Chapter 8
“Callie!” Declan strode over to Mia, his fingers gently touching the red mark on her face, his eyes filled with distress. “She hit you? What happened?“]]
Through her tears, Mia recounted the incident. Declan’s expression grew darker with every word.[]
“Over a shawl? That’s your excuse for hitting someone?” He turned to confront Callie, his voice ice–cold.[]
“Over a shawl?” Callie’s voice shook. “Declan, that was the only thing my grandmother left me!”
Declan froze.
In three years of marriage, Callie had always been gentle and composed–he’d never even heard her raise her voice.
Seeing her now, with reddened eyes and trembling shoulders, felt strangely foreign to him.]
“Mia didn’t mean it,” he said, his tone softening sligh
cover it.”
already offered to pay you back. What more do you want? If the amount isn’t enough, I’ll
He
pulled out his checkbook from his jacket pocket, scrawled a figure with a flourish, and held it out: “Is this enough?“[]
Callie stared at the check Declan shoved over, her heart feeling like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand–so tight she could barely breathe.]
When she didn’t take it, Declan frowned, tore off another check, and wrote down a new figure.[]
“Not enough?” His tone was detached, as if he were conducting a business transaction. “How about this?“]
One check after another was pushed toward Callie, each amount larger than the last, but her heart only grew colder.[]
Finally, she reached out and took the last check, her fingertips trembling slightly.
“Enough.” Her voice was barely audible, yet it seemed to drain all her strength.]
Declan.
Not just this check is enough…]]
Our marriage is enough too.
She turned to leave, but before she could take two steps, Declan’s cold voice stopped her-
“Hold it.”
Callie’s
s steps faltered, but she didn’t turn
around.
“You took the money, but we’re not done with that slap.”
A
tone brooked no argument. “Apologize to Mia.“[]
Callie’s whole body went rigid. She slowly turned around, her eyes bloodshot: “What did you say?“[]
Declan’s gaze was cold and distant: “I said, apologize.“]
“What if I don’t?” Her voice trembled.[]
“The Hartwells and Hayes still have business together.” Declan’s tone was casual, but each word cut like a blade.[]
Callie’s pupils shrank to pinpricks, her heart feeling like it’d been stabbed straight through.]
She never saw this coming–he was using her parents‘ life work as leverage.
The air went dead silent for a solid few seconds.[]
Finally, Callie slowly lowered her head, her voice hoarse: “…I’m sorry.“[]
Mia covered her face. “Miss Hartwell, are you really sorry? Or is this… how you upper–class people apologize? So half–hearted?“||]
DEUSTOGTOKE TEAP. NNINOS HIRE CIBODATING SMART MIJN GENE
Callie clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms.
The next second, she suddenly bent at the waist, bowing deeply to Mia-
“I’m sorry!” Her voice cracked, but every word was clear. “Miss Castellano, I was wrong to hit you. Please forgive me!“[]
With that, she straightened up and looked at Declan: “Is that good enough?”
Declan stared at her reddened eyes, and for some reason, felt a sharp pang in his chest.[]
He suddenly remembered three years ago, when she’d had that high fever–she’d looked at him with those same red–rimmed eyes, but back then, they’d been full of dependence and love.
Now, those eyes held nothing but deathly calm.]
His throat tightened, and he wanted to say something, but in the end only managed coldly: “That’s enough.“[]
Callie turned and walked away, her back straight, without a moment’s hesitation.[]
Behind her, she heard Declan’s gentle voice: “Does it still hurt? Let me put some medicine on it.“[]
Mia’s sweet response followed: “It hurts… be gentle…“[]
Callie didn’t slow her pace. Tears slipped out silent as snow, but she quickly wiped them away, like they’d never been there.
