slept, but when she woke, she was lying on the floor, and Paula was standing over her.
“What do you want?” Eileen forced herself up, glaring at Paula. “Get out of my room. Now.”
Paula smirked and sauntered over. “Why so angry, Ms. Greymoor? I only came to tell you where your child is…”
Eileen scoffed. She knew Paula wasn’t that generous. “My child is my business. Now get out.”
“Oh? Don’t you want to know if your child is a boy or a girl? What do they look like now?” Paula said, pulling up a video and shoving it in Eileen’s face.
On the screen, a little boy, maybe four or five, his body covered in
bruises, checks swollen, was being held by the hair while someone forced something into his mouth.
Eileen froze, her heart seizing with pain.
Chapter 5
She’d never seen her own child, but a mother knows–one look, and she knew that was her son.
“How did he get hurt like that? What are you making him swallow?” Eileen’s fury made her veins bulge, her knuckles white as she gripped the phone.
Paula shrugged, her voice dripping with malice. “You know how it is. Orphans get bullied. As for what he’s eating–could be cow dung, horse manure, maybe even human feces? Who knows. He gets force–fed that stuff every day.”
Paula’s laughter was triumphant and cruel, her eyes gleaming with venom.
Eileen couldn’t take it anymore. She snapped–and slapped Paula hard across the face.
The next instant, Julius burst through the door.
Paula immediately darted behind him, crying crocodile tears. “Mr. Swanton, I just wanted to apologize to Ms. Greymoor, but she hit me…
Julius’s gaze darted between the two women, torn.
Then he yanked Paula out from behind him and barked, “Apologize to Eileen! You deserved it–why did you have to upset her?”
Paula stared at him in disbelief, clutching her cheek.
Seeing her hesitate, Julius shouted again, “Did you hear me?!”
”
Eileen just shook her head with a bitter smile. She couldn’t watch them perform any longer and promptly kicked them both out.
