No More Mrs. Forgotten novel Chapter 36

The next step was to finally bring Caleb "home." They couldn't linger on the tarmac indefinitely.

It wasn't until they slowly made their way out of the airport and into the parking lot that the mood shifted.

Lara whispered something into Paula's ear, though no one could hear what was said.

Paula stopped dead in her tracks. Turning around stiffly, she used her swollen, tear-ravaged eyes to scan the group.

Finally, her gaze locked onto Sharon's face.

Sharon's heart inexplicably seized. She looked incredibly disheveled right now. Her eyes were just as swollen, stinging from the barrage of tears.

Paula's lips trembled before she forced a hoarse croak from her throat. "Sharon..."

Despite feeling physically awful, Sharon immediately nodded and stepped up. "Mrs. Fletcher, I'm right here!"

She didn't use formal titles or pretend to be her daughter, maintaining the respectful boundary they had always shared.

Paula stared at her and then began to walk toward her, step by slow step. She wasn't moving fast, but there was undeniable intent radiating from her.

Seeing her approach, Sharon quickly hurried forward to meet her.

Josiah's eyes darkened instantly, and he immediately moved to intercept.

Sharon still hadn't fully pulled herself out of the haze of grief, but she managed to close the distance quickly. She had absolutely no idea what was coming...

As soon as she stopped in front of Paula, the older woman's hand suddenly flew up, aiming a vicious slap right at her face.

Sharon flinched in shock, but in that split second, a horrific realization seemed to dawn on her.

She didn't dodge. She just stood there, fully prepared to let the slap land squarely on her cheek.

Just then, York frowned deeply and lunged forward.

But from where he was standing, he was too late. He wouldn't have made it in time.

However, Paula's hand never connected with Sharon's face.

The accusation was so blunt it felt like a physical knife plunging straight into Sharon's chest. She swayed, barely managing to stay on her feet.

So Paula had blamed her all along. She just hadn't brought it up earlier because the grief had been too overpowering.

With that label publicly stamped onto her, Sharon instantly became the "source of the tragedy."

York quickly stepped forward, slightly shielding Sharon behind his body. "Mrs. Fletcher, I am incredibly sorry..."

But before he could finish his apology, Josiah cut him off.

Staring directly at Paula, Josiah said, "Even if that's true, it was Caleb's own choice. Sharon... is not at fault."

York froze. Sharon froze. Paula looked the most stunned of them all.

She simply couldn't fathom how Sharon could possibly be blameless.

Her lips trembled violently as she spoke. "Not at fault? If she hadn't posted that melodramatic garbage on social media about how much she loves heroes, Caleb never would have joined the Peacekeeping Corps! Maybe she just threw it out there casually, but she knew perfectly well how deeply my son loved her! He treated every word she said like a royal decree! Are you telling me she didn't know he would take it to heart?!"