FreeNovelKaren forced a smile. "Rita? What are you doing? You rarely cback, so why not go to the study and see your father? I have an appointment, so I can't stay." "Karen, I don't want to waste your teither, but how do you plan to explain your relationship with Esmond?" Karen's hand loosened as soon as she heard that man's name, and the pearl earring rolled down the stairs. She clenched her fists.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Why should I need to explain? I don't know what you're talking about. I swear, you're getting more troublesas you get older. Move aside now. I can't be late for lunch with my friends." The more Karen tried to weasel her way out, the more resolutely Rita stayed to block her.
"You can drop your act. You and that man have a history. Don't think I don't know what you've said to him; you know it too. You must be surprised to seestanding here safe and sound, right? I wonder if Dac knows about you two?" Karen stopped trying to get past her. "You're all grown up now, so you should know what to say and what not to say. These groundless words will only add to his troubles if you tell your father. We've been married for so many years, and although there have been smisunderstandings between us, you should know how I treat him, right? "I've been taking care of him since your mother passed away. That should at least count for something! If I were you, I'd never tell your dad about hearsay like this. In fact, as his daughter, you should cherish him even more than I do now that his health isn't as good as before." Rita gradually fell silent. Karen's words struck a chord deep within her heart. Over the past years, no matter what happened, it was always between them. She hadnever told her father what Karen did to her, partly because of his declining health.
'If Esmond really was Karen's former husband and has now returned... Or, if the two of them had maintained a relationship all these years, then...' Rita could not imagine what would happen if her father found out. It would be a fatal blow for him. At least to him, he had always believed that Karen genuinely loved him.
"You're quite the schemer, aren't you? On one hand, you're constantly involved with another man, and on the other hand, you're clinging to my father. Karen, are you trying to have your cake and eat it too?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmKaren's face flushed, her chest heaving rapidly. "Stop insulting me! I've never been involved with that man! You should investigate things thoroughly before speaking. I've already been labeled as a wicked stepmother, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be labeled as an adultress! You're a woman too, so can't you see things from my perspective?"
Rita could not believe her ears. 'Is she really saying that? How could she say such things? If she had truly considered my perspective, I wouldn't be questioning her like this now!' Especially considering that day, when Esmond had wanted to harm her and nearly cost Sherman his life too.
Karen truly did pull the strings all along. She had never intended to take Rita's life, but she had no qualms if she ended up dead either. X
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