She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 38

Callie's exclamation acted like a universal mute button. The three people tumbling on the couch instantly froze and fell dead silent.

A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of Hulda's lips. She had been about to take off her shoes, but seeing her own customized slippers currently warming Sylvie's feet, she decided against it. She strode directly into the living room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

"My apologies for interrupting your picture-perfect family moment," she said.

Herbert snapped up from the sofa with lightning speed. A flash of unnatural guilt crossed his eyes, but he immediately masked it with a cold sneer. "What 'family moment'? Try using your brain before you speak, Hulda."

Hulda let out a dry laugh, pointing at their disheveled appearances. "So, I'm just imagining things?"

Sylvie scrambled off the couch in a panic. The violent movement caused her already undone collar to gap even wider. Completely oblivious to it, she stared at Hulda with wide, terrified eyes. "Mrs. Jewell, it's really not what you think. I was just playing with Miles, and then..."

"Sylvie, you don't need to explain anything to her," Herbert cut in, his voice dripping with venom. "Her mind is in the gutter, so she sees filth everywhere." He emphasized the last few words heavily.

Hulda's hands balled into tight fists at her sides. Her heart pounded against her ribs so violently it echoed in her ears. She knew exactly what he was implying—the 'accident' from seven years ago.

To her, it had been a tragic mix-up.

But to Herbert, it was a calculated, disgusting scheme to crawl into his bed.

No matter how much evidence she had presented, no matter how hard she tried to prove her innocence, he had already played judge, jury, and executioner. He hadn't brought it up in seven years not because he had moved on, but because he viewed it as the ultimate stain on his life, something too repulsive to even mention.

Hulda took a slow, deep breath, forcing her hands to unclench.

Arguing was pointless. They were getting divorced anyway; whatever he thought of her simply didn't matter anymore.

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