No More Mrs. Forgotten novel Chapter 37

Without giving Josiah a chance to defend Sharon again, Paula directed her explosive fury squarely at the younger woman. Tears streaming down her face, she unleashed her bitter, devastated resentment. "Sharon, I've always treated you well! I know Caleb loved you more than life itself, and I loved you too. I was good to you! Even when you didn't marry my son, I still cared for you! In my heart, I already saw you as my daughter-in-law. I knew you were the one he cherished most in this world, but I never—not in a million years—thought that you would be the one... to personally push my son into the abyss!"

Paula pointed an accusing finger at her, completely overwhelmed by her own narrative. "Why, Sharon? Why would you say something so careless? Why? Why did you hand-deliver my son to his death? He loved you so much, he never did a single thing to hurt you, so why couldn't you just let him go? Tell me, Sharon. Why? Just tell me why!"

Her devastating accusations sucked the oxygen out of the air, turning the atmosphere suffocatingly tense.

Sharon's tears fell uncontrollably. She had no way to defend herself against what was, to her, an entirely unforeseen catastrophe.

Biting her lip in agony, she shook her head frantically. Fighting through the throbbing pain in her abdomen, her face drained of color until she looked as pale as a ghost.

She opened her mouth but couldn't force out a single word. She wanted to defend herself, but... she was drowning in guilt. If Caleb had truly volunteered for the Peacekeeping Corps over a careless post she made, how could she possibly live with herself? How was she supposed to face anyone?

Even if Paula hadn't blamed her, she would have torn herself apart with guilt anyway.

She wanted to fight back, yet simultaneously wanted to "plead guilty."

But she was paralyzed, not knowing whether to fight or surrender.

To Paula, however... her silence looked exactly like a guilty confession.

Her fury ignited all over again. Lunging toward Sharon in pure agony, she shrieked, "Give me my son back!"

Sharon... still didn't dodge.

She was consumed by guilt and self-blame. If taking on the role of the villain gave Paula a vessel to pour her unbearable grief into...

Then she was fully willing... to become this guiltless culprit.

Or perhaps, she truly was guilty.

But even though Sharon didn't move, York suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly two steps backward.

Simultaneously, he wrapped his arms around her, using his broad back to shield her from Paula's hysterical lunge.

"I know exactly how you feel, and I completely understand your anger," he said firmly. "But... regardless of what Caleb was thinking, it was his decision. Just as you said, Sharon was the person he loved most. If Caleb could see you attacking her like this, he would be... more devastated than anyone."

Josiah's words acted like ice water, shocking the hysterical mother into silence.

It snapped her back to reality with pinpoint precision.

She slowly pulled back from his chest, her red, swollen, and clouded eyes staring blankly at him.

York released Sharon and turned around to watch as well.

Josiah looked down at the older woman, his voice laced with heavy grief. "Caleb willingly gambled his life to be a hero for Sharon, and he won."

Fresh tears surged violently down Paula's face. Choking on a sob, she muttered to herself, "He... he won..."

Josiah nodded. "Yes. Sharon didn't do anything to Caleb. It was entirely his own choice. But Caleb's devotion to her was something profoundly precious, and yet you..."